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Husband unwell - how do I cope?

melhun79
Community Member

My husband has been in and out of hospitals these past 4 weeks. Chest tightness and pain. He has AF (Arterial Fibrillation) The emergency teams plug him of drugs and send him home each time. At home we can be sitting watching TV then all of a sudden pain and tightness, so there I go again trying to help him, calling the ambulance him being carried away to another hospital.  I don't know how to cope. Im always on edge waiting for the next pain episode.  He has developed PNES (Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures) which is so hard to watch. I help him best I can. But I feel like running away or into a corner and hide from it all.

 

I don't know where to turn to get help. The GP laughed at me and said 'thats life miss, we deal how we can'. 

1 Reply 1

Croix
Community Champion
Community Champion

Dear Melhun79~

Welcome back to the Forum. I'm very sorry to hear of your husband's conditions. I think in those circumstances anyone would be beside themselves with worry, and would certainly feel like running away or into a corner and hide from it all.

 

The big thing is of course you have not been doing that but have braved everything and done exactly the correct thing each time. You might worry that you might not be equal to the task at some future time, however I seriously doubt that.

 

I guess the only two things you need to ensure are  you know hte best position to put your husband in (and give medications if that was what you were told to do) until the ambulance arrives

 

The other is to start seeing about support for yourself - that is highly important.

 

When someone one loves is in danger there is a strong temptation to feel one should be a bottomless well of strength to give support. If one struggles with this it is no shortcoming of you, it is simply being human.

 

Your GP sounds a most unhelpful person, and it is precisely at this time you need someone who can help.

 

On the medical side have you considered changing GPs and asking about counseling?

On the personal side is there anyone in your life to help, maybe take over watch your husband for a while to give you a break, or even just listening and caring?

 

Your husband too may need support. I've been in a simialr situation in the past and felt both guilt at upsetting my wife, making her look after me, and simple frustration at myself and my condition. As well of course worry how it may end.

 

I think you are loving, brave and capable and I'd like it if you let me know how you get on

 

Croix