Posted on by Cathy

On my mind…

(This is one of my long ‘thinking out loud’ posts – you’re welcome to leave now )

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Something that’s been On my Mind these past few days has been how I reacted when I realised the use (or non use) of one thing led to the need and use of another which led to the need for and use of something much more necessary . And after seeing how quickly it struck, the realisation that even fully vaccinated (2 original doses plus 2 boosters) without the last item he would well and truly have been up sh*t creek.
And yes, the full cost of that antiviral medication was $1101.39 AUD!
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Being annoyed because someone decided…in an auditorium filled with about 1000 other people…( in an environment where now – rightly or wrongly – “…It is no longer a legal requirement for people diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate…” source)… with case numbers rising again and me sitting beside him wearing one…NOT to mask up… was nothing to how I felt when someone told me a couple of days later ‘he felt a bit off’ but he’d taken a couple of Panadol so should be right.
He seemed to be in denial even though his RAT test was +ve almost instantly (plus the 2nd one because ‘maybe the 1st wasn’t correct’)

A couple of hours later his temp was sky high and he was feeling ‘more than a bit off’
(And yes I know there’s no guarantee when masks are worn but at least you’re making an effort to protect yourself and others……including those you ‘love!)

That first day there was much anger…Angela rightly called it resentment…name calling, some involving words The Golfer didn’t realise I knew….because deep down I was worried. Both for him and also selfishly me.
Everything seemed to take time – I seemed to be constantly on the go. Phone scripts are great if the link works, waiting for ones sent direct to the pharmacy took more time. Needing to start that medication plus use the prescribed inhaler asap seemed to make it go slower.

Then there was daily laundering – clothing and bed linen because of high raised temp/fever 38/39°, vomiting, spilled drinks, you name it, – unexpected incontinence even…yes maybe TMI but an unusual symptom – trying to get him to drink and possibly eat a little something (sore throat, don’t want it!) – dippy eggs with soldiers plus hot water, honey & lemon to the rescue! (Also grated cheese on toast done under the grill so it was soft then cut in quarters so he could nibble from the middle and leave the crusts. Nursery food!).
Health dept. suggestion of keeping everything he used separate and sterilised was interesting but manageable.

Nature was kind so he was able to sit outside most days, which was a help – fresh air and sunshine were good for him – meant I could keep him company at a distance – all the doors and windows inside could be open – also because trying to get him to keep a mask on indoors (near me) was a trial – lots of wars of words – I was ready to clobber him one if I heard the words ‘yes mum’ again.

For me sleeping in the other bedroom (another ‘highly recommended- if possible’ health dept suggestion) was necessary but not fun. Almost had one ear/one eye open most nights… this was my strong confident man shuffling along needing to be guided to the toilet because he couldn’t locate the door, waking me to ask if I put the bins out (not on bin night tho’), heard rustling around in the linen cupboard, no idea where he was, looking for the hot water bottle ( my feet are cold – put some socks on – don’t want to)
Oh dear illness does strange things to people.

It’s all over bar the shouting (and the lingering cough) now, daily health dept ‘check up’ contact calls have morphed into calls alternating with phone questionnaires,…. Wednesday he’s going to venture onto the golf course, attempting just half a round – 9 holes. I’m feeling a little guilty about how I felt and words that were spoken by ME – the one who has spent all her life living, working, then volunteering in a ‘caring environment’.

This time 3 years ago December 2019, we’d have wondered what all the fuss was about.
Now we know better – but – if there was this much stress, frustration and disappointment (How could you – I don’t need this) in a household of just two people, how on earth did households with several covid cases cope?

If you got this far thank you for reading- I just needed to get it off my chest.
Now it’s time for another cup of tea and wonder what this week will bring😊

Life gets a bit messy sometimes, don’t it

#loveispatient

29 Replies to “On my mind…”

  1. Life gets very messy indeed some days.
    Both of us were positive at once. Which had the plus of not having to isolate from each other – and the negative of having to care for each other when we felt less than stellar ourselves…
    And yes, we are both so very glad that we had our shot and all the boosters.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Thanks for sharing…and truly sorry that people “won’t stay home”. The catching of the virus seems to be a bit of a mystery now it’s not monitored. A friend got it recently and has no idea where exactly from! Some people get it very mildly. I’m sorry your government does dispense the antivirals for free, which I should be.
    Hoping the golfer recovers well…
    Take care my friend

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We’ve a new ‘wave’ on the go here, there are far more positive cases out there than being reported. it’s become a bit of a joke that people just accept they’re a bit crook and don’t test. It’s only if they do become really sick they test. With prescriptions here the pharmacy always puts the full cost on the label plus how much the patient has to pay. For us it was zero, we’d reached the limit of what we had to pay per year but for others it could be a copayment of $42 or $6. Like with all scripts the federal government makes up the shortfall – and there’s eligibility criteria to have these prescribed

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  3. I am glad to read of your experience! It sounds like you avoided the virus, glad of that. I think my response to the situation you describe would have been more extreme than yours, I would have provided care, but my resentment would have been very intense. Luckily my hubby chose to take precautions, for his own sake, and also knowing how strongly I would react if he brought Covid home pre-vaccine.

    Since January 2020 I’d been afraid it would come to us through his workplace, and am ever so grateful it took until October of 2022 to finally track us down and infect us.

    My research into family history allowed me to realize how dangerous infectious diseases can be. My Great Uncle John died of influenza in the 1918 pandemic, he was a hale and hearty 29 year old father of three. He Grandchildren still feel the effects of that loss.

    We began wearing masks in February of 2020, facing derision and ridicule as a result. We wore our masks anyway. A relative of hubby’s passed away from Covid on a cruise in March 2020, the Zaandam. Then another of his relatives passed away from Covid after contracting it at a car show, he had been wearing a mask and felt it was safe. I experienced mortal fear until the vaccines became available.

    I had Covid in October 2022, hubby brought it home from his crowded workplace where they don’t wear masks.

    He was sick with a “bad cold”, two days later I was sick with a “bad cold”. My main complaint was exhaustion, I could not stay awake. There was fever for a few days, runny nose, coughing, headache… I’ve been sicker though. The symptoms continue and have changed over time; I now am dealing with altered taste buds, everything tastes salty. Having eaten low-sodium for years, this has an upside, I missed salt.
    I think we will probably get Covid again this winter, or into the spring, because hubby still works in that maskless environment. We take precautions everywhere else, masks, hand washing, social distancing, no social events, and haven’t been to a family gathering since Christmas 2019.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Someone should have stomped this thing out of existence when it first poked its hairy head out in public! I mean, how many people have to die before they do something?? Especially if the vaccines don’t really protect us. Beyond sad…

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    2. I do hope you (or your man) don’t become infected again Maggie. It can’t be good for your body – or your soul. We cruised on the Zaandam many years ago, it was a lovely small ship.

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  5. i could type a story, make that 2 stories about our issues when bob was sick, not covid and when he had his first knee surgery. If I wrote it you would think I copied your story for mine, only the disease and names are not the same. I was a real bitch and was angry because he did not do what docs said to do, did things that made MY life almost unbearable. the good news is, like you it was over and then done and we wait for the next dreaded thing to happen. basically we stayed home for 2 solid years, got 3 shots 3 boosters since 2020 and still dread we might come down with Covid. so happy things are better than they were when this started and you have both survived. it is good to let off steam to people who understand.

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  6. Oh my word! This truly makes me shudder with fear of going out in public ever again. We’re truly blessed in that we haven’t come down with COVID although both of our neighbors have had it. How can people be so selfish??? To sit in an auditorium among other people and know they are possibly infected with a highly contagious virus? Do they think they’re invincible? Callous and rude don’t begin to cover it. And I am totally shocked at the cost of the vaccine… gads, ours are free, and because I’m on hospice care and Robert no longer drives, our county public health will come here to the house and vaccinate the two of us — for FREE on Wed. Jan. 18, 2023. We are blessed beyond measure. May you and the golfer be blessed as well.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hello Carol, I think you misunderstood a little point there…..Covid-19 vaccines are free, there’s no charge whatsoever – it’s the course of anti viral tablets (which are only available for over eligible pts) that cost that large amount. But as they have been listed on our PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) they are available at a government subsidised price.
      We can’t be fearful but we can take precautions and I’ve just about forgiven The Golfer for being lax in that dept😊. My love to you and Robert

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Because of two conditions I have I am termed as highly vulnerable by my doctor, so my husband always wore a mask and used the hand sanitizer whenever he went out, so it was a surprise when he caught it. After questioning him, he said that when he shares a car going to a Bowls match no-one wears a mask and that is how he caught it. Conseqently I caught it too and I’m thankful to say that I had it quite mildly, but my husband had it worse than me. Needless to say I told him what I thought of him.

