Not-So-Happy Easter Weekend

~ Carolyn Thomas

by  Carolyn Thomas   ♥    @HeartSisters

This morning was a real milestone for me. For the first time in over a week, I was able to get out of bed and dress myself.   

A dreadful bout of viral gastroenteritis has left me in bed, barely able to sit up or walk or do much of anything. The relentless vomiting and nausea has now stopped, the fever  has eased, but the residual fall-out is still a double-whammy of persistent muscle pain and all-over shaky-sweaty weakness. And I’ve learned more than I ever wanted to know about the assorted viruses responsible for what we used to call “stomach flu”. 

So not surprisingly – no Sunday morning Heart Sisters post today.  I’m grateful for family, friends and neighbours close by for regularly checking in and dropping off whatever food I’ve been able to keep down. We even had a brief balcony visit this week on little Zachary’s 3rd birthday (me up here, he and his parents on the lawn below). A number of credible sources quoted a range of likely recuperation times – from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks, depending on the patient and on the type of virus).

Meanwhile, please enjoy a chocolate egg this weekend for me.

See also:

–When heart disease isn’t your biggest problem

 

Published by Carolyn Thomas

31 thoughts on “Not-So-Happy Easter Weekend”

  1. I know I’m late with this but I’m glad to hear that you are on the mend. Hopefully by now you have been able to enjoy a cup of coffee; maybe more than.

    Thank you for taking the time to update us.

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    1. Thank you Omame – I have now had three cups of coffee during this past week! Other than these very odd daily sweaty-shaky bouts of sudden fatigue every couple of hours, I feel a bit better every day and have even managed some (short, slow) walks outside every morning where I’m loving all the spring flowers that are blooming.
      Take care – ❤️

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  2. Sorry to hear you have been sick Carolyn; hope you are getting stronger each day and able to enjoy some of our spring flowers and sunshine.

    I had it a month ago and can attest to how much it flattens people. I was thankful for IV fluids and meds at RJH.

    Take care,
    Kathleen

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    1. Thank you Kathleen ❤️ – wow! IV fluids and meds at RJH!? You were way worse off than I was. It’s a brutal illness that does indeed “flatten” us. Every day that I feel a wee bit better is a day that I’m so relieved to be “over it” that I do too much/too soon – and then crash into a sweaty-shaky heap.

      I’m glad you’re on the mend, and YES those spring flowers are a tonic on a sunny day.

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  4. Sorry to hear that you have been under the weather Carolyn.

    My son has been sick also, he moved 9 hours away 3 months ago for his dream job, and was going to fly home for Easter.

    But Friday he called, said he was not coming cuz he was sick in bed. Mom mode kicked in, he’s there, I am here – does he have soup? Something for his fever? Worry about him, on top of missing him like crazy – how will I get through the weekend? 

    He got himself to Urgent Care, and I am thankful that his boss is a mom also, and made sure he had what he needed.

    Of course all is okay with him. Zoomed him earlier and he is feeling better – and so is mom! He has gotten up and showered. Now I have to wait till May to see him.

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    1. Hi Susan – When severe illness strikes like your son’s, the only option is often to cancel, cancel, cancel – no matter how disappointing it is for everybody. The decision makes itself, really. It sounds like your son did all the right things, got himself to medical help, enlisted the help of his boss. A relief for Mom! Glad he’s on the mend. ❤️

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  5. So sorry that you have been so ill with the stomach flu. It sounds very nasty indeed. I’m sure you were disappointed not being able to participate with your grandkids for their Easter adventures. 

    Hopefully, you can start to enjoy the warmer, sunny weather on your balcony. Sending along healing thoughts for a speedy recovery.

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  6. I’m so sorry Carolyn that you’ve been down for the count. Been there, done that. Looks like it will be a bright sunny day for us southern BC residents. Park the couch by a window and bask away.

    Our BC sunshine will perk you right up. I promise.

