Stress induced gut pain

[Tintackedsea]

My dad has been diagnosed with secondary cancer in the liver and has been told he only has a few weeks or months left. He’s refusing to see or speak to anyone about it apart from me and he’s angry if I talk to him. He’s allowed me to tell his brother and my siblings but doesn’t want anyone else to know. My mother has Alzheimer’s and I don’t know how to explain or if I should or what to do. I was managing everything but then last night I just felt totally overwhelmed. My stomach is in agony, I feel sick, can’t eat and I have roaring sound in my ears and dizziness. I don’t have time to be ill. This is making everything impossible.

can anyone signpost me to useful information or resources about how to cope with this? Is there something I can take?

You need to see your GP as soon as possible. It sounds very much like you're in danger of burning out.

I had/have bad health anxiety after husband diagnosed with prostate cancer and both in-laws being diagnosed with dementia. Go to your GP - I was in a state and continued to work through everything but I found antidepressants and talking therapies helpful at the time. You are in fight or flight mode.

Just wanted to come on say how sorry I am you are going through this. I have an M with dementia and a DF in the very last stages of Parkinsons. Each story is unique but it is so very tough.

💐

You poor thing. You're having normal physical response to the stress you're under, and you might feel you don't have time to be ill, but your body is telling you otherwise. I went through something similar recently and fortunately I had someone encouraging me to try look after myself even a little bit. To eat a little, get sleep. And not try to do everything and fix everything, because I couldn't.

Thank you for the kind words. I went to the GP and he gave me some anti sickness medication. I threw up just outside the surgery which was utterly mortifying but may have expedited things! Poor GP. I still feel terrible but not as bad as I was. I phoned in sick for the rest of the week. I feel so broken.

I'm so sorry - you are stuck in the middle here and having to be the Fire Brigade for everyone. Look after yourself. If it's any help your natural empathy will help you get through this. Been there . Make sure to get some good counselling when the time is right.

Is it pericyazine? When my DDad was dying I was hit with awful vertigo which was really anxiety and it really helped me.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

I'm so sorry for what you are going through, and hope the medication is helping.

I suggest that you look at the MacMillan online community forums to connect with others who are or have been in a similar position to you - there will almost certainly be people there who have had to deal with managing and explaining things to surviving partners who have Alzheimers, and they also have professional support staff that you can phone or chat to online if it helps.
Cancer experience forums | Macmillan Online Community