I've been blessed that in 14.5 years of marriage I've been really sick very few times. Sadly the two worst were the end of 2013/beginning of 2014 and this week.
The "superbug" (as some media outlets here have called it) has been going around NC since December. I was "blessed" with its presence about 5:30am Sunday morning. Since I couldn't keep liquids down, I didn't even think about taking my normal medicine. Monday morning found me still very queasy, and I thought one more day without it wouldn't hurt. And then at 8pm Monday night I started have very bad pains in my left shoulder and arm (along with all the pain I was still having in my abdomen). When the tension headache started, I took my blood pressure and realized we had a problem. So I took my medicine, tried to find a position that would make the pain tolerable so I could rest, and hoped the meds would work quickly. They didn't. By 1am I was beyond miserable and starting to get scared, so we headed to the new ER in Garner. They did a LOT more tests than I think the situation warranted, but by the time we left at 4:30am, my blood pressure was almost back to normal, I had a prescription for some meds to help all the stomach pain, and my fever was starting to break. (I shocked them by refusing a blanket...the cold air was actually feeling good, which was a change after freezing all day Sunday and part of Monday.)
Being sick as a caregiver is never a good thing. It's downright frustrating and emotionally hard. I know different couples have different ways of dealing with disabilities and marriage, but thankfully this is not a problem we've really encountered before. I mean, I had to have help when I've strained a neck muscle and broke my elbow, but that's very different than when you feel so ill you can barely stand up. It scares me a little bit that's it happened twice in the span of two months, but it's also a wake-up call that we really and truly need to get a better plan in place.
Meanwhile, I'm hoping this is the last of viruses for me this year. Twice in two months is way too many!
The "superbug" (as some media outlets here have called it) has been going around NC since December. I was "blessed" with its presence about 5:30am Sunday morning. Since I couldn't keep liquids down, I didn't even think about taking my normal medicine. Monday morning found me still very queasy, and I thought one more day without it wouldn't hurt. And then at 8pm Monday night I started have very bad pains in my left shoulder and arm (along with all the pain I was still having in my abdomen). When the tension headache started, I took my blood pressure and realized we had a problem. So I took my medicine, tried to find a position that would make the pain tolerable so I could rest, and hoped the meds would work quickly. They didn't. By 1am I was beyond miserable and starting to get scared, so we headed to the new ER in Garner. They did a LOT more tests than I think the situation warranted, but by the time we left at 4:30am, my blood pressure was almost back to normal, I had a prescription for some meds to help all the stomach pain, and my fever was starting to break. (I shocked them by refusing a blanket...the cold air was actually feeling good, which was a change after freezing all day Sunday and part of Monday.)
Being sick as a caregiver is never a good thing. It's downright frustrating and emotionally hard. I know different couples have different ways of dealing with disabilities and marriage, but thankfully this is not a problem we've really encountered before. I mean, I had to have help when I've strained a neck muscle and broke my elbow, but that's very different than when you feel so ill you can barely stand up. It scares me a little bit that's it happened twice in the span of two months, but it's also a wake-up call that we really and truly need to get a better plan in place.
Meanwhile, I'm hoping this is the last of viruses for me this year. Twice in two months is way too many!
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