Sunday, January 01, 2017

I've been away for a while because I've had another bout with depression.  A long one.  Holiday stress and anxiety didn't help, and I barely got things done that needed to be done.  Mostly.

I'm recovering now.  Why?  Because on Christmas Eve, my husband came down with a man cold. Sudden onset--3:00 AM on Christmas morning.  Fever, sore throat, achy.  We were down in the country with the kids and grandkids and missed the Santa explosion because  I had to bring him home and begin checking Urgent Care, Quick Care, Velocity Care--none of which were open.

Emergency room.  (He was so sure he was going to die, I was afraid it was the flu.)  Nope, a viral and bacterial infection.  Meds.  Whining.  Sympathy...you know.  Repeat.  Repeat. Repeat.  Oh, how the makers of tissue profit during cold and flu season.  I think he will recover; we're on day 8, and he has been back to work.  With occasional relapses in the afternoon, naturally.  

Our home pharmacy will now have to extend to me.  Because he gave me his cold.  But at least it is not a man cold.  I know I will live.  No need to make immediate additions to the will.  And after five weeks of one of my more serious depressive episodes, the man cold finally forced me out of it.  So all is good.

Well, except that I am behind in everything and overwhelmed with "make-up" work.  And apologies that need to be given many failures during those weeks.  

So...bless the man cold.  And thank heavens, he doesn't read my blog!

  To any other wives dealing with this alarming illness:


I know I owe letters.  Please forgive.  As soon as I recover from my much milder version of the cold,  I promise to reply!

25 comments:

  1. You are a dear! LOL. I'm happier knowing your dark night has lifted too. Sometimes it lifts and descends like a curtain falling between acts. Take great care and enjoy your down time. Wrap yourself in you for awhile. And be well. Everything else will wait.

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    1. It is like a curtain, and often without any preliminary warning. I'm glad that even with my stuffy nose and stopped up ears, I feel better than I have in a month. And the man will live! :)

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  2. Oh dear-the moaning-yes, I know......
    I am so very glad You are better. Everyone who has battled the big D knows how horrid it can be. God bless you!!. Don't stress over catching up-all will work out. you just rest a bit and get better!!

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    1. The moaning! And the pity-party! But I had to climb out of my hole and am glad for it. :) Since he has recovered and it wasn't the flu--I'm grateful.

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  3. I never fully understood what a man cold was until I got married. I admit sometimes I find it really hard to be sympathetic. My father-in-law had a man cold over Christmas and so spent much of the time sleeping on our couch when he wasn't at the hotel. Now I know why their visit was so pleasant . . . I shouldn't have said that. Oops. Fortunately my husband hasn't gotten sick this time around--but he is feeling down. I really think he has seasonal depression. This is a hard time of year for him.

    I am so sorry to hear about your depression and anxiety, Jenclair. Please don't worry about us. Sending a big hug your way.

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    1. I'm glad your husband hasn't gotten sick and hope none of you catch what your father-in-law had! Thanks, Wendy, for your card and letter--love seeing the pics of Mouse. :)

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  4. Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear about the depression et al, and the man cold and now the Jen cold! But so glad you're on the mend, emotionally especially. I do hope this is a wonderful year for you, my friend. Be well.

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    1. Plenty of kleenex, Zicam, Nyquill, etc. And what I have is just a cold, not the viral and bacterial infections he had. I'm going to be back on target in few days--ready for the new year. May we all have a better one that this past one!

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  5. No need for apologies, and no need to catch up. Just take care of yourself, and of your sick hubby of course.
    Happy new year, and hugs, to you.



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    1. Happy New Year, Francoise! Things are looking up!

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  6. First rule of life: Take care of yourself!! Second rule of life: Put up with husbands, who have never experienced childbirth therefore think that the common cold is a 'big' thing! *smile* Welcome back - I missed you.

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    1. I've missed you, too! And love your latest project!

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  7. Good to know the black dog has been chased away, even if it took a cold to do it!

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    1. Thanks, Rachel! Trying to keep the black dog on a leash...and don't care if I have to sacrifice my husband to do it. :)

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  8. Hope everything turns around for 2017; a new year with new hope and health.

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    1. :) I'm hopeful that 2017 will be a good year!

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  9. Jen, I was so sorry to read you have a cold but glad depression has been chased away. I hope you are resting easy and getting better. Take good care.

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    1. Thanks, Anna! Hope you are recovering from your bout with the flu--which is so much worse!

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  10. So sorry to hear you've been down and out! Glad you are back!

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  11. Glad you are back in the sunshine! The first time I've heard anything good coming from a man-cold! We had one of those here last week. It was pathetic. You might enjoy this, I found it painfully hysterical, given the week I'd just gone through with DH.

    http://www.the-postillon.com/2016/12/world-first-specialist.html?m=1

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    1. An intensive care unit for men with colds! Why not? I'm cracking up on that one! Hope your husband is better, Debby!

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  12. My hubs started a man cold last night. He's one to lie in the bed for days and grunt when I offer something. I have to decipher those grunts, but otherwise he's a fairly good patient. I'm the whiney one!

    So sorry about the depression. I had a bout a few days after Christmas. Please talk to your doctor and have meds checked. Some medicines can decrease the effectiveness of other meds. I get my meds checked regularly just to make sure there's nothing interferring with the depression meds. I decided some years ago that the depression meds are priority...everything else just tiptoes around them.

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    1. Hope your husband is doing better, Mary!

      You are right about the meds!

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Good to hear from you!