Our Week
I have survived. Our small town is afflicted with a intestinal virus. Despite seeing very few people the last few weeks I caught it. I'm lucky, it left me with a pretty good belly ache and no appetite but mostly it was fatigue and I am very good at sleeping. I did drag myself out a few times because son Chris who also lives alone had the bug it in its more violent, ugh mode. I got his meds, pedialyte, low sugar Gatorade and crackers for him for starters. He could barely get up and threw up anything he ate. He's a type 2 insulin dependent diabetic all my mom-alarm bells were ringing.
I went to check his temps and blood sugar. The first day was the worst. The elevator in the building was out. I have COPD so climbing three flights of stairs to his apartment was a long process done with many stops and lot of bad words. The second day he could keep the Gatorade and the crackers down and the temperature was gone. Suggestions to go to Urgent Care were met with the classic cry of the adult child " Maaawm, nooo!" Regression is us. We are lucky we do have Urgent Care here in our hospital complex. See a doctor with no appointment and no emergency room. Great docs too, but noooo! He is back at work.
The difference in our ages is apparent. At 44 he was back at work after two and a half days. I, at 74, was much less ill and am still recovering by sleeping 10 hours a night with a two hour nap yesterday. I read a theory about aging immune systems, that they react much less than the immune systems of younger people. That's the theory of why so many more young adults than elders died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Not that it isn't serious for us as well. Our bodies are not as capable of the violent reactions to disease as in our youth. Interesting stuff.
In the middle of all this sick son Chris had been moving from his old apartment into an apartment across the hall. He needed to be out by Thursday but he couldn't stand up. Fortunately he'd moved all his furniture and clothing. I called son Dave who came over with his wife Heather, his fishing buddy Kyle and some of his million kids to finish the move. Chris wobbled down to let them in the secured building. They all got in the elevator to the 4th floor where it refused to open its ancient double doors and let them out. Chris called the building manager but before they got there two of son Dave's younger children were freaking out so former heavy-weight wrestler Dave and his big friend Kyle forced the doors open. The family army moved all the goods, deposited all the trash and went home. I was at home and not sorry to be left out.
I also started feeling vaguely useless. I'm the oldest child in my family and was kind of the rescuer/fixit person. The girl who could change her own oil or fix the toilet for Mom when Dad was out of town. Able to leap tall buildings etc. I haven't been that for quite awhile. Half way up those damned stairs I finally recognized how much my physical life has changed. More bad words. Made me laugh, age has only increased my vocabulary. And my family manages their own lives, and if you need rescuing you only call me to listen or to call someone else. I am both a little sad and relieved.
I went to check his temps and blood sugar. The first day was the worst. The elevator in the building was out. I have COPD so climbing three flights of stairs to his apartment was a long process done with many stops and lot of bad words. The second day he could keep the Gatorade and the crackers down and the temperature was gone. Suggestions to go to Urgent Care were met with the classic cry of the adult child " Maaawm, nooo!" Regression is us. We are lucky we do have Urgent Care here in our hospital complex. See a doctor with no appointment and no emergency room. Great docs too, but noooo! He is back at work.
The difference in our ages is apparent. At 44 he was back at work after two and a half days. I, at 74, was much less ill and am still recovering by sleeping 10 hours a night with a two hour nap yesterday. I read a theory about aging immune systems, that they react much less than the immune systems of younger people. That's the theory of why so many more young adults than elders died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. Not that it isn't serious for us as well. Our bodies are not as capable of the violent reactions to disease as in our youth. Interesting stuff.
In the middle of all this sick son Chris had been moving from his old apartment into an apartment across the hall. He needed to be out by Thursday but he couldn't stand up. Fortunately he'd moved all his furniture and clothing. I called son Dave who came over with his wife Heather, his fishing buddy Kyle and some of his million kids to finish the move. Chris wobbled down to let them in the secured building. They all got in the elevator to the 4th floor where it refused to open its ancient double doors and let them out. Chris called the building manager but before they got there two of son Dave's younger children were freaking out so former heavy-weight wrestler Dave and his big friend Kyle forced the doors open. The family army moved all the goods, deposited all the trash and went home. I was at home and not sorry to be left out.
I also started feeling vaguely useless. I'm the oldest child in my family and was kind of the rescuer/fixit person. The girl who could change her own oil or fix the toilet for Mom when Dad was out of town. Able to leap tall buildings etc. I haven't been that for quite awhile. Half way up those damned stairs I finally recognized how much my physical life has changed. More bad words. Made me laugh, age has only increased my vocabulary. And my family manages their own lives, and if you need rescuing you only call me to listen or to call someone else. I am both a little sad and relieved.
posted by Celia | May 21, 2016
7 Comments:
My word, you have been through it one way or the other.
I'd have freaked out in the lift, too. It's my worst nightmare getting stuck in one.
Hoping you're all feeling stronger and in good spirits.
Get plenty of rest.
I do envy you sleeping 10 hrs. I seem to be getting by with 4 -6. Not enough at all.
Maggie x
It takes me longer to get over things too. I too am the oldest and usually the caretaker but it is changing, like with you. Reason to be sad but I may as well embrace it!
Dear COPD Friend....please get thy ass to the gym, or to a dance class, or start walking a couple of miles a day. Within a few months you will feel better. How do I know this? My cousin Tom, who also has COPD, dances his tail off and says it's what saved his life. Hugs.
Very thankful that I don't often get sick. You have been through the mill lately. The Cowman was a type 1 diabetic and when he got sick it was a struggle to keep him stable.
Amen Mage. Started walking along the river here again.
Thank you for this wonderful post. I turned 74 two weeks ago, and was also an oldest child. So many similarities between us. My friend Dennis said his mom told him, "it's always something." I haven't seen him in years, but wonder if he thinks of his old mom now that he has most likely reached old age. Truly it is a very compelling tale you have told. The article about the aging immune system sounds very interesting. Could there really be an upside to this process?
dang- what an awful illness-hop you are up and at 'em ! Kudos for the family pitching in! Big hugs!
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