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    1. You are two steps ahead of me, Therese – I just came in from breakfast (scrambled egg) out on my sunny balcony. It was lovely out there, and nice to be able to eat something, anything, besides flat ginger ale or applesauce. What I’m really dreaming about now is coffee – maybe later this week?
      Thank you, you’re so right about sunshine. ❤️

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  7. So sorry to hear you have been unwell, and hope for a speedy recovery. I find Hydralyte very useful whenever I have a “tummy bug” and cannot keep anything down. Sending supportive and healing thoughts!

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    1. Thank you Sue ❤️ – deyhdration can be a danger with repeated bouts of vomiting and diarrhea. It’s serious. I learned (while memorizing everything I could find out about gastroenteritis during the worst of it) that hydration accelerators like Hydralyte can work better than plain water in keeping us hydrated.

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  9. So sorry to hear about his, Carolyn. I had it too and thought I was the only person in the city with it! Strangely, I’m glad I wasn’t alone. Mine wasn’t as severe as yours, so I’m very glad you have an excellent support network. Hope you’ll be able enjoy some of the sunshine today, even if it’s just looking at it from your big red chair! A gentle cyber hug.

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    1. No, you were NOT alone Deborah – it was you and me both! I sure hope you’re on the mend by now.

      I know what you mean about that strange relief, though: did you read Helen Chesnut’s garden column in yesterday’s TC? coincidentally titled: “Assessing the Damage, Living in Hope”

      Poor Helen wrote that she had finally emerged from a miserable stomach bug after three weeks indoors – and of course was now out in her garden stringing up netting for her climbers. I felt somehow inspired by her progress and look forward to when I too can get out to string netting – My ‘Piilu’ clematis are starting to explode out there, netting-less!
      Thank you Deborah. . . ❤️

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  10. Carolyn,
    Oh my gosh, what a nasty, nasty virus. I’m glad you were able to get out of bed and get dressed today! I’m sorry you’ve been under the weather and for so long. May you feel better and stronger with each new day.

    And on a side note, I was remarking to Dear Hubby yesterday that this was the FIRST ever Easter I have not bought any chocolate Easter eggs at all and no jelly beans either. The latter of which I only started buying after my dad died.

    I think this will also be the last one that I do NOT buy some. I miss those little treats! So, if I could, I’d eat a chocolate egg with you in mind, but alas, I cannot.

    My thoughts are with you, though. Feel better soon. xx

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    1. Thank you Nancy ❤️ – this was indeed a NASTY NASTY virus. Many years ago, I caught the Norwalk virus during a huge outbreak at the hospital where I worked (the norovirus is highly contagious). It was brutal but I honestly don’t remember suffering back then as much as this current bug has knocked me flat. That was of course years ago before my heart attack and current cardiac issues (plus I was much younger).

      I fully support your decision to rethink your chocolate egg/jelly bean purchasing decision for next Easter. I think that once we start dropping special little traditions like that, we lose something about our sense of family.

      My tummy is not quite ready yet to tolerate chocolate, but here in Canada we have Cadbury Easter Creme eggs that I’ve asked my family to freeze for when I’m finally able to enjoy one!

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  11. My Heart is with you! Your body has fought the virus and won, now recovery begins. Be patient. I remember hearing in nursing school that 1 week flat in bed requires 4 weeks out of bed for the body to fully recover its strength.

    This is a good time to remember your quote from Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” ❤️  

    Easter Blessings!

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  12. Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear you have a nasty bug! Sending wishes that you are close to full recovery. xo

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  13. Fellow ♥️ survivor Roz here. I hope you feel way better very, very soon. Be gentle and kind with yourself.

    Roz C.

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  15. I hope you feel better soon. I think I am the family pro on vomiting, diarrhea and stomach flu, though I’ve been much better in recent years.

    Plain yogurt with live cultures along with saltines is a lifesaver for me, although I have to be very careful to eat very small amounts.

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    1. Thank you Helen ❤️ I can’t quite fathom the healing power of saltines, recommended by every site I found. I tried them and YES very small amounts. I could barely tolerate even thinking of eating anything at all for the first 4 or 5 days.

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      1. Oh yes. . . I think the “healing” power is the saltiness which encourages one to drink small sips of water – generally good as I am usually rather dehydrated, but small bites, spoonfuls and sips every so often is what enables me to keep things down.

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