Tuesday 25 March 2008

Not What We Signed On For!

One of the things we dread as fulltimers being from out of the country is illness. As you know Gordon hasn't been feeling well for the last couple of weeks and last night his temperature was up and he had chills so we decided to go to Emergency. We spent almost four hours waiting in the waiting room in chairs not designed for people who are ill. He finally got a bed in Emergency about 10:30 p.m. where after blood work, a chest x-ray and a CT scan of the chest he was diagnosed with pneumonia of unknown origin. We arrived home around 4:00 a.m.

When we went to the walk in clinic last week he was given antibiotics which apparently should have cleared up pneumonia but it did not and he kept getting worse. They gave him three heavy doses of an inhaler last night in the hospital and prescribed an inhaler for him as well as another round of antibiotics of a different type. They also did blood work to determine if he might have Valley Fever. This test takes about a week to come back. If he does have Valley Fever, antibiotics will not help and he will have to go on an antifungal drug but they won't give him the antifungal drug until the diagnosis is positive. So here we are in Tucson waiting for the results and for him to recover sufficiently to drive back home.

If he has not recovered sufficiently as determined by the doctor to make the long drive (about 2500 miles) to Ontario, our travel medical insurance will look after returning the RV to our home province. We're cutting our time really short to be able to get back especially if he doesn't recover quickly.

I have been asked why I don't drive the rig. I have a couple of answers to that. One, I'm not that comfortable driving the truck having always been used to driving a Saturn sport coupe and two, I don't need the stress with the health problems that I have personally.

When we began this lifestyle we had decided that if we started having health problems we would discontinue our life on wheels and return to the stix and brix house. Is this the time? At this point we're keeping our options open.

We had booked an appointment with the RV Doctor (mobile RV repair) to come today as our kitchen slide has been very noisy when going in and out for the last few months. He fixed that in short order and also showed us how to raise the top of the stove. It's so easy when you know how! I've also had a problem with the stove top cover not sitting back far enough so that when you have pots on the back burners they get pushed ahead which makes for ineffective cooking so he hooked up a little hook thing to keep the top in the upright position. Again so easy! He also looked at our bathroom fan motor and said that if we go and buy it, he'll come and install it and make the necessary adaptations so it will fit so it's another trip to Camping World tomorrow!

Other than feeling exhausted today from getting about 4 hours of sleep, we're relieved first of all to have a diagnosis for Gordon and second of all to have the RV problems fixed.


Thanks to all of you who have expressed concern and inquired about Gordon's health. We really appreciate it!

10 comments:

  1. Sandra,
    I am so glad that you took Gordon to the ER! I hope that the inhaler and the new round of different antibiotics! Get well soon Gordon!
    Sassy

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  2. I meant to say I hope that the inhaler and the new round of antibiotics work this time!
    Sassy

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  3. I'd never heard of Valley Fever until it was mentioned yesterday. I just read the whole Mayo Clinic stuff on it. Sounds really ugly....hoping Gordon doesn't have it but regardless, hope he gets well soon. And yes, you DO need to take care of you...HUGS!!

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  4. Hope and pray that Gordon will regain his health in short order ad you can continue the lifestyle that you enjoy.

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  5. It's another Hump in the road of being full time. I'll remember you in my prayers. Get well quick, Gordon! You'll be ok for future travels.
    Dee

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  6. Anonymous12:20 am

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery for Gordon, and for you my dear, take care of yourself also!

    Thanks for posting the links for the taco soup...much appreciated and will be trying this soon...or it will be too hot in Texas for soup!

    Hugs

    Dennise & Paul Ziaja

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  7. Gordon and Sandra
    Hang in there, I'm sure the medical folks will get this figured out. It took two different antibiotics to clear up the junk I got in Texas this winter, and an inhaler too. But they found the right combination. As far as your rig is concerned, I'm sure there are enough friends in the RV-Dreams family to make about anything happen.

    Rod

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  8. Sandra,

    You guys are in our prayers for a speedy recovery for Gordon. Take care of yourself as well. You'll get through this and have a safe trip home.

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  9. Anonymous8:52 pm

    Take care of that guy. We are all pulling for a Speedy recovery and that is coming from Speedy!!!!

    Joe and Sherri

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  10. Pepper from Little House.

    Mom and I have been sick. Mom more so than I. Following our insurance's advice we went to a walk in clinic in Tucson. Don't do it. The emergency room is preferable. Thank you for posting this. I have never heard of Valley Fever. Very good post. I hope all is well in your little house. Mom is up and moving around - feeling a little bit better. If it isn't cleared up by Monday then we will go to the Emergency Room.

    It pays to read (lurk) other RVers blogs, you learn so much. Again thanks.

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