I just turned 44. My dad is 76 and is in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. He has been there for over 3 years. We tried to keep him home but he got so bad we couldn't. There is guilt but we are doing the best we can. My mom and I are his co-guardians and we take turns going to feed him once a day because we are not always sure they have enough help and we want to make sure he is well taken care of.
My mom got a severe case of pneumonia in September. She was in the hospital for 18 days and it came close to taking her life. She actually started getting confused from the medications and low oxygen and it scared the crap out of me. She is so afraid of getting Alzheimer's. She lives on her own and after she got out of the hospital I stayed with her a week to take care of her.
It has been over 2 months and there is still problems with the lungs. I took her today for another cat scan and Monday she goes in for an outpatient bronchoscopy to see if they can figure out what it is, they don't think it is cancer, maybe a very resistant type of pneumonia since it seems to be coming back.
I have one sister who is 51 and is bipolar. She has so many issues she can't help when necessary. The story with her is so long and dramatic I will save it for another time.
I have 2 biological children and 3 stepchildren. They are 12,12, 13, 14, and 20. The stepchildren have issues from their mom dying 10 years ago of lung cancer when she was only 33. The oldest has all kind of problems and is out of the house. She was offered conseling but refused. She resents me for coming in when she was 15 and setting a few ground rules because there were "NONE".
The 13 year old girl has so much anger she constantly throws and breaks things. We have taken her to counseling. She has raised her fist at me twice when I have tried to correct her. She always feels she has to have the last word and it is driving me crazy. I think I need counseling to learn how to deal with her. I just don't know when to fit this in.
When I have a major problem such as my parent needing me I am on the ball. I do great in a tough situation.. It is the in between times, I just sit and worry about the next thing that is going to happen.
I lack motivation and cry a lot.
I stopped working in June which gives me more time with my parents.
Listening to my children argue like most kids do is almost intolerable. My husband doesn't believe in much dicipline, he likes to ignore issues and we disagree over what to do.My 12 year old son also has ADHD and a reading disorder. He is a very nice boy, just can't sit still to concentrate. He has been on meds.
I am taking a new antidepressant Pritiq, the doctor replaced my Effexor with this. He said it is made by the same company and a cleaner version with less side effects.
I have TMJ and seem to think I am getting addicted to Vicodin. My jaw hurts so bad and that cuts the pain better that anything else. I found it gives me energy to go on in the morning. I usually take one a day.
I also take Xanax to relax and sleep because I have a generalized anxiety disorder.
My husband is very supportive of me but is getting upset because he can't figure out what is wrong with me. He doesn't understand depression. When his first wife died he said "he had to go on", I understand that but it is not that easy for me.
I was actually friends with his wife and her death greatly impacted my
. I really mean you have a lot of issues and if teens in the house are angry and violent I can see why you are exhausted - physically. The situsations with your parents is an emotional drain and together there is precious little left for you to use to recover and to heal with. Medication is a good thing in that it maintains the status quo, but I know that somehow, sometime we need to deal with the stress and pressure and with all the pain. 
and you have not gloated about that ...yet... 
