Who Cares for The Carer?

As I write this I am shivering and feeling generally sick and achy. My tepmperature is above 38 degrees and I just want to crawl under a rock and die. I should be doing the ironing as I am running out of clean sheets and pyjamas but, quite frankly, I think I would collapse after 10 minutes.

So why do I feel out of sorts? I think I have Swine Flu! The annoying thing is this… Up until 1pm yesterday I was right as rain. A bit tired from the stresses of looking after someone with Huntington’s Disease (HD) and incontinence needs among other needs but, nonetheless, I was feeling good. My blood pressure was fine. I know that as the doctor took it when she came to my home to give the Flu and Swine Flu vaccinations to myself and Hubby.

Hubby qualified for the first tranche of the Swine Flu vaccinations given his condition means he has a weak immune system and respiratory illness could lead to all sorts of complications. People don’t die of HD, they die of things like pneumonia and malnutrition etc. As Hubby’s full-time carer I qualified too. Not so much as there is a risk of my having been a carrier, more it was recognised if I feel unwell it puts Hubby at risk if I can’t care for him properly.

It took a lot of organising getting the doctor to come out to give us the jabs. We were expected to go to the Practice but it is not easy getting Hubby out in his wheelchair as it is… let alone knowing he would freak out when being shown a needle. I also had to argue, whilst I have two able legs to get myself to the Practice it made more sense to have Hubby see me having it done as well to reassure him it wasn’t going to hurt much.

The outcome though is now I have either Swine Flu itself (I may have had a minor dose anyway and the jab brought it out) or I am having a severe reaction to the vaccination. Either way I have spent the last 24 hours feeling like I have been hit by a bus! Hubby seems to have not been affected but I need to keep a close watch on him. As it is,  I always pack a bag when winter comes with essentials as we are on call for hospital trips if he gets infections.

NHS Direct are not sure if it’s the full on Swine Flu or a reaction but have advised me to inform the support teams, who help me get Hubby up and washed and dressed of a morning, They can then take a decision on whether stay away for the next few days. Chances are they will err on the side of caution and stay well clear. A sensible approach so I don’t blame them.

So as I write this I am achy and shivering. I have a full night of care to give to my Hubby and now have a few days with no support at all. Can I take the NHS advice and go to bed with a hot drink and paracetamol? Of course I can’t, because I’m a carer and Hubby doesn’t comprehend I am ill, he only sees someone who is there to feed him, hoist him into bed, and wipe his bottom.

The worst thing is this though… I am bloody annoyed with myself for having tried to be practical and sort out the jabs given I don’t think it’s a coincidence my symptoms started within hours of the jabs. And there was me… trying to safeguard myself and Hubby by being responsible. Ho hum as they say… Ho hum!