“I was Bedridden for a Week and My Whole Family Was Sick – Here’s How I Coped (and what I learned)”
I’m here to offer you my solidarity if your family has ever been hit by the flu, and then had an unexpected injury or a child home during a school holiday. I’m here for you. Hell on toast was what my family and I experienced recently. It was the most emotionally and physically draining time I’ve ever experienced, and it seemed endless. It was a time of extreme physical and emotional exhaustion.
This blog will detail how I survived that horrible week and what I learned. When the flu is descending on your home, knowing that someone else has experienced it and survived can bring you comfort.
The Flu that Wouldn’t Stop
The first child was my oldest. Next came the middle child. Next, the baby. Then — surprise! My husband and I feel like two weak, feverish Dominoes. The virus was vicious and ravaged us all one by one. Just when we thought the worst had passed, it came back again. The whole package: fevers, chills, and sore throats. Headaches, nausea, fatigue, etc. What’s the cherry on top? The cherry on top?
In the middle of this chaos, I fainted. The next minute, I was trying to stand up, but the next, I was on the ground with a head injury and swelling. It was nearly impossible to ignore. I was now officially bedridden and could not properly care for others.
I’ve hit rock bottom.
Accepting Help (Even when it’s hard)
I am used to being a caregiver as a mother. When I am sick, it’s hard to find help. Due to her age, my mum was unable to help out. My sister, who had a child of her own, couldn’t take the risk. My other sister? On holiday. Naturally. My husband and I were both feeling like we had been warmed up to death and trying to hold everything together with duct tape and stubbornness.
I asked for help. When asked, “What can we help with?” I replied, “A grocery delivery would be great,” or “If you leave a meal cooked by the front door, I will love you forever.” They delivered. They delivered everything, from food and tissues to Panadol and cold drinks. It’s hard to imagine how we could have survived without the deliveries.
Moral of the Story? Do not be a superhero. Say yes when someone offers help. Thank them. You’ll repay the favor one day.
Why You Should Hire Professionals
Home remedies and stubbornness will not work forever. We called an ambulance after my condition continued to decline. I’m grateful we did. They advised me to go to the hospital immediately, not just for myself, but also for my baby whose croup was at a dangerous level.
We all piled into the car despite it being late and the fact that everyone was wearing pajamas. In the hospital, I received IV fluids for my injury and pain medication. My baby was given steroids to help him breathe. We were monitored overnight, which was a blessing because I didn’t have to worry about making medical decisions and if someone was breathing “too quickly.”
We visited our local GP several times over the next two-week period for checkups. Every time, I hoped that they would give me a magic drug to cure us all. But each time, the answer was always the same: It’s viral, and the only way to get better is by resting.
Rest. Three kids. During school holidays. Sure.
ABC Kids Rescue
When my family gets the flu and I feel like my bones are made of paper, everything changes.
ABC Kids has become our co-parent. Our therapist. Our babysitter.
It’s 12-13 hours of non-stop children’s programming every day. The gang, including Bananas In Pyjamas and Blu, was there. We were very grateful. We were grateful that the older two had enough energy to watch ABC Kids when we were too ill to entertain them. ABC Kids entertained them, kept them out of their misery, and gave us some much-needed rest.
Guilt? Not even a bit. People, these are desperate times.
Let Go of Control
I don’t like to be messy, but I enjoy order. I like to know what is going on in my home, where everything is, and that everybody has been fed, watered, and (somewhat groomed. Not during that particular week. Nope.
There was something on every surface — toys, unfinished medicine, laundry, tissue, and half-empty cups. The floors? We won’t talk about floors. The same pajamas and sweatpants were worn for days. Unwashed dishes sat on the counter. The laundry pile grew as if it were a sentient being.
I was forced to give up. My husband was running on fumes, but he was doing his best. Work deadlines? Missed. Overdue library boo, ks Bills? Hope someone paid the bills.
The most heartbreaking thing was that I had to stop nursing. I was taking strong painkillers containing codeine, and I knew that it wasn’t good for my baby. Our breastfeeding journey was nearing its natural end anyway — he is almost a year old — but I didn’t expect it to end this abruptly. It hurt. He cried. He cried. It was necessary,y and I had no choice but to let go.
Nutrition? Bare Minimum Mode is Activated
The food became a necessity. We fed anyone who showed even the slightest sign of hunger whatever they could tolerate, including two-minute noodles with jam on toast, dry cereals, ice cream, and baked beans. Gourmet? No. Nutritious? Nutritious? We were happy that anyone ate at all.
On some days, we ate nothing but ice and water. Some days, we ate Tiny Teddies with jelly. It was absurd to think of cooking. It is temporary, we reminded ourselves. Appetite will return. Real food would return.
Mental Health: Holding on Through the Fog
The mental toll of this battle was as painful as the physical. Some days, I was completely overwhelmed and wondered if we would ever feel normal. We felt trapped in a never-ending cycle of fevers, coughing fits, and broken sleep. The holidays were a blur. My boys missed out on all the fun things childhood has to offer, like sleepovers, trips to the beach, and outings. Instead, they were sick, tired, and bored at home.
The guilt was heavy, too will pass. The fog would eventually lift. Our bodies would heal. The house would be clean. Normality would return.
What do you think? It was.
Lessons Learned From the Flu Apocalypse
Here are some of the lessons I will be taking forward now that we have (mostly recovered) and can look back at that crazy week.
1. Say Yes to Help
Accept help from others. Accept offers of meals, childcare, or supplies. You should accept all offers of help.
2. When You Need Medical Attention, Get It
Do not wait until the situation is critical. Head injuries and fainting are serious. Croup is also serious. Call your doctor. Call the doctor. It’s important to take care of your health.
3. Screen Time Won’t Ruin Your Kids
In an emergency, you need to find solutions. Let go of guilt.
4. Your House Can Wait
It’s temporary. Laundry, dishes, and mess are all temporary. Health is first.
5. Mental Resilience Matters
You can still take control of your response, even if you have no control over what is happening. Concentrate on the future. It’s not forever.
6. The Flu Shots are Worth It
If I had it to do over, I would get the flu shot early. The flu vaccine may not be able to prevent all illnesses, but it will reduce the severity and spread of illness.
How Do You Cope When Everyone is Sick?
I would love to hear your story if you have survived a family illness. Please share any tips or battle stories that helped you. What got you through the fog, and what helped? What did you give up? What did you hold on to?
In the end, it isn’t important to be perfect as a parent when there’s a household flu outbreak. It’s more about surviving and loving your family through the chaos, while also celebrating small victories (like brushing teeth before noon).
You can do it. You can do it.
You don’t.
