Distracted needed please - very, very stressed

I know! GN seems full of Scottish teachers! (I'm an exile from the black country living in Derby).
I went part time at Christmas (down to three days) and then I've been off sick since February. (The p/t thing wasn't the best timing regarding my pay!)

I like your style Fanny! Wine in a basket!
Another teacher on Gransnet, there seems to be quite a few of us. Are you now in retirement or planning to do part-time?

Thank you Marilla!
I've managed to make three cups of tea in my 'upstairs kitchen' (a kettle and bits n bobs on a tray in my bedroom).
I will have a bath in a couple of hours, and go downstairs for a few hours before coming back up with my tea and and some wine in a basket.
I've got my routine down to fine art!

When I was still teaching at the start of this (Godforsaken) year, I was in the habit of teaching the final period lying on a table flat on my back!

Ps I hope you are up, showered and getting busy! ?
Some folk have no idea!

Hello, FannyCornforth
I understand completely how difficult life can be when suffering with nerve pain. It’s excruciating and so unpredictable, even with a variety of different tablets. Sitting on a chair or sofa is painful. Lying on top of the bed is usually the most supportive and comfortable. Even doing small household chores always ends up with lying in various positions to recover from the pain. I agree with Marydoll, ‘walk in my shoes’. I hope you find some relief today. ?

Thanks Fanny that’s interesting and encouraging that they have made progress in the management of this virus. When my usually fairly fit DH became temporarily incapacitated by a nasty bout of sciatica at the beginning of the pandemic, I thought that, under the circumstances, it’s vital that one of the partners is mobile and able. Felt concerned about people on their own, not sure how much help would be available. All the best to you and your DH.

BlueSky

Very pleased your DH is coming home Fanny but like yourself makes you wonder how he caught it given that you have been shielding. It’s worrying that it can still be caught despite that level of carefulness.

Thank you BlueSky
That's partly why I wasn't sure about starting this thread; and why I added lots of personal information later.

If, like the HCP say, he caught it in July he must have had incredibly mild symptoms which slowly got worse culminating in pneumonia.
In July all he was doing was taking the dog a walk in the woods at the back of our house, (not strictly shielding, but it was beneficial for his MH and RA) and we were sitting in the garden a lot.
So that's the bad news.

But the good news is that he has made such a good recovery, demonstrating, like a pp said upthread, that they have learnt such a lot about how to treat this vile thing.
I hope that this gives anyone reading this a degree of hope.
Vulnerable people and their loved ones were absolutely terrified at the start of this.

Thank you Mary - yes, walk a mile in my shoes!
Some people really do lack a degree of empathy don't they.
(I'd be grateful at the moment to walk to the bottom of the garden and back in anyone's shoes!)

I really enjoyed listening to One Summer, America 1927, written and read by Bill Bryson. A big book and long listen but I was captivated. I often listened when I was doing housework or knitting and it was a free listen from the library - bonus! I hope you and DH are both feeling better soon. Best wishes.

Very pleased your DH is coming home Fanny but like yourself makes you wonder how he caught it given that you have been shielding. It’s worrying that it can still be caught despite that level of carefulness.

Fanny, chronic pain is so debilitating. No wonder you can't do anything. ?
After I broke two vertebrae, I had a procedure called Vertebroplasty. Unfortunately there was a degree of nerve damage after the procedure. Moving was agony and I had to have another procedure to try and relieve the pain.
Moving was agony. Walk in my shoes, as they say or in your case, Can't walk in my shoes.

Newatthis

Why are you spending most of the time in bed is it because of your nerve pain. I think the best thing to do if you can is get up, get showered and then get busy and I know you’ve asked for suggestions and all of them are very good. But I find that if I lose around in my dressing gown for pyjamas it stops me doing stuff and just makes me feel a little bit more lazy.

Yes, yes it is absolutely because of my nerve pain.
I'm not so much 'in bed' as 'on bed'.
When I am standing, walking or sitting it compresses my spine, causing the nerve pain.
I even get it in my eye

Oh, and I went to see my dad once.

