……always seem to go wrong for us!
By last Sunday morning my daughter had caught the virus from her husband and the baby – it was a toss up which one of them felt worse. We had Master Freddie for the day to give them chance to rest and he was as good as gold. It was far too cold / wet / damp to go anywhere so we settled down with the box of Lego and then played a game of Peppa Pig Monopoly (still the favourite with all the grandchildren). By mid afternoon I knew I had succumbed to the virus but managed to keep going until tea-time and then had to go and lay my head down leaving DH to cook his tea and take him home. I really haven’t felt well since.
By the next day on Monday tea-time DH was also unwell, he thought he wasn’t doing too badly but has taken a turn for the worse today. This really is a vicious virus, the baby is still unwell and it is over a week now and his temperature keeps dipping and diving reaching 40C at times and then normal again at others. Of course there is no doctor available because he hasn’t got a rash or had a fit! When my daughters were babies we always received a visit from our doctor if they were poorly. How times have changed.
This is the first day I have been able to have a shower – it was a challenge as I am so light headed all the time and find it difficult to stand for any length of time without passing out – both my daughter and son-in-law are having the same problem so I think it is just the nature of the virus. I have also got stabbing pains in my bones and muscles and feel generally quite weak. All we can do is sit it out.
It was going to be a busy week for us trying to do some of the household tasks like cleaning the oven (which is now long overdue). All our plans for the jobs around the house have had to be postponed and all the appointments cancelled. I just hope we improve by next week. Mum is frantically calling me a lot asking how I am, but don’t be deceived, this is not really to know if I am feeling better but if I am feeling better enough to go up and see her this Sunday because my sister is away again this weekend.
I would have to be in hospital for her to consider I might not feel well enough to visit…..and at the moment I really don’t and this pressure is not helping as I cannot relax. DH took a call the other night after she left a series of voicemail messages sobbing that my sister had told her we were never going to go and visit her ever again. What my sister actually said was that we may not get up anytime soon.
Last time I couldn’t go to visit when my sister was away she had a series of tamtrums everyday with the carers – sobbing, screaming shouting and throwing things – she is a most difficult patient and wears them all out….it is exasperating. I live in fear that one day the care agency will say they are not prepared to take all this abuse anymore and we will have to find another agency. I am sure other people out there are going through a similar experience with an elderly parent but I feel so alone in all this as there is no one to ask for advice on how to deal with all this.
Anyway enough of my problems – I know life will look better when I feel better and a good moan can be very cathartic – just ignore me!
I hope everyone is managing to keep well and maybe there is a hint of good weather coming along as I know everyone will be itching to go out into their gardens – me as well. It really has been a long gloomy winter.
Take care x
where the journey takes me 2 
I’m sorry you are all so poorly. I hope you all recover soon. I was a carer on the comunity and we had some really awful clients but we just got on with it as it was our job so I hope your mum’s carers are the same and continue the care.
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I feel so sorry for the carers because she can be quite charming when she wants to be but when she can’t get what she wants or her own way she becomes this screaming toddler and waits until everyone gives in to her and they always do in the end.
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I came down with the same bug two days ago. Almost passed out in the kitchen. Two days in bed have helped but tea and a cup of ramen are pretty much all I can manage. The chills and sweats are over. Fingers crossed.
Be well.
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I hope you improve – we seem to lose a symptom and then gain one each day. Managed to eat some soup today but everything tastes quite strange.
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I hope you and your husband (and your daughter and family)are feeling better soon. It does sound like an awful virus!
it is always stressful caring for elderly family members. I looked after my cousin and her husband and they both had dementia. He was always such a sweet man and the dementia did not change his personality however my cousin became very difficult. She became paranoid thinking her carers were stealing things from her etc. I had an assessment done by a geriatric psychiatrist and her prescribed medication that calmed her. It made such a difference! They were both in a retirement home and when my cousin died we had to move her husband into a long term care facility as he required more assistance. He was very happy there and received excellent care. He was able to pay for his room however if he had not been able to the home would have just taken his government pension money each month.
it sounds like your Mum might need a greater level of care which would provide you and your sister with peace of mind. Take care and remember to prioritize your own care.
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What a horrid virus! Is there no anti-virals you can take? I can’t think how parents cope when both are sick and their backups (ie you) are sick too.
Was your mum always self-absorbed or is this from aging? Hard work for your sis and you.
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These bugs this year are nasty and some linger, I hope you are both feeling better. It’s a very sad thing but some people do get more difficult as they age, and the company will have met many people like your mum, they understand their frustration of getting older and not being able to do things themselves.
I hope you can get outside into your garden, like mine it’s a place of healing.
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So sorry to hear that you are all feeling unwell and that you’re having difficulties with your mum. I’m not surprised that you are finding it a bit challenging. I hope you are all feeling better very soon.
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I hope you are all feeling much better now. It is always difficult when several of you are ill at the same time especially the more vulnerable. I think you are amazing with your mum by the way, such a difficult situation to deal with every day x
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