Pituitary News, Issue 21 - Autumn 2001.

If you are the parent, spouse, partner, friend or neighbour of someone with a pituitary disorder, who needs your support, you will probably consider that their health is the main priority. Quite rightly you will focus on their needs and wish to make sure that they receive the best health care possible. However it is vital that you look after your health too.

Many carers worry about what will happen if something happens to them. Yet, unfortunately for very understandable reasons, don't do anything about support for themselves until their own health suffers.

Good health is not only about physical, but also about emotional well-being. We all have needs for privacy, some personal space, and time to be with friends and to enjoy ourselves. It is all too easy for carers busy coping day to day to neglect these needs, not to make time for themselves, and to find their lives becoming more stressful. By looking after themselves and trying to meet their own needs, carers will hopefully feel better and more able to cope with their caring role, which is clearly beneficial to themselves and to the person they are supporting.

There are some helpful publications for carers, including the Carers National Association leaflets: 'Take care of yourself', which gives some ideas of ways in which carers can begin to take care of themselves, including eating well, keeping fit, acknowledging their feelings about their caring situation, and recognising stress; and 'When caring becomes a crisis', which looks more closely at some of the feelings carers have when they are under stress, and suggests ways of dealing with them, including advice on taking a break, getting financial, practical and emotional support and counselling. (These leaflets are free to carers - Carers National Association/Carers UK details are on this page.)

But it is not just up to you. Carers' organisations are campaigning to have carers health needs more widely recognised, as well as encouraging carers to play a greater role in looking after themselves. During Carers' Week in June, they campaigned for improved practice and services to carers from health professionals, and issued leaflets to GPs to help them identify carers and recognise their specific health needs. A guide for carers was also distributed, advising carers how they can make the most of their primary health care team.

The advice included:

• Ensuring that your GP knows you are a carer, and asking them to make it clear on your notes and on the notes of the person you caring for.
• If you are a parent carer making sure your doctor records this.
• Encouraging all healthcare staff to think of you as a partner in caring.
• Writing down your questions before attending an appointment with your GP.
• If worried about your own health, making an appointment especially for yourself and not trying to add on a discussion about your health to an appointment about the person you care for.

It is suggested that carers may find preparation before a health care appointment useful - so that their doctor or other health professional knows what problems they have and what help they need. Health professionals can often arrange services or support, or point carers in the right direction. Suggested questions carers can ask themselves include:

• Am I isolated or lonely?
• Do I suffer from stress or depression?
• Is anything about my health worrying me?
• Am I getting enough sleep?
• Do I have aches and pains because of what I do for the person I care for?
• Do I need help with housework/shopping/having time off or other caring tasks?
• Am I worried about money?
• Is my sex life affected by my caring?
• Do I know how to get emergency help for the person I care for?
• Do I have an agreed plan with my GP for the person I care for if I suddenly fall ill or have an accident?

Clearly this guide is intended to cover the needs of carers in all caring situations, and some aspects may not be relevant to your specific needs or circumstances, but others may be helpful. Remember that unless you say what is worrying you, others may assume everything is OK. Some other initiatives are being developed to meet carers' health care needs. In some GP practices Carer Support Workers are present to offer support and information and to guide carers to relevant services. Another type of support is the offer of a carers' health check. Do ask your practice if either of these services is available.

Not all of these suggestions will suit you or your lifestyle, but, most importantly, please do think about your own health needs and look after yourself.

For further information, or to make comments and raise issues, please contact the Carer Sub-Committee or the Carer Support Project Manager on 0845 450 0376 or contact us via the website. Information about the Carer Support Project and news and resources for carers can be found in the Carers' section of this website.