While I spent much of February pretty much stuck in bed, I can say that it is not a bad lifestyle, at least as long as it does not go on too long. Being the person that I am, I did not lie there inordinately; I would just grab as many successive hours as I could to be as prone as possible.
Fortunately, senior cat Luigi (12) was always there to see to my needs. And to poke holes in the comforter with his ridiculously sharp claws on his disproportionately large paws.
Redeeming quality of illness number one: a loving cat who unconditionally loves me. Or at least behaves as though he does. I can’t say whether it’s really “love.” He’s furry and warm and that’s enough when one is lying there with a fever.
First there was the cold virus that swept through the house. I could deal with that. I got out of the house and functioned just fine. No big deal; I just had to explain to people who asked about my terribly congested-sounding voice that I had a little virus. It was really the first of the season for me but I figured I was getting off easy, considering it was early February and we hadn’t been hit with anything nasty.
We all got over the cold, and then along came an unfortunate mild fever and sore throat. First one kid, then another, then me. I let this go for a couple of days, worsening all the while, and really, really stuck in bed, unable to eat much of anything. My throat became so swollen and painful that breathing and sleeping became difficult. At 3:45 am on a weekend night, unable to rest, I caved and tried to reach a doctor on call. No return call came, so an hour later my husband tried on my behalf. Again, nothing for an hour. I called again—in a state of delirium, having slept for five-minute stretches sitting up in order to breathe, unable to swallow, yadda yadda. I explained my situation again, and this time gave an alternate cell phone number. At 7:00 am or so I was finally able to speak to the doctor, who apparently couldn’t reach our internet phone number.
The doctor patiently explained to me every other ailment under the sun I might have, including mono. I patiently explained that I needed the damn antibiotics, now. Ordinarily I do not much want to deal with doctors or antibiotics. But when I’m sick and have something or other that I think needs such treatment, I’m usually right. I’ve had strep before, and this was strep. I had pushed myself too far (see previous post), and my immune system went on vacation to Aruba without me. The doctor relented, and called in a prescription for me, which my husband immediately went to fetch. Thank God for 24-hour Walgreens drive-through pharmacies.
Redeeming quality number two: taking advantage of 24-hour pharmacies, which otherwise can make a person go, “What’s the big emergency at 3:00 am?” Well, when you’ve been there, you know.
Redeeming quality number three: a husband who will help out with a call to the doctor at 4:30 am, and then go pick up the medicine at 7:30, and still take care of the kids throughout, including bringing meals (or what I would eat of them) to me in bed.
After I started on my medicine, my husband made an appointment to take the kids to their doctor, who happily has weekend morning hours for cases like this. They all got throat cultures and were diagnosed with strep.
Redeeming quality number four: being right about my sickness, even when the doc on the line was dubious. And not only that: mine had advanced to scarlet fever, with all-over mild body rash that focused on my face. Mmmm. (Side note to this redeeming quality: I have become a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about bacteria and viruses. This is not something I ever aspired to; it just comes with the territory of parenthood.)
The kids started their meds the same day, and we were one happy family of canceling all social engagements, watching TV together, sleeping at strange times of day, having little appetite, and generally feeling incapacitated.
Except for me, as long as I had my computer on my lap in bed.
Redeeming quality number five: being able to blog throughout my sickness, primarily out of boredom. And with the cat by my side, this was made rather pleasant indeed.
Postscript: the strep returned this week, and the youngest kid is back on antibiotics. I am now engaged in trying to figure out how to fend it off this time. Husband appears immune, so I am employing deflector shields. The pediatrician recommended new toothbrushes for everyone, and each person gets his or her own toothpaste as well. No more shared cup at the bathroom sink, either (duh: how many household illnesses might I have prevented earlier by eliminating this dreaded, germy practice?). So far, so good, and I’m healthy enough for the time being to continue fasting, more or less, but I have put myself on notice.