For the most part, Lynn and I are homebodies. He just doesn’t handle traveling very well, so we rarely leave home. His already ever-present exhaustion is significantly greater when he travels, and it usually takes a full day to recover afterward; therefore, we rarely make any short trips since he spends the time at our […]
A Short Trip Back Home Read More »
When I became a full-time caregiver, I knew I was taking on full responsibility for skin care, elimination, nutrition, hygiene, assistance with activities of daily living, and even physical therapy. What I hadn’t counted on was taking on my husband’s role of maintenance mechanic for our home. Having a medical background, I’m comfortable with the caregiver
Sometimes, I am jealous of Lynn. Isn’t that sick? How could any able-bodied individual who is healthy, independent, productive, able to work and function normally be jealous of someone dependent on someone else for EVERYTHING in his life other than his own thoughts. I must be mentally ill – but there it is; sometimes I
Sometimes I Get Jealous Read More »
I was reading a blog about advice caregivers give to other caregivers, and as I read through the suggestions (all of which rang true,) one connected with me more than all the others—“live in the moment.” “Live in the moment” is a phrase I’ve heard much of my life in the context of learning to
The thermostat in my house is currently registering at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m melting at my computer with all the activity I’ve been involved in today. Meanwhile, Lynn alternates between being hot and cold but mainly stays cold. Before the days of MS, Lynn’s body temperature ran hot. It could be the middle of winter,
One Minute He's Hot; the Next He's Cold Read More »
There are a multitude of emotions that play into being a caregiver or being the one with a chronic disease that needs care. Which emotion takes the front stage on any given day is affected by how you feel, how the other person feels, how much sleep you got the night before, and what else
Put Guilt Back in the Box Read More »
I experienced separation anxiety as a child. I didn’t like to leave home, rarely went to sleep-overs, and seriously considered my college choices based on how close they were to home so I “get” that feeling of longing to be close to someone I love and the slight edge of fear that comes when you
The Challenges of Separation Anxiety Read More »
As I was taking my morning dose of Advil (4 tablets rather than 2), I was curious about my future as a caregiver and what being a caregiver was doing to me personally. So, I thought I would see if any research had been done on that topic. The Family Caregiver Alliance had a comprehensive
The Impact of Caregiving on the Caregiver Read More »
I usually write my blogs on Saturdays because it’s the only time I don’t immediately have another obligation once I’m freed from routine caregiving. Today is beautiful The sun is shining, the air is warm, and there are no clouds on the horizon. I see a few bees buzzing around, and there are daffodils peeking
Finding Time for Normal Read More »
Before Lynn was diagnosed with MS, my experience with the condition was from a distance. I knew of a third cousin with it that family members talked about in sympathetic tones of doom. I had a few encounters with colleagues who had MS and who shared some of their struggles with me when they asked
There’s always a lot of hype that surrounds holidays, and Valentine’s Day is certainly right there, keeping pace with all the rest. It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate your love for one another in some special way with gifts, dinner out, and other more intimate ways of expression. I’ve never been overly romantic,
I Like Ours Better Read More »
There’s a lot of talk these days about healthcare reform and making sure the uninsured have coverage. I don’t want to debate the strengths and weaknesses of the law, but I do want to comment on the struggles associated with having a chronic health condition and how much is not considered when adding up the
