So bubs and i have been sick most of this week. Currently, i'm dealing with some guilt about the fact that i basically feel well, but called off sick this morning. My reasoning behind this decision is the fact that i: a.) still have a slight fever, b.) still have an intermittent chest burning cough, c.) was sent home yesterday from work sick (my boss made it apparent that he did not want me sick at work and sickening others), and even d.) there was a little voice in my head blaring warning signals that if i sent mom to her day center, and she had the pre-sick germs, i risked getting elderly and/or injured and/or confused people sick. All of that, and the low grade fever that i decided to take as a fleece, made me decide to call off today. (Under the idea that i plan, Lord willing, on returning to work tomorrow fever or no, bub's will be home tomorrow for mom, and Lord willing we'll all be well by next Tuesday.)
A friend recently vented to me about the problems of having a sick toddler. Not knowing what's going on, they just know something is wrong, she said, so her son had recently clung to her in fear prior to throwing up on her..... several times.
Mom, thank and praise God!!!!! (for all!!) has been blessedly healthy.
Still, that comment made me think about the peculiarities of caring for someone with dementia who is ill or in pain.
See, much like the toddler, they do not necessarily realize why they are sick. When mom is sick or hurting, she is still restless often- she just wants to go out. She does not realize why the medicine is not working immediately, and wants more. She wants to go to the doctor- now. Immediacy is a big part of dementia. When you think about it- why wouldn't it be? If you knew you stood a decent chance of forgetting your current thought, or if you had trouble remembering a previous one, wouldn't you want to grasp that thought- that idea- that desire- and demand its fulfillment now? This may not be her thought process at all- it just occurred to me.
Also, while i have the advantage over the sick mother in that mom can be left alone for periods of time, or told to go play solitaire, and i have bubs to help me, there is still something to being a sick caregiver. Thank God!! even at its worst this current cold/flu/whatever hasn't been too extreme. Still, regardless of how i'm feeling, it's my responsibility to give mom her medicine at night. She still needs to eat, and to have her questions answered. She needs help getting ready to go to the center (except that she hasn't gone this week; after she was dressed Tuesday bubs decided he was staying home from school). All of this must be done with close attention being paid to trying not to get her sick. It's trying to talk her out of leaning over your bed, trying to remind her why she can't just use your phone, eventually giving up and walking to the store because otherwise she will probably just go herself. Not getting someone sick becomes more difficult when you have to care for them.
There is so much i should do today, simple things like cashing checks and calling our investment firm. The call i have no excuse not to make, but cashing the checks- well, i'm a little afraid of getting the tellers sick. At the very least i assured the newspaper they would have my assignment tonight- and thus need to pick up the police report (after a shower- i assure you, you do not want to know what days without conditioner and lying in bed for hours on end does to my appearance.)
Alright, i'll leave you for now.
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