Hi Puzzler
Thank you.
I've had home deliveries for absolutely everything since February!
I haven't set foot in a shop of any kind since then.
I've only been to the hospital; GP; vet and dog groomer since February.
I am an expert at the hermit life.
We haven't been out because
A) I can't go out
and
B) He isn't allowed to go out

I do hope that I won't really need to do anything too physical for him, because I won't be able to.
I've got pretty much zero mobility.
I'm sure we will be okay, we will have to muddle through as before!

Today’s news is encouraging Fanny and Mr Cornforth has responded well to treatment if there is talk of him coming home on Tuesday.
Can you organise home deliveries of anything you need to ensure you won’t need to go out? You will be kept busy when your DH is back.
Look after yourself while you are home alone ?

Blimey! That is long!

Hello again everyone
I've just read through all of your lovely messages properly. Thank you!
Marionk I hope all is going well for your husband.
Just to clarify something (a bit - I'm not quite clear myself).
I haven't been told to isolate as MrC first had Covid symptoms a while ago. (I am isolating nevertheless, as I pretty much have been since February.)
MrC initially thought he was ill about two months ago. He didn't tell me because he knew that it would worry me to bits. It is crucial here to remember that we were both strictly shielding anyway - so there was nothing further that either of us could do in any case.
He was also concerned about leaving me alone at home, and me having an accident due to me being unable to walk.
His symptoms were lower back pain, a splitting headache and fatigue.
No cough. No fever.
At this point he thought that he had a brain tumour (but didn't tell me that).
Later on, he lost his sense of taste and smell. And then over the past month, his breathing got worse and he felt dizzy.

Two weeks ago I contacted the GP and she said that she thought that MrC had had Covid a while ago; she also said that it wasn't worth having a test because it would prefer be negative.
The GP thought he had a secondary chest infection and gave him penicillin. It didn't do anything; and I rang the ambulance last Tuesday.
He had pneumonia and a suspected blood clot.

The hospital say that he caught Covid at the start of July (I have no idea how they know this). I am also at a loss as to how he caught it.
It seems that sometimes Covid is nowhere near as straight forward as we often think.

MrC is still responding very well. I think, God willing, he will be home on Tuesday. I think that someone will need to come to the house to look at how we can accommodate the oxygen things. I haven't spoken to anyone at the hospital yet, so I'm getting all of my information from MrC, who isn't necessarily the best source.

I'd like to have a test to see if I've got antibodies but I think that it might be too late.

I really wanted to respond to all of your lovely messages in this post, but it is already too long (I hope that it's not too rambling).
So I will come back later to do that.

I hope that you are all having a peaceful and restful Sunday

Lovely to read your good news fanny. Do keep updating. ?

So pleased to hear Mr C is doing so well Fanny. What a huge relief for you both

Lovely you’ve had such good news Fanny - do good to hear ?

So pleased for you both Fanny ?

It wasn’t unnecessary worry but I know how scary it was when my OH’s hernia srangulated. DD took him to hospital. I worried myself silly as he was in agony when he left home. He didn’t ring to tell me that the doctor had pushed it back in and he was no longer in pain. He slept all night and I lay awake fretting. The surgery went well and he was home later that day!

Glad to hear that the treatment is working. Rest up and look after yourself.

for the update Fanny and to everyone else for their thoughtful and helpful suggestions. I’m off to look up Sovereign Social now Joanne

Hi Fanny,

I think it's great that you have been brave enough to ask for help and suggestions and thanks for sharing your story. I've had a similarly tough time of late. I live on my own and it's been hard to speak to anyone (kids both live in America!)

There is only so much gardening one can do and with it getting cold it's not appealing as much although I do think what JenniferEccles said about getting out for a brisk walk each day is very true!

One thing I came across last week on facebook was an advert for an online social club called Sovereign Social.

Have to admit was wary at first, but having joined a zoom call on Wednesday was delighted to chat to people in a similar situation!

sovereignassist.co.uk/sovereign-social is the link if you want to have a gab with some other retirees for an hour and a half!

It would be lovely not to have to meet people on a computer, but we have to do our best in this difficult time!

All the best,

J x

Wonderful news Fanny

Good news, Fanny
What a relief. I hope he makes good progress