There really is no easy way to say it and far too many within our forum brotherhood know just what I am talking about. When it comes to sickness, disease, ailments, accidents, injuries to members and there loved ones to there neighbors, to people who they have dealings with in there everyday business. We live in very unfriendly circumstance to say the least. Back in 2004 when my wife unknowingly had MS, she had to continuely step down from being a Director of Nurses to working the floor as a med surg nurse, she was then diagnosed with MS in 2005 and then was taken out of the game all together. That opened the door to incredible circumstances. At that time Sue was in a wheel chair 85% of the time or using a walker, needless to say our lives changed dramatically. The two story dream house that's was building was to become our retirement "home" was also out of the game. We sold that two story house and bought a one story home about an hour away from our friends and kids. Since that time 3 people who became our friends while Sue was fighting MS have died as a result of there infliction of MS. After a 24 day hospitalization, Sue's Mom passed away the week she came home from the hospital. 11 months ago, Sue's twin sister passed away the night before our son Scott's "16" year anniversary of his death of 1997. Last month my brother died.
I am not writing this for pity or for you to feel sorry for me, but mainly just to bring you up to date and that we all have trials and tribulations and in the midst of that, the strangest thing happened. The roll of me being caretaker for my wife has completely reversed. And though she still has full blown Relapsing Remitting MS, God has some how given her the ability to be caregiver for me. Although I receive pain management care I no longer receive curative care. But between the Veterans Hospital and the Hospice Care in my home this has lightened the load for Sue tremendously. I feel that I understand why God had the desire instilled in Sue to become a nurse in the first place. Without her training, skills at so many levels, and her compassion I am afraid to think of where it would have lead me and the care that I might have received.
I have been so fatigued like I have never known. Just to get up and use the bathroom has been such an ordeal. I have been sleeping an average of 20 hours a day for the past 2-3 weeks. I don't know how I made it to the Surprise Birthday Party that Sue and my daughter put on for me. Sue took me to the Veterans Hospital last Friday because I was so weak and declining so quickly. Once there the usual blood work, questions, exam. I received 1000 cc's of IV fluids because I was so dehydrated. The Dr. Is treating me for a Urinary Tract Infection with a heavy duty antibiotic. I had just finished a round of antibiotics 3 days before going to the hospital on Friday for a sinus infection. The doc said this may be a quick fix but ultimately I am going downhill on this slippery slope. At least that is what mankind is saying. I feel like crap all the time. I just want to sleep. Sue says it may be partially due to the fact that I have been on antibiotics for so long. My blood pressure has been very low but today when Sue took it, it was finally almost within a normal limit.