After an really great weekend, Tom started complaining that he was cold, and couldn't get warm. If you know Tom, you know that is BIZARRE! Couple days later, I get a phone call, and hear a teeny tiny voice , "Honey, I do not feel so good"
I ask, "What's going on?"
"I dunno, I am so cold, shaking, feel really bad....dizzy, hands are numb, legs do not want to work, hard to breathe, heart is pounding"
( he had been on the phone with a friend who called later to see if Tom had had a stroke)
After some discussion I learned that it was 86 in his office, his patients were begging to be let out for some air, and he was freezing! Then he added the info that he hurt so bad, especially his legs, that he did not think he could walk.
I got in the car and went to get him. Of course I kept thinking about the time he called me and said while running he had passed out, did not know where he was or how long he'd been there....I was on the run to find him calling 911 etc. I found him in the driveway laughing his head off at my reaction! Funny!
Then I thought about how he can get sick and really not be able to describe his symptoms.
I went in his office, I opened the door and was knocked down by the blast of hot hot air. The thermostat read 90 degrees! There was Tom, sprawled out, shivering, shaking, and begging me to close the door cause I let in a cold blast of air. He was burning up, over 104! I did a quick assessment and diagnosed Influenza! Yea, I know it was a real brilliant diagnosis!!! Tom protested, "NO I want drugs...Call Ken (our friend and PA extraordinaire)" Ken will treat me and be nice! Ken confirmed my diagnosis, much to Tom's frustration. He was sure it was a conspiracy! Or some kind of cruel practical joke! He even sought solace from Jon, he said"Jon really loves me". He wes hoping Jon would have a different diagnosis; see Ken and I are old and outdated and probably can't remember. Sorry, but Jon is getting
really good at this medical gig, and alas poor Tom felt pretty picked upon!
I took him home to bed, and you know the drill...drink lots, tylenol, advil, bath, more fluids...
He had plans to be in SLC the next few evenings, and thought he'd be fine by the next day! er er
this flu has lasted 2 -3 weeks for most victims!
A really twisted part of me thought it never hurts to remind a big ruff and tuff what being sick is like..... but this was nuts, guys! In a couple days he started to have some other complications. I will spare you the gross medical details, suffice it to say that if I wrote them here, no man reading would walk normally again. And a hint.... urine is supposed to be watery, but at least liquid! I even wondered if he was passing a nephrolith! Call Jon, to define! Thankfully for him it was secondary infection, and he got the drugs he thought would cure him. He narrowly avoided admission to the hospital, our bank account would have gone on life support if he'd been admitted. Then he experienced 36 hrs that he is sure lasted a month. It is Saturday, he has moved to the couch today. (I am not sure how to get him back up the stairs..... I exaggerate, but he will need a nap to make the journey!)
His fever still goes up to 104, and when it does he has some pain in his legs to write home about. He has had no appetite, and thinks a 16 oz diet coke is pushing fluids.
I am seeing improvement though and he is going to survive. But this has been really tough on him. Staying in bed for days, not just cause I have gone ballistic and tried to make him, but cause he really could not do otherwise! I suppose it is not pertinent that the Mountain West Conference Tournament is on TV?
I am just glad that I did not need to call the kids to do a death watch! Chris came over to give him a blessing, and would rather not return, Richard came to do his laundry and stayed at the opposite end of the house. Not that they are callous or unsympathetic, they do not want this CRUD. Yellow bellied chickens...
Today Scotty called and checked on the poor soul, and wondered what they would do if I got it too and Tom was still sick...he decided we could be put in 'the home'. That would be interesting!
BUT the saddest saddest part of this, is we were going to go on a cruise this weekend, to Baja! Our first cruise, and a bunch of our friends were going too! Sun, pampering, relax, and cell phone no work....Baby Heaven! The guys were even going to golf near Cabo San Lucas!
Our friends even came to visit him in hopes he could be persuaded to 'cowboy up', they decided we could go next time cause dragging the dead and whining along on a cruise really sucks! So they are sunning and beaching and golfing while we stay here while it snows on and off! (remind me again, why do we live here?) I hope our friends take pictures of all the fun so we can see what we missed....growl! They did give us a call before they entered mexican waters to make sure we did not forget them, or the great time they were having! We need new friends......
I honestly do feel bad for him, but I can not help but see the humor. It is laugh or cry! Since I only have to
act empathetic, the laughing makes more sense! At least until we switch places.....
THAT is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I have prayed and prayed, washed the bedding alot and cleaned, and washed my hands, worn gloves and a mask, vitamin c zinc, fluids, drinking upside down, holding my breath and even created a possibility of a healthy strong me! I ordered a dead chicken to hang over the door, cause I knew a healer from Mexico who always advised that...as she said it can't hurt right? Well it is a bit messy but.....
I was going to post pictures so you could get an idea of the depth of his suffering, but he swore a vendetta to get even with me if I did. So discretion, and valor et al, I think he could post much more horrible pictures of me! Or I could break the camera....
Well, the good news is he is getting better! For that we are MOST grateful (really!!)
Olivia called and said if he'd get better they could go see "Horton Hears a Who" ! He's working on it, baby!!!
