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| Swine Flu Germ |
I pulled out the Vick's Vapor rub, hoping to help clear my sinuses. The faint camphor smell caused me to drift into the past. I remembered my dad and how he used to rub Vick's on my chest and put some in a tissue for me to sniff. I remembered him rubbing me down with rubbing alcohol or witch hazel when I was burning with a fever as a child. He was such a good dad. I cried my eyes out, wishing my dad were alive and here to help me. I missed my daddy and I'm freaking 50!
Yesterday, my husband took my MIL to the doctor to get checked out after her fall on Sunday in front of the supermarket. The good news is she didn't break her hip, the bad news.... she broke her arm. She is now completely helpless and needs me to help her again. I'm back to serving my MIL who doesn't like me. FUCK! This is surely a lesson in humility.
Everyone arrived home around the same time yesterday. First, Brian and my MIL came home at 4PM. My mom pulled in at 4:05PM. I had mustered up the strength about an hour before and made a pot of chicken soup. The house smelled homey and welcoming for everyone when they all walked through the door.
Mom was confused more than usual yesterday. It's hard to know why she gets so confused, although I do know when she is getting ill or has a UTI, confusion becomes part of our lives. I pray that she doesn't get this flu bug, it will put her in a hospital.
On Monday, we visited her new Geriatrician, primary care doctor. He is a doctor who specializes in senior health. Dr. Zucker is awesome. He is the first doctor who recognized that my mom has Lewy Bodies Dementia without any information that I had divulged previously. He was pleased with my mom's health plan; diet, exercise, music, day program and that she isn't on any pharmaceutical drugs.
The doctor understands that pharma drugs cause LBD folks more issues than they help resolve. He will also consult with my mom's Naturopath Doctor. Alleluia! Dr. Zucker is the perfect doctor for my mom because he understands the concept that food is medicine and natural remedies.
My mom liked him a lot. He knew how to talk to her and even told me that I need to become a better listener. I am not very good at listening. I run out of patience because I have so many things to get done in a day to keep the house running. I promised him and my mom that I'd do better with using my mouth and ears proportionately.
Dr. Zucker is the doctor who visits the nursing homes that I have my mom on wait lists. The homes I have found for her are outstanding and now that I know Dr. Z is the attending physician, my worries have been squelched.
Today I feel better. My husband got me some Alka-Seltzer cold medicine last night. It's the only stuff that I have ever taken that can clear up sinus congestion. It tastes disgusting and the only time I can drink the liquid is when I'm sick. I was trying not to take anything with chemicals, but yesterday I was so sick I felt that I needed to do something before rushing myself to the ER.
The Alka-Seltzer worked. It cleared my sinuses up and I was able to breath. I slept for 6 hours without coughing; what a relief. Just like the old commercial jingle, "Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is..."
I'll sleep today. Sleep seems to be the only cure for what ails me. It's going on 2 weeks that I've been sick and I'm tired of it. I'm ready to get on with my life, especially now that my mom is gone all day at the day program.
I have learned a lesson through all of this illness. The Universe has a way of slapping us down and forcing us to rest. I often wonder if there's some spot in the brain that triggers illness when there's too much stress on ones system. In any event, this has been one heck of a flu bug. I looked up the symptoms and it appears I have contracted H1N1, the "Swine Flu." I had ever symptom... lucky me.
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