Thanks Nat and Geoff, I guess it is just hard to tell whether it is the tumour talking or is this my mum? Well my mum left the day of diagnosis 25 months ago but I dont like to think that I am living with/ caring for a tumour. Everyone says to enjoy the good moments ect but we havent really had many. After her debulk days after diagnosis, mum lost alot of her vision so she lost most of her independence from the start. Then after a year being on the dex, her bones became brittle and had 3 fractures in her spine. She was in ALOT of pain and had to use a walker around the house and wheelchair when we went out. When the pain went away she had shrunk like 30cm and had a hunch back and relied on the walker. She never really wanted to leave the house after that and now in the last 6 mths she is sooo paranoid about needing the toilet we pretty much dont go anywhere, she has no interest to sit in the garden, doent have the concentration and vision to read or do puzzles. All she does is watch tv, eat and smoke (Although it is bad, I cant exactly take that off her), oh and sleep. She doesnt want to phone her friends (but they can visit if they call) or go for a walk (i will push the wheelchair). Do you find it difficult to understand someone else's quality of life? Mum now is losing mobility in the left side, she was falling over using the commode in the night, so I put a whistle on her wrist, used a baby moniter and slept with my door open but she still wouldnt call out for help. So I put the side of the hospital bed up and she would just freak out, 3 times a night which makes for a very tired and grumpy me. She eventually figured out how to put the side down. (Go figure- forget to call me, even after a big lecture before sleep and then me losing it in the night telling her she HAS to call me next time but she will remember how to put the side down. A catheter was put in a week ago (and today she has been put on antibiotics for a UTI) so it is a little easier and hopefully we can leave the houde. Anyway as I was saying, we dont have many good times. I have many "WTF" and "How the F did that happen" times. Geoff thanks for the laugh with your story, I cant inagine, we arent at that #2 stage yet, although I can smell it I havent had to clean it. Just one more question.... Do any of you carers have children? I always thought I would have a baby by the time I am 30, I thought I was mature enough to be a mum. Now I think I will be a horrible mum because I cant handle being a carer, actually I dont like this life at all. I guess because mum cant do anything for herself and sometimes talking to her is like talking to a 2 yer old. Will it be different? I do love kids though and have worked in child care and also been an Aupair, they were never my own though. Im glad I finally signed up to a support forum. And thankyou for your reassurance. It is also great to read someone else life as a carer and take my mind off whats going on in this house. Take care x ... View more

My mum's GBM is driving me crazy!!! I would also like to know how everyone is dealing with this..... I am 28 and my mum is 61, diagnosed with grade 4 GBM. Am I the only carer who is stressed and swearing at the end of the day? I feel so bad for getting angry because she doesnt listen (or should I say the tumour). How do you stay calm repeating the same thing a hundred times, then another hundred times the next day? Is it just my age that makes me not as patient? Or am I the only one who is complaining about this? Or is it because she is my mum and has always been independant and doesnt want to listen to her daughter? I feel so bad for just wanting this to be over..... Peanutz, I hope your partner allowed for pallative care, I couldnt imagine doing all this alone. Maybe suggest to your partner that you would just like to get them involved now to reassure that you are doing the right thing, and so they can be there if you need any extra equipment in the house for mobility etc. You dont want to wait till you really need it before asking for it. ... View more