Can I Have Some Cheese ....
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| Sun, 11-27-2005 - 6:44pm |
... to go with my whine, please? I feel like I am falling apart -- and just in time for the holidays!
Shortly before Thanksgiving, I learned that I have contacted the Epstein-Barr virus. It is a pretty close relative of mononucleosis, and pretty common, I guess. It does little more than wear you down! I am positively exhausted all the time; can't get through the day without a nap ... or two and I still run out of steam by about 8:00.
Because it's viral, there are no medications or antibotics that will help. All that I can do is rest and get extra sleep ... and I am a terrible insomniac! I DON'T sleep much at all! I simply have to ride this out, and the average duration is 4-6 months! I am currently in month 3 (I think) and hope I am on the downhill slide of this mess.
To add insult to injury, literally, I also have managed to pull, tear or otherwise damage the tendon that holds my foot together and it hurts like you know what nearly all the time! I can hardly walk without limping and standing is pretty painful, too.
We spent the holiday at Disneyland and all the walking and standing I did over the course of 4 days just didn't help matters much. We got home yesterday and there is laundry still to be done and I need to get to the supermarket for lunch fixings for tomorrow. Plus, I woke up with the FLU today and feel extra-specially like doo-doo. Everything aches and I feel feverish. I don't know how much worse I can actually feel.
Oh yes ... and one more thing ... DH, who tore his ACL right outta his knee some 15 years ago and who has subsequently suffered through 2 knee recontstructive surgeries, felt his knee give way once again the day we left for Disneyland. He struggled through DLand in obvious discomfort with an extremely short temper and in a very crabby frame of mind, I must say. (But hard to blame him for that, though, I knew he was in serious discomfort.) Anyway, he will most likely be in surgery again soon which means ... ugh! I can't even go there without feeling like I'm gonna cry.
Wish I could say I feel better now, but I honestly don't. Time to buck up, get some shoes on so I can get to the store so I can come home and go to bed.
Sorry for such a lenghtly whine ... I just don't know how I'm going to get all my holiday stuff done this year. Not that I really care at this moment.
Julie

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Wish I could send you some wine to help the whine feel better.
What a cruddy set of things to happen. I have had similar foot things off and on for a few years, and just when I think it's getting better it hurts again. So just on that one thing you have my total sympathy! I can't imagine all the other things too.
(((((((HUGS))))))
Hopefully you and Dh will be able to attack each of these health issues one at a time, and gradually feel better.
Sue
Oh Julie, you really need to get out the corkscrew and open something really lovely... in addition to which, a bubble bath would be nice.
I am SO sorry about everything that is going on. I don't know much about Epstein-Barr, but i do know that being able to rest is HUGE. This is only one Christmas in your life - PLEASE know that your family and friends care a heck of a lot more about you than they do about having a Currier and Ives Christmas in 2005. Take things slow - let some things go, and maintain your sense of humor at all costs.
Take time to take care of yourself. That is the best gift you can give to your family.
jt
Julie, so sorry to hear that you aregoing through this. I've heard that Epstein-Barr can certainly be debilitating. If I were you, I would really cut back on the holiday stuff. The important people will understand. For instance, don't bother decorating much this year if this is something you do regularly (we have a neighborhood where we have "Christmas light" wars to see who can get the most wattage outside). Perhaps do your shopping online. That can be a real time saver. Don't bother baking if that is something you do. You get the idea. It sounds like you are lucky enough to have a couple of great kids who will understand. Just scale back. Take it easy and recover.
{{{Julie}}}
Since we are going into a busier time of year would it possible for you to hire someone for a day to help with laundry, cleaning and food shopping - maybe a local teen?
I can't do my yard work like I used to these days and I have a boy who helps me. I pay him $10/hr and I schedule him for 5 hours. In those 5 hours we are able to accomplish so much!
From what I understand, Epstein Barr is not something that goes away forever. My neice has it and she said that it's episodic? Meaning that whenever she's overstressed or overworked, not sleeping or eating right or enough, she will have relapses. I think it would be worth the money to get yourself some help in those areas so you can allow your body to recuperate.
Hugs - I hope you feel better.
