Day Three of a Miserable Experience

At the last posting I thought that the virus was in abeyance, but I was wrong. It picked up speed again and last night was even worse. I was told to take two Imodium after every bout of watery stool, however, that would have meant eight Imodium per hour over a six hour stretch from 1 pm to 6 am. I limited it four per hour although the package instructions warned not to take more than four in a twenty-four hour period. Hmmph. At one point I fouled my bedding and sick as I was, had to strip it and traipse down to the laundry room to wash everything, then remake the bed, mattress pad and all. While I love my bed set in its womb-like cubby, making it is quite difficult as three sides are contained. It is a humiliating experience to foul one’s own bed and seems grossly unfair. I feel like the butt of the joke, as ‘twere, courtesy of the Big Joker. Come to think of it, the rectal fissure episode made me the butt of the joke as well. What’s with all the bathroom “humor” at my expense? Other ill people get to politely cough or waste away in a delicate and vaporous way. I get to have all these inelegant anally painful or explosive experiences.

I was embarrassed to recall, far too late, that I had neglected to go to my class last night, or to give notice that I wouldn’t be there. I felt pretty dispirited about that as well. Supposedly this is a 24 hour bug but I’m on day three here. And I’m due to fly to San Diego day after next.

Howard has been very sweet, tending to my needs, supplying me with soup and Lemon Recharge. He’s been running to the store for me as needed as well. I’m trying to keep to the third floor in hopes that I won’t spread this plague around.

I attempted solid food at dinner last night which was a huge mistake. I didn’t eat much or anything that was other than bland, but it seemed to set up the next round of misery. I shall be much more circumspect in the near future in hope of being able to board the plane on Friday morning. I’m pretty weak at this point, but I can bring the wheel chair. It’s not as good as a pram, of course, but it’s a lot smaller and more portable.

Golda Dwass loaned me some novels, one of which has provided a bright spot throughout this episode, Straight Man by Richard Russo. It’s well written, well observed, funny, and provided a welcome distraction through a very unpleasant night. Thank heaven for good books to see us through rough times.