Meningitis day 28 ~ 4 weeks and this is how far we've come....

Four weeks ago I had watched my partner have a Lumbar Puncture, and 3 hours later we'd had the results.

He'd been put into isolation with positive virus and bacteria results and we were both a mess.

He was on his 3rd lot of intravenous Antibiotics and still confused and in agony. Thankfully none of the children had really realised the gravity of the situation and the big ones were doing a brilliant job of watching the little boys and looking after themselves.

Four weeks later and this is where we are....

He's gone back to work.

He can only manage about 3 hours, and no-one else (including the Doctor or his boss) really wants or expects him to go back, but it's important to him. He wants to be normal, he wants to be better and for him going to work is enough. I'm driving him there because his reactions and concentration aren't yet ideal, and after 3 hours he's really shattered, but he's there and keeping everything ticking over instead of sitting at home worrying about them breaking everything in his absence.

When I fetch him his limp is bad and his legs and arms are very sore. His back aches and he feels generally very 'ill'. His head hurts and he comes home and goes to bed, but after a rest he's okay and he can switch off work and relax, which he couldn't do without going in.

He's admitted that he understands why people wouldn't dream of going back to work so early and he jokes about needing a wheelchair, but he's happier. I think by Friday he'll be exhausted, and I carry my phone about waiting for the call to fetch him, relieved when it comes. I'd be delighted if on Thursday he decides his week is over already, but I understand his reasoning (even if I don't really agree with it) and he's not suffering too much or pushing too hard yet. If he does then I'll tell him...you can be certain of that.

Men, eh....tsk....