I’m confused as well, because it seems like the big joke is supposed to be something like “wife had a trivial illness but dropzone mistakenly believed it was serious.” But while norovirus usually passes in a few days, it’s a pretty miserable few days even for an otherwise healthy adult and I’d be worried about someone who caught it when they were already in poor health. AFAIK (I am not a medical professional) the virus itself wouldn’t kill them, but several days of vomiting and dehydration can lead to severe dehydration, and that can be deadly.
She hasn’t been eating much for weeks and has had a touchy stomach for longer than that. A bit of puking now and then has been par for the course for years, but you didn’t know that. She’s been minimizing her fluid intake because she’s on dialysis. Basically, nothing in her to become diarrhea, so I didn’t have a clue. Which is also par for the course–well under par. Norovirus sounded familiar and I’m so accustomed to bad news that when she pathetically gasped (she was intubated for five days after her NDE and it scratched her vocal cords), “It’s bad,” I thought she meant it.
The hellhole she’s at now has signs up talking about how there’s a disease going around the dump, that visitors should avail themselves of the Purel dispensers in the hall, or even not come in at all. And, of course, half of the dispensers are empty.
As I left last night an old guy was moaning and calling for help. “Can I get the nurse (nursing station 15 feet away) for you?”
“They won’t come.”
I had to agree, since Wife had to wait 45 minutes after pressing her call button. You can see why I’ve come to expect the worst.
Are you sure she didn’t? Because your description of her general state of health makes it sound to me like norovirus would be much more dangerous for her than the average person. Not eating much and limited fluids + virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea = serious risk of dehydration. Even if this was not a concern, norovirus can certainly be bad in the “I feel awful” sense.
Not to mention, I thought norovirus ran its course in days- yet she has been suffering from it for weeks. Sounds a lot worse.
However, she did not tell me any specifics until AFTER she got better. And didn’t tell me she was better until several hours after leading me to believe she deathly ill again. She has a cruel sense of humor. Always has. It’s funnier when it’s not aimed at me.
Months. Whatever was wrong, it probably didn’t start as norovirus. She was all manner of sick. But she’s better now.
She just asked if she should go on thr kidney transplant list. “If your heart can take it. That was the limiting factor before.”
“I see my cardiologist next week.”
Positivity!
Yay!
She, who I think still considers y’all my invisible friends, sends her thanks for your good wishes.
Glad to hear she is feeling better!