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  8. I think you have a right to be a bit cross. Am I reading this correctly, that you had to pay $1100 for the antivirals? I assumed they were PBS. You did well as a carer and you shouldn’t feel self critical if you were a bit grumpy at times. He certainly seemed to have severe symptoms, poor old fella.

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    1. Maybe I phrased that incorrectly- that amount is the full cost of that medication if it wasn’t included in the PBS scheme. The pharmacist actually pointed it out and mentioned how expensive it was. I’m not sure how that scheme works, I think the pharmacy buys the medication then gets paid part by government and part by patient, but what the time delay is – how long they carry the cost I’ve no idea
      Yes, the poor bygger certainly was sick – he’s forgiven me now (I think)

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      1. Thanks. I should have known about the subsided cost. I doubt you did anything wrong to be forgiven for beyond behaving like a normal human.

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  9. Your household sounds much like mine. And probably most others of our generation!
    We are so lucky we don’t have to pay full price for those anti-virals. I guess if you have to get Covid get it at the end of the year if you have reached the pharmaceutical safety net!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not quite tough love Caro – a caring love but not clinging. And yes for the first time ever due to various factors we topped our safety net last month so those drugs cost zero. Mind you $6 pensioner rate is nothing to complain about. Not sure what the general cost of medication is but it wouldn’t be $1100 that’s for sure.

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  10. How terrible to have come this far and now get sick! I hope you remain well and able to care for your husband, but it is A LOT of work. The only time I have been sole care giver was when Terry had open heart surgery four years ago. I nearly wore myself our every day with all of the work AND taking care of him. Hope you can fall into bed each night and get a good night’s sleep.

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    1. Nursing children through their ‘childhood illnesses’ was nothing like this. Maybe because I was older but also maybe because I knew the hidden dangers. You are so right, it is quite draining caring for those we nurse, thankfully we are over the worst. Here’s hoping that if I ever do catch it my symptoms are nothing like his were

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  11. Hari OM
    My sister, who took public transport to a vax clinic for her fourth jag last month, landed up with a full dose of COVID and was still dragging her feet at three weeks in… but had to get going because she is one of those who just has to be out and about; she’s in a choir on stage for Christmas carols. No masks… no distance…

    I remain isolated after three years. I am medically exempt from vax. I remain healthy. I intend to keep it that way. YAM xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We had intended to remain healthy as well Yam – lessons were learnt because things didn’t turn out that way though. So don’t forgo the fun but mask up and steer clear of crowds.

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  12. It’s never easy when someone gets sick. But after being told all the things that we could do to reduce our risk, and then someone not doing it. Well looking after them gets to be a major pain in the behind.
    Vent away I say Hanging onto the resentment just makes us sick too

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  14. Sounds like your Golfer got the worst variety going. I’ve been seriously ill with ‘flu’ some years ago and feared an exponentially worse version of that, but mine and everyone I know personally caught a very attenuated version. The lingering dusty cough was a nuisance but not debilitating. In fact the cold caught a few weeks later was much worse. You have my complete sympathy as the carer, and all those worries about how this would go if both were that ill. You must be made of tougher stuff when it all boiled down. Now that he is well The Golfer will have time to reflect on the toll.

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  15. Getting things off your chest is a good thing. My husband, although more vulnerable than I am because of health conditions, is less cautious than I am. You certainly were a patient spouse and at-home nurse. I too have a hard time imagining households without resources and perhaps two or three small children being sick all at the same time. I think this is going to be a challenging winter for illnesses. Take care and I’m glad the Golfer is on the mend.

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  16. We had a strange scenario though. I caught at work and my hubby in the same room didn’t catch.
    Six months later he got and I didn’t ..

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