Sunday, April 27, 2008

No Jivin', Just Hivin'


The scene above is what I see from the porch at Dog Island, the two sentinel pine trees looking out onto the bay. I usually spend a great deal of my time on the island on the back porch at a wooden picnic table facing the bay, reading or writing or playing cards with just that scene in front of me.
This weekend, our partner in the house was also on the island and he was refinishing the table, making it unusable, so that discombobulated me a bit.
It was a discombobulated sort of weekend, truthfully.
On the way over I realized that I was in such an absurdly good mood that I barely recognized myself. And I even told my husband that I was so excited to be going to the island that I was eager for any adventure we might have.
Haha! says the universe.
All was well until Saturday morning, early, early, around four-thirty when my husband woke me up, apologizing but saying, "I really need some help here."
And indeed he did as he was in the process of breaking out in hives of such ferocious redness and itchiness that he thought he might go insane. Obviously he was suffering from some sort of allergic reaction although we have no idea what might have caused it.
Me, being the nurse, immediately went to find some Benadryl but could only find some that was two years past its sell-by date. I gave him two anyway but an hour later, the rash had gotten only redder, more ferocious looking, and itchier.
Not only was it the middle of the night (and these things always happen in the middle of the night, don't they?) we were on Dog Island, which means you can't just hop in the car and drive to the all-night drug store OR the emergency room. I gave him an ice bag to rub on the rash instead of using his fingernails on it and I also found another type of antihistamine and gave him two more of those.
By seven a.m. he had finally fallen asleep, sitting up in a chair, and I crawled in bed and went to sleep myself but I kept getting up to check on him.
He slept pretty soundly for quite awhile, as well he should have, having ingested enough antihistamine to bring down a horse, but did get up long enough to crawl into the bed where he slept some more. The rash abated, faded, and was no longer itchy, so all was well.
But Saturday was pretty much shot for fishing or walking or anything that required consciousness.
So it was a fairly different sort of trip to the island and brought home the point that going to a barrier island with no bridge may bring its own sense of freedom but it also brings its own sense of despair if an emergency arises.
I never panicked and never felt that he was in danger of suffering from anaphylactic shock, but it was extremely worrisome and almost agonizing to watch him in such agony. I felt helpless.
You can be sure that Benadryl has been added to the list of things we need to take to the island on our next visit and by God, I wish I could get my hands on some morphine because if we'd had some, I would gladly have given him some.
There's nothing in the world so frustrating as seeing someone you love in pain and not being able to do anything about it. Thankfully, this was not a life-threatening event but it makes me pause and think about the fact that we're getting older and "things" are invariably going to happen.
I guess we just have to carry on though, as if we believe that we're invincible and will live forever. I mean, what are the options? Sit home all the time? Go ahead and move into an assisted living facility?
Nah.
Life, no matter what your age, is apt to throw you a curve ball now and then, and discombobulation is just part of it.
But I will take Benadryl to the island and I will make sure it's fresh.
Now. Does anyone know how I can get ahold of some morphine?

7 comments:

  1. Oh my god I haven't even read the post yet. That view is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. I am so envious!

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  2. Wow these lines actually did make me cry: "but it was extremely worrisome and almost agonizing to watch him in such agony. I felt helpless...by God, I wish I could get my hands on some morphine because if we'd had some, I would gladly have given him some.
    There's nothing in the world so frustrating as seeing someone you love in pain and not being able to do anything about it."

    ditto. ditto. ditto. *sob*

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  3. Oh- but this is what you live with. For me, it was a few hours one night.
    I don't know how you do it.
    But you are surely one of the strongest women in the world.
    Bless you.

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  4. Ditto on your response to QG, she is a wonderful and incredible person.

    Still no idea about the cause of the allergic reaction? Spider in the bed? Well, that is scary. I agree on living w/o fear and packing a thorough first aid kit to prove it :) I swear, mine keeps getting bigger with each emergency I experience, nothing like not having an easy sling when you need one, or antihistamines... I've experienced that frustration too. Here's to never again!

    ps: my hubby works for TNC, Dog Island restoration/management is part of his duties. Hope you have been happy with them - if not, let me know :)

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  5. Hives! Poor Glen! =0 I see so far no hints on access to morphine. Seems to be it should be as readily available as a shot of Jim Beam is! In the meantime, my emergency pack has grown to include a bottle of valium!

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  6. Mama, I had no idea! Good God, why didn't you call me? I don't know about the morphine but you know I work in a restaurant! If I can't get my hands on some percoset what good am I?

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  7. Sorry about the hive-scare. :(

    The view from your home looks so relaxing.

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