Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
987762 tn?1671273328

Reality comes a calling (MS vs flood)

Hey Guys and Dolls,

Its been an interesting few days, flash floods that turned our streets into raging rivers and our back yards into swimming pools though lucky for us we managed to hold it off from flowing into the house. It took work, none stop effort to keep the water out but i'm proud to say my son didn't even need asking to pitch in, he was just suddenly there beside me until the emergency was over. Then got right back into it when a new threat emerged, like me a drowned rat, too tired to speak but not stopping until we were sure we really could.

The rain was flowing so hard that there was a water fall rolling off the roof, all around the house, no gutter could keep up with the volume of it. I think what made the problem worse was the storm water system couldn't even keep up and the water once it pooled, it had absolutely know where to go. We have 3 drains next to the house, which is suppose to stop the pooling affect but there was just so much flooding the storm water system that instead of the water going down the drains, the water instead was coming up from it, like water features 2 foot high.

We even had the boat bilge pump automatically turn on because the water filled the boat, now thats as big as an out door spa, so i'm talking about a lot of water to pool in one go. It was ugly when all the drains inside the house started filling, all the sinks and toilets made bubbling and gurgling noises as the air escaped, lol it was stinky! We only had one sink back fill, we think it was blocked with debris and at one stage it really looked like the water was going to keep flowing up and over, it stopped with less than a centimeter to spare.

No joke i was proud at the way my family worked together, dh came home through flooded roads, scary stuff but he knew the house would be flooding and I would be doing what i could to save it, he just wanted to get to us. There was never a danger to us mind you, we only got a taste compared to Queensland but he just knew where he'd find me, though was pleasantly surprised ds wasn't sitting safely and snugly on the couch watching from the side lines and trying to stay out of the way. CUDOS young son!

The next day i was still feeling weary, didn't sleep much expecting the forth flood, though the third one was only small and in control quickly and the forth was less likely to come, still sleep was not happening. I didn't sleep at all the next night, not sure why i had nothing to stay awake for but i still couldn't seem to fall asleep, I sure was exhausted, maybe too exhausted. After a few hours of broken sleep I dragged my self out of bed feeling a tad off my game. Ahhhh reality hit, its funny how when you've had days on end feeling good, life has a way of making you hit that brick wall and remind you that youre not the same.

I was feeling wobbly but hey i'd not even put the kettle on yet and thought i'd be fine any minute now LOL I was only on my feet for a few minutes and i started listing like a tree on its way down, dh noticed my weird angle before I did, I serously couldn't seem to work out which way was up. DH would prop me straight and i'd start going over again, where did my core muscles go? I was fighting gravity and rappidly loosing my energy trying to stay on my feet, I was ready to sit on the sodden grass but dh got me half way inside and ds took me the rest of the way. I was again a jelly legged string puppet.

DH took charge, he picked me up and carried me the rest of the way, I was heading for the kettle but he veto'd that and took me back to bed, apparently I was almost head butting walls and was bent almost over. He couldn't see how i was even walking at such a weird angle, sheeesh i thought i was straight cause i was focused on getting my legs to move lol. I fell asleep and would not have woken if DH hadn't had to wake me up at dinner time (none cancelable appt), at least i managed to finally get my 8 hours lol.

I still didn't feel good but it was not so bad, I dusted off my trusty cane which gave me enough of a prop on one side and then there was DH (affectionally named puppet master) guiding said puppet from A to B, on the other side, so all was good once i'd worked out which way was up. I swayed around a lot and with dh on one side as i walked, (it was like having a crash test dummy that i bopped into when ever his gratitational pull drew me in) and the cane on the other, I think i might of looked less of a drunkard and more dissabled, sigh!

I really feel this was not a flare but from dealing with the flood and once my body has time to rest, i'll come good again. SO far that seems to have been right, i am walking more humanoid today though the fatigue is ever presant so i'm not 'rested' enough yet but i'm sure in a few days i'll be back to my normal. In my head I have to think this way, I am not going back to where I once stood though i know i dont really have much choice.

So anyhooo, it was an adventure i'd sooner not have had but life has a way of not listening to what you want and gives you the good with the bad, i've had good and bad so the good is already on its way, bring it on, baby!

Cheers..........JJ

  
5 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well ladies, you sure know how to make a gal feel good inside!!!

On the up side the garden is really really green now its been thoroughly and DS is getting into his school work with no complaints, seriously not sure if its due to the experience of the floods or the fact i've given him year 12 chemistry. Yr 12 here, i think would equal college over there with you, yr 12 is our last school yr before university. Sheesh what this boy knows is shocking, more so because he's self taught and never had a science lesson. Silly me thought he'd be stretching to understand and the reality of it is, even with out the text book he's knows it, hmmm how?

I suppose i can honestly say the flood taught me to never under estimate what DS is capable of and I think he learnt that being cool in a crisis is more productive than freaking out, the other thing is physical work can actually make you feel good about your self (now clean your blasted room lol).

I'm still trying to find my feet, fatique just under the surface and not letting me do but its getting better, I think. I could scratch my face off with the itchiness of my skin not sure why i seem to be so itchy, its been weeks and weeks though it feels out of control when i'm tired. I know this can be fantom or parasthesic but i do seem to be getting skin reactions as well, more and more lately. Welts prior to where it itches can't be fantom or parasthesia itchiness can it? Isn't that my imunne system over reacting?

Anyhooo love you guys!!!!

Cheers........JJ
Helpful - 0
923105 tn?1341827649
Hi JJ,

Gotta give you credit where credit is due (in the meaning of being proud of you) even though it must have been a dreadful experience  - I was watching it all on the TV just thinking how people were going to manage.

Way to go girl, you all pulled through - just goes to show...............

We are Women, we are strong!!!

Hugs to you,

Debs x
Helpful - 0
667078 tn?1316000935
Wow you have been through a bad ordeal.

Alex
Helpful - 0
1318483 tn?1318347182
Wow, what a story, JJ!

I am glad you were able to keep the water out and that your boy stepped up on his own.  

You deserve some rest.  That was a lotta hard work!

Addi
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
JJ, all of you down under have had more than enough calamities with mother nature this season - it's a good thing it sounds like your MS isn't in a real flare.  I think even the most healthy of person would have been down for the count after all that bailing and working to hold back the flood waters.

Congratulations to you for proving to yourself that you still got a lot of fight in you.  Now go back to resting and make sure this is really not a flair but just exhaustion.

hugs and stay dry, Lulu
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease