The flash floods and downed trees and torn-up road took a greater toll on me than I realized.
Two days after I wrote my last blog post I went to the doctor because of dizziness, weakness, problems with balance, and nausea. There was no bacterial ear infection, but the doctor felt that my problem was caused by an inner ear problem. He prescribed medications for the dizziness and nausea. Noting that two years ago my stomach had torn open, and I had to have a blood transfusion and spent 5 days in the hospital, he said that if I began vomiting blood to call an ambulance.
Coming out of the pharmacy where I had the prescriptions filled, I became sick and did vomit what looked like blood. Because we were literally next door to the doctor’s office, we returned there. The doctor called an ambulance, and I was taken to the large medical center about 30 miles away with my invalid husband riding in the front of the ambulance with the driver.
At the hospital, emergency personnel determined I was not vomiting blood. It was the remains of blueberries I had for breakfast. Who knew that blueberries apparently turn red in the stomach? Nonetheless, I was kept overnight in hospital for observation. The emergency room doctor was concerned that my heart rate jumped to over 155 beats a minute when I stood up, and he wanted to do an MRI on my brain to be sure nothing in the brain was causing the dizziness. I was more worried about my husband than I was about myself, but he was able to stay at my dad’s house (Dad is almost 90 years old and is as fit as a fiddle for his age). Our daughter arrived from out of town the following day to drive us home.
Ultimately, the diagnosis was that I have a virus, exacerbated by two things: 1.) the stress of being the sole caregiver for my invalid husband for over a year, and 2.) the exhaustion of trying to keep up our property, and after these recent storms of trying on my own to remove small fallen trees and fill in mud holes and drop-offs on our damaged road.
I am much better now but still slightly woozie. Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for a follow-up visit. And we have determined that we will hire a lawn care company to do the mowing, trimming, edging, and other landscape duties on our property. I won’t be working on the road again either.
When I returned home I was happy to see my flowers doing well. However, I didn’t feel like trying to photograph them until today…
Lilies
Marigolds
Lantana
“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.” (Luther Burbank)
Unexpected in common hours 
OH– MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’M SO GLAD YOU ARE HIRING YOUR YARD WORK DONE–FROM NOW ON— THERE ARE NO WORDS—- AS YOU HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN RAN THROUGH THE WRINGER– JUST KNOW GARY & I CARE AND WE PRAY FOR YOU & YOUR HUBBY ON A REGULAR BASIS!!! HUGS—— PLEASE TRY NOT TO OVERDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BLESSINGS TO YOU & YOUR HUBS!!
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Thank you so much! I TRULY appreciate your prayers. I am not cut out for manual labor. Every time I do anything in the yard I feel sick when I come in. Maybe the fibromyalgia? Well, it’s just all been too much, and I can’t do it anymore. If I don’t take care of me, I can’t take care of Bob. I do appreciate your concern and prayers so much!!!!
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Glad you are feeling better after your ordeal, Deb, and here’s hoping you make a quick and complete recovery
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Many thanks for your concern and kind words! I feel a little better each day and hope to be 100% again soon.
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What an ordeal you had. The stress of being a caretaker can be extreme. I always felt more sorry for all Chris had to deal with when I was so sick for all the years. So i kind of get what you feel. I’m glad you are getting some help. You need it and deserve it. Be gentle with yourself and make sure you get the rest you need. You and your hubby should be your priorities. 😀
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Thank you, Cee. I’m learning to take better care of myself and to ask for help when I need it.
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Lovely, lovely flowers. I hope you are doing well now. Take care of that stress. That’s where so many aches and pains start.
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Thanks, Arlene. I’m doing much better and will try to take better care of myself in the future!
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If you wait long enough, the mud holes will get filled up with fallen leaves!
I am glad you are going to hire a crew to do that work. I hope you can relax and enjoy the work you have already done by planting all those flowers!
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LOL. I just hope I can find someone reliable to do the yard work!
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I’m so glad you’re feeling better!
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Thanks so much! The doctor said it may take a few more days before I’m back to normal, but I’m improving every day.
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Fran and I were yesterday in the garden saying how life giving gardening can be, and especially enjoyable with each other… I commented that like anything, there’s a fine line between enough and too much. The nurturing, the exercise and such is good… but then with the added unexpected stress of the curve balls of life, certainly stop us in our tracks at times. I’m glad for your quick diagnosis and now time to sit back a bit and let others step up the plate with the difficult maintenance tasks, You’ve had a hard go… first with Ben, now your husband not being so well. Please, try to take it easy… I sometimes just let the grass grow and the weeds do their thing, and just sit back and take it easy with a good book or something. Easier said than done though, isn’t it Debra? Best regards to your healing, and cheers.
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Thank you, Bruce, for all of those kind words. I have let everything go in the back of our house where the woods are now encroaching on everything. I call it my woodland garden, but it’s more of a woodland mess. LOL I’m glad I decided to get some help.
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Glad to read that you’re recovering. Here in Kenya, lantana is a weed. Its everywhere. Definition of a weed is a plant in the wrong place
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Thank you! LOL. We pay money for lantana! And we also pay money for purslane which in the northern U.S. is considered to be an invasive weed.
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