Jules,
My oldest DD has fibromyalgia. It's symptoms are very similar to Epstein-Barr. Sleep is also extremely important. Please contact your doctor about getting a prescription for something. There are some excellent tranquilizers out now that do not give you that hungover feeling and they are not addictive. Ambien is the one that she takes. She usually takes it every other night b/c she takes so many other things on a daily basis to manage her fibromyalgia and a heart condition.
Also please take the advice that the others have given you about scaling back this year. About five years ago, I woke up on Thanksgiving Day with pink eye and by New Years Day, I was in the hospital with pnuemonia. I had coughed so hard that I literally broke my own ribs. My elderly mom had to take down the Christmas decorations at my house. My oldest DD had had to have foot surgery that year during her school break so she couldn't help any and youngest tried to help but probably did more harm than good and well DH is a typical man - no help with household stuff at all.
Please take care of yourself!! We love you and want you to enjoy your holidays even if they aren't what you and your family have to expect.
Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts. I went to bed at 6:45(!) last night and am feeling somewhat better this morning. Still achy, but at least my eyelashes no longer hurt when I blink my eyes.
I'll deal with the holidays best I can. DS has been spending his money hand over fist and has very little left for Christmas shopping. I've already talked to him about earning some back by helping me with house projects and told him there is serious money to be made cleaning the grout on the tile floors. The kids were very upset last year when DH elected NOT to hang lights on the house, so they decided they would do it themselves this year if dad doesn't. THAT's gonna be interesting!
It is a bit discouraging to learn that this Epstein-Barr thing is recurring. I was hoping to be done with it soon. This all just makes me feel soooo old -- like a broken down and decrepit old senior citizen ... all these aches and pains.
Thank you all again for your thoughtfulness.
So sorry, Jules! Lot of hugs and chicken soup and naps on the sofa with a comfy blanket should help a bit. Also, doll, online shopping--best thing I ever started doing!!!! I NEVER go to a mall anymore--maybe once every six months or so. Even Target, Walmart and Best Buy are online now. If you're looking for something specific, let me know, I'll help find a store that carries it. A lot of places are offering free shipping lately as a holiday promotion. If you don't like it, or it doesn't fit, just send it back.
And let me just say this -- Vons.com ;-) Easy, quick, and a small delivery charge right to your door. Plus, it keeps your list online, and for future shopping, you just go through the list and click.
Good luck--my friend has EB and I know how tired she is all the time.
Laura
Hi Julie - sorry this is late but I'm sending you cyber-hugs (and a bottle of cyber-wine and bubble bath).
Oh, Jules. I just returned from Iowa with my family and read your post. I haven't even read the responses yet. I AM SO SORRY. I wish I was in CA, right next door so I could make you and your DH some chicken soup ----or bring over the booze...........
What a crappy way to have to deal with the holidays. I'd do your laundry, and cook your meals and bring you coffee in bed. It is so crummy to be sick (and I'd say you've got the high marks for sick right now) and still have so much to do. Plus worrying about your DH doesn't help matters.
I hope you begin to feel better soon---certainly if the flu symptoms end, that will help a little bit.........you have my best thoughts and hugs coming your way.
Shels
It's a much better day today! Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions! I used to do a lot of on-line shopping -- when the kids were straight sizes and most things fit right off the hanger. Now we have to go through the whole shopping and trying on routine. That alone is exhausting.
Several years ago, I tried the HomeGrocer.com service a couple times and wasn't that thrilled with it, but I did NOT know that Von's had a home delivery service! And to think I drug my sorry, achy tush out onto I-8 on Sunday, found myself bumper to bumper with all the desert rats and their trailers full of quads returning home from their holiday making in the sand to drive 30 minutes to Von's for a trip that normally takes about 8 minutes. I'm definitely gonna check that out for holiday shopping -- can I even order my Christmas dinner prime rib that way?
I was so miserable Sunday that I stood at the deli counter at Von's for lunchmeat and stared at a sign that said "Fully cooked turkey and complete dinner package - $13.00" and didn't even buy one! $13.00!! Oh well, I usually do prime rib, not turkey, for Christmas.
Thanks again for your thoughts ... what part of SoCal are you in?
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