Heather’s Health

So that “in sickness and in health” bit from the marriage vows? They test you on that. Here’s an update, because a surprising number of people have asked.

Heather’s cyst sorted itself out in good time, but she’s still stuck with a whole host of other problems (which I’ll let her go into detail about if she wants) that are making her miss work — which is worrisome — and basically keeping her bedridden. No one’s really sure what’s causing the problems, least of all us, since they don’t seem to be connected with the cyst. It got bad enough last week that we went back to the emergency room with dangerously low blood pressure — and almost again last night, for a different reason — but we were sent back home and told to wait it out within a few hours. We’re waiting it out, and it’s not getting better. She’s alive, and neither of us think she has anything life threatening wrong with her, we’re just ready to get back to normal now. There’s something about taking care of a sick person that makes you feel really useless.

One thing of interest that’s come out of all of this is that I realised I really trust doctors. I’ve been totally on board with everything her doctors have told us along the way, where normally I’d expect to second guess people and come to my own (frequently incorrect) conclusions. Hypochondria, self-diagnosis and all that. (Did you know I’ve had about 10 life threatening conditions in my life?) Even now, when nothing seems to be going right, and her doctors are telling us not to worry, I am not worrying. Don’t burn me, healthcare industry. (Please.)

Normally that would be it, but our relationship has the ever-present issue of me not being a citizen of the US to contend with. Right now, Heather needs me here, and I want to be here more than anywhere else. Tomorrow? Gotta fly back to England. Great, gut-wrenching timing.

Guys: don’t take your health for granted, because the second you’re not looking it will be a total asshole and explode one of your wife’s ovaries.

13th March 2010