Navigating Life and Faith While Fighting the Flu
October 22-24, 2022
Life doesn’t stop when illness strikes, but faith and routine can help us stay grounded—even on the roughest days. Here’s a glimpse into my journey over a few challenging days in October.
October 22 – Feeling Overwhelmed and Ill
4:00 woke needing to use restroom. I suppose I stood up too fast. Got slightly dizzy and unstable on my feet. Had to use edge of bed to keep me somewhat steady to keep from falling. Left eye a bit gooky and crusty. Vision blurry in that eye. Wonder if I need to make an eye appointment.
Mind racing. Trying to figure how to set up a daily routine to include extra juicing and exercise. Need to balance checkbook. Need to work on bulletin for Sunday. Finish spaghetti sauce. Wonder how Joe’s doing? Need shower chair, handheld showerhead, rail?, tweak devotional for speaking engagement in November, etc. Fell back asleep for few hours. Woke around 8am. Joe sleeping. Back to my room.
Got distracted writing up daily routine, and tweaking devotional for next month’s speaking engagement. I don’t feel adequate, but I’ll speak from my heart and the Lord’s leading.
Scripture: Proverbs 15:32; Matthew 18
Made juice for two days. I’m exhausted and worn out. Need a nap. Coughing. Sneezing. Ache all over. Slept for a few hours. Still coughing periodically. Center of chest hurts. Ache deeply all over. Lethargic and wore out. Face flushed. Temp 97.7. Food is undesirable to me right now.
Feeling very ill and sick to my stomach. Haven’t been able to eat anything nor had desire due to be nauseous. Barely got two glasses of juice down. I so want to be healthy to take care of my sick husband, but I don’t dare touch anything he’s touched without sanitizing it first. This is horrible, but we’ll get through. I feel bad too because it’s an awful start to Dezirae’s Fall break. Couldn’t muster up the will to type up the bulletin. Let Bro Rick know. Forced myself to finish the spaghetti sauce I started. Made 4-pint jars. Given a bag of collards today. Guess I’ll cook them down tomorrow to can. I did say I needed to can more veggies. Just didn’t think it’d be while I was sick. Took night vitamins plus phenegran and 1/2 tab of hydrocodone. Only able to get down 1,000mg of C. It’s making me gag right now.
Thankful for 1. Homemade spaghetti sauce 2. Collards given 3. Able to talk with both boys today. Love my family
Rt eye keeps twitching. It’s getting annoying. Playing wholetones music to fall asleep to. I miss snuggling with my husband at night. We are currently sleeping apart because he’s sick with flu and does not want me to get sick too.
October 23 – Bedridden with Flu Symptoms
Been sick and in bed most of the day. I feel horrible. Think I caught the flu. Not good. Head pounding. Sore throat. Chest hurts and congestion. No appetite. Whole body throbbing. Lost voice for few hours. Little nauseous. Exhausted.
Not sure if I should call the doctor or not.
October 24 – Feeling Overwhelmed and Ill
Rough night. For few hours I had the shakes and couldn’t quit. Headache. Chest hurts immensely. Sinus congestion. Coughing up phlegm.
Called oncologist to ask what to do. After two hours of not calling me back I called again. Lady said they’ve been very busy and had someone pass out. I’m on the list to call back.
Joe decided to call PCP. They called back within half hour. Want us to come in to get swabbed for the flu.
Dezirae drove us to PCP. Had her stay in car. Flu swab cost $25. Wasn’t expecting that expense.
Oncologist nurse finally called back around 4:00 to inform me to contact my PCP to get checked out for the flu. Informed her that we had already done that.
PCP Nurse called later to let us know that I tested positive for flu. Joe’s on tail end. They’re calling in medicine to help. I pray it doesn’t cost a lot.
Later Joe and I got hungry. Asked Dezirae to run to McDonald’s to get all of us something to eat. I asked for cheeseburger meal. Could only eat 3/4 of the burger and a few fries. Everything was way too salty!!! Left an awful salty chemical taste in mouth. Yuck! Drank lots of water rest of night. Brushed tongue. Swished with oncology mouthwash. Not helping. It’s probably an indication that I’m getting dehydrated.
Can’t seem to get my nose to stop running. Taking Tylenol sinus slows it for few hours, then it comes back on like a leaky faucet. Need to get more.
