It snowed yesterday and was still snowing lightly this morning. The dogs didn't care but I had no desire to go for a walk with them, it was still -10C. Today is warmer and there will be walks.
Turns out Jack didn't have just a cold, he has fifth disease. I had forgotten about it until Sabine reminded me because her grandchild also just had it. Jack woke up with bright red cheeks on Saturday morning, but he was feeling fine, no fever. The redness on his cheeks is fading but now he's coughing more, poor guy.
He had a wonderful time at outdoor camp last week. He got to go cross-country skiing and sledding. They learned to make a fire and he roasted marshmallows and made s'mores. A success and he asked when he was going back, August as it turns out.
I took Katie out yesterday and she was fine until I stopped to use the washroom on the way out of the mall. I was literally sitting on the toilet, underwear and pants around my ankles when she decided to attack me. It sounds funny now but at the time, I had visions of needing to be rescued by security with my pants down which caused me a lot of stress. I gave her Ativan, got her into my car so that she was safe, and called my husband. She didn't complain of any pain but she was very agitated. He came and rescued us and we got her home. It was four weeks since last time, to the day. I'm assuming ovulation, but I am keeping notes for the doctor and gynecologist. Next month she has another US.
On Saturday night I went to the Pottery Book club and we had a lovely time. We had read "Cutting For Stone" by Abraham Varghese and I enjoyed the discussion as much as I had enjoyed the book.
Right now I'm reading "Once and Again" by Rebecca Serle. I didn't think much of it but it's gotten much more interesting as the book progressed. It's about a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother, all who have issues, all who have been hurt and all who have hurt those they love. All three women have a do over, a ticket which allows them to turn back time once in their lifetime. I thought about the chance to have a do over and wondered what I would do. Would I use it? When would I have used it? Obviously I would not be the same person I am today if I had a do over and avoided some horrible things, but how to pick. Would I want to live my whole life over again? Some of the same questions that are brought up in the book.
Families aren't easy. Relationships aren't easy. Life isn't easy. That's my takeaway:)
I forgot to say, I also got a full refund from the Chinese clothing scam website:)
Great on getting the refund. I'd forgotten about fifth disease. I don't think there's a vaccine or cure, just manage symptoms if I'm right. I don't think it gets serious, but I'm glad he's getting through it.
ReplyDeleteKatie does seem to be on a rhythmic thing, and I hope there's a solution soon.
It's not bad enough to need a vaccine, usually very mild, except for in pregnant women, it can cause stillbirths. Immunity is lifelong too.
DeleteYou know, when you said that about Jack waking up with bright red cheeks my mind immediately went to "slapped cheek disease," which is just another name for Fifth Disease. So. Now you know.
ReplyDeleteYou surely did nail it on the timing of Katie's outburst. I am 99% sure your diagnosis is accurate. How terrible for her to be in pain and not be able to express that, explain it. You are a good mother and a good nurse. I surely hope your observation leads to a treatment.
I can't believe you got a refund from that company. Good for you! Persistence does pay off.
She wasn't in pain yesterday though, just very agitated and emotional.
DeleteI'm glad I got a refund too. It wasn't a lot of money but it just pissed me off that they lied.
So sorry about Katie's outburst and your unfortunate predicament. I do have to say though that your husband is amazing in these situations! My older daughter had 5th disease but I thought she was malingering (as she tended to do) so I made her go to swimming lessons. I still feel guilty about that decades later. Glad it's warmed up enough to get out and walk--for the dogs and you!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is so good with Katie. He's never resented her or the impact she's had on our life.
DeleteStop feeling guilty. I wouldn't have trigged on except Sabine mentioned her grandchild having fifth disease and I had to look it up to refresh my memory:)
I had to look with disease up. I'd never heard of it. It's great Jack enjoyed camp and that he will be going back. I can't imagine how it is to be attacked by Katie.
ReplyDeleteIt's not very common these days, or easy to overlook as something else, a sunburn or teething. The worst part about attacked by Katie is her remorse afterwards.
DeleteI had to look up Fifth Disease. Never heard of it! Live and learn forever. I'll pass the knowledge on to my son and daughter-in-law, although she probably already knows what it is.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to imagine being attacked like you have been lately. I hope it never happens again. Fingers crossed that the problem will soon be solved.
It's just starting to snow here; friends in Saskatoon have been reporting it for several hours already, so I got out for my "medicine" walk before it gets any heavier.
