The fourth stage of parents

[andrewducker]

First they're Gods.

Then you find out they're imperfect.

Then you realise they're just people, trying to do a good job.

Then they start to get old...

My Dad's been having tremors in his hands. So off he's gone to the doctor's for tests. The first of which has come back showing a narrowing in the space in the spinal column, which isn't new news, as he's known about that since he was laid up with it for two weeks over the 1972 olympics. But it's probably getting worse, so now he has to look into osteopaths, and what can be done to ameliorate the situation if it's not fixable.

My mother's sister is also in hospital, having gone in on Christmas Eve with jaundice, and it turns out she has a blocked duct from her gall bladder. Which looks likely to be cancer. With a 20% chance of it being operable, so she's off to the Hammersmith for more tests to see what's doable. And while obviously I care about my aunt, it's my mum I'm really worried about - this is the first of my parent's generation to start getting hit by the traditional old-age diseases.

All of which is, of course, conspiring to make _me_ feel old...

Comments

[alcippe.livejournal.com]

Oh God, that's no good. I hope your aunt is alright and your dad's tremors are manageable. My dad found out he had prostate cancer six years ago and after surgery and various treatments he seems to be in the clear. I worry about my parents, too.

[scottishdiva.livejournal.com]

Aw..hon.

I send you a {{{Big Hug}}} from me to you.

Hope your dad is okay, sorry for your bad news...

Ember xx

[stormie.livejournal.com]

*many huggles* and as i said earlier, anything i can do.

i'll give you many real hugs when i next see you.

[ninox.livejournal.com]

But you are old ;) Only kidding. Big hug from this end as well.

Never easy when this sort of thing happens. One of my mum's cousins of the same age as her passed away 4 years ago. That hit her really hard as it was the first of her generation. I can sympathise. I keep telling her a toy boy is the solution or a sugar daddy!

In all reality one of the greatest drivers for me to head north of the border in a few years time is parent related. I will appreciate great distance & sanity in the mean time.

[moniqueleigh]

Oy. Yup, I know that one, all too well of late. I was looking at pics taken by my SIL from the holiday visit. Ummm, I knew Daddy was getting old, but..... Daaaaayummmm..... When did his beard go totally white? I mean, huh? And pics that just show his hands make me remember my great-grandfather's hands.... And, there've been discussions about how he can't do as much as he used to do due to back issues. *gulp* Yup, the parents are getting old, meaning I may have to admit that 34-almost-35 isn't exactly "spring chicken land." Yikes!

[nickys.livejournal.com]

Hugs.

Sorry to hear that.

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

My folks are fine (they are both 60 this year. Mum has dubious cholesterol/ blood pressure, dad is fine except that he works shifts which means he doesn't sleep very well) but over the past year or so, it's their friends/cousins/friend's husbands that are starting to come down with cancers/heart attacks/die.

On the other hand, my gran, at 88, is annoyed that one of her knees aches a bit if she does lots of walking and seemed quite miffed that she might have to go to the doctor's. Nothing wrong with her mind and she's lived on her own since my grampa died 12 years ago.

Know what I am hoping for...

I'm not likely to move back to 'look after' my folks though, even as they do get older - they wouldn't like or want that much I don't think.

[eljaydaly.livejournal.com]

It's a tough transition for all concerned. Best of luck to everyone.