Posted by medlib on February 24, 2000, at 18:12:17
In reply to Poor Health and Depression, posted by AndrewB on February 24, 2000, at 6:09:24
Andrew-
I'm so sorry about your dad. You and he face difficult times ahead; simple physical presence and physical contact (harder for men, I know) make a big difference.I lost my mom last year after a long and painful illness. Our local hospice organization made all the difference to me and to her in the last six months of her life; they enabled her to fulfill her last wish (to die in her own home of 58 years). In my community they are an arm of VNA (Visiting Nurses Association), their services are free to the patient (paid by Medicare) and they work with the patient's own doctor. If you would like to know more, I'd be glad to provide more details to your e-mail address, if provided.
Also, may I recommend a book? It's called "Dying Well" by Ira Byock. Both you and your father might find it helpful.
It is important to take care of yourself so you can be there for your dad. Let us know what we can do to help you with that. When the wind blows away all the superfluous chaff of life, all that's left is love. Best wishes
medlib> My dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer today. I was at the doctor's office. I asked the doctor whether my father would benefit from an antidepressant. My father says, due to his poor helath and deminished capabilities, that he is useless now and that he has nothing to live for. I said that even when one has deminished capabilities, you should still be able to get a sense of accomplishment from the little things in life and you should feel there is something to live for and that an antidepressant might help him feel this way. The doctor however talked with my dad and said that my dad had good reason to feel the way he did and that an antidepressant wouldn't help. That's how it went. Any thoughts????
poster:medlib
thread:23498
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000220/msgs/23604.html