Otherwise it's lazy days. I did a bit of floor-sweeping-- woo hoo -- and handwashed part of the kitchen floor. Scott is in bed with a cough and cold, feeling rough. I'm getting over my cough, just not energetic. Being fatigued from surgery, radiation, and/or medication is literally tiresome and I hope it doesn't go on too much longer; I don't know what's normal and fear becoming depressed if it doesn't end. Probably should phone the follow-up nurses and ask what to expect going forward. Fortunately I don't HAVE to do anything and can rest and read all damn day, and that's about what I've been doing, besides going out for walks, which they say is one way to get through the fatigue. I'm also strict with the little bit of weight-lifting I've been doing daily. I've been meaning for more than a week to make a batch of granola, though, and to bake bread, and it hasn't gotten done because I doubt I'll have the stamina to complete the jobs. They can wait, and they will, but we miss our granola and homemade bread in the meantime. Soon ... soon! -Kate
I find it's even harder since I retired to get some things done because I don't have a deadline.
DeleteI think talking to the follow-up nurses is an excellent idea. Fatigue is common, and the weather doesn't help much.
I just checked the weather and it looks like you didn't get hit with the worst of the snow, but sigh, winter has been long enough this year.
Sending hugs and love sweetie.
Like the two visitors above I also had to look up "fifth disease" and I wondered what the previous four diseases were. Fifth disease must be a North American thing as I have never heard anybody refer to it on this side of The Atlantic Ocean. As for Katie attacking you in the lavatory, it did not sound funny to me. You have had to endure so much. Your resilience is remarkable.
ReplyDelete1st: Measles
Delete2nd: Scarlet fever
3rd: Rubella (German measles)
4th: Dukes' disease (also known as Filatov-Dukes' disease or parascarlatina)
5th: Fifth Disease (Erythema infectiosum)
6th: Roseola
Thanks. Never heard of Dukes' disease either.
DeleteA do over - What an interesting thought. Yes it would change everything and maybe not for the best.
ReplyDeleteThere's the rub, maybe things are worse. And how much time to you want to do over?
DeleteThat's quite a question about being given your life to live again. I think mine would be similar, but I would try to relate to people with more empathy.
ReplyDeleteI guess there aren't any warning signs with Katie's behaviour, which is unfortunate.
I don't know of fifth disease and there doesn't seem to a name I would know the disease byond slapped cheek disease. How odd.
There are warning signs with Katie but it escalated quickly this time. I told her to stop bugging me while I was sitting on the toilet and she lost it. TMI, I know.
DeleteWould it be feasible for Katie to have a total hysterectomy and end her monthly cycles and, what seems to be her bouts of PMS?
ReplyDeleteIt's not PMS because it's when she ovulates. A total hysterectomy comes with a lot of other problems too, cardiac and bone problems.
DeleteI just had a conversation with my daughter about pre- and perimenopause symptoms and all that shit that happens from anger issues to brain fog to sleep problems and so on and how much she benefits from that tiny little estrogen patch stuck on her thigh.
ReplyDeleteIs there a way to discuss HRT with your daughter's doctors?
Katie's only 33, so I would think she's too young, but maybe some hormone tests wouldn't be such a bad idea. Who knows, maybe it is perimenopause. It can happen young in some women.
DeleteI'm so sorry about the problems with Katie, but I'm glad you received your refund and that Jack loved going to camp. ❤️
ReplyDeleteIt's not the first or last time with Miss Katie. It's how she communicates. Just wish she picked a less violent form of communication:)
DeleteWow, getting "do over" is an interesting thought isn't it!
ReplyDeleteIt is, until you start thinking about how far back would you go. Forty-five years? Twenty years? Five years? And then what? Everything all over again? It sounds good on the surface but when you stop to think about it, it doesn't sound so enticing.
DeleteI am glad that you got your refund! I didn't think that it would happen. I am sorry to read about Katie's outburst in the bathroom. I simply cannot imagine how awful that must be when she has these. When I see snow on the ground from your photo of the dogs it is like a parallel universe for me since now we have everything blooming.
ReplyDeleteEverything is blooming? Lucky you. I'm sure it looks beautiful.
DeleteI'm pleasantly surprised I got a refund.
Another who didn't know what fifth disease was - have heard of slapped cheek - apparently it is a parvovirus (I thought only dogs got that) but a human one. The things that you learn.
ReplyDeleteThe world is an amazing place, so many diseases:) Apparently there were six diseases that caused fevers and rashes in small children, and this one was number six.
DeleteSorry about the conflict. Sigh. Happy Jack loved camp though.
ReplyDeleteJack loves being outside, so camp was perfect for him.
DeleteHooray for the refund! And that's a great picture of the dogs. I'm glad Jack is feeling better despite coughing a bit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got the Refund. I never heard of what Jack had but glad he's recovering. As for Katie attacking you on the Throne, well, I Smiled, becoz, well, Dark Humor about how we handle these things and look at them afterwards is the stuff of Gallow's Humor, isn't it?
ReplyDelete