JON: It happened again, Marie left me to go Holland to do something professional and hopefully well-paid This time only for 4 days, but that’s enough time for things to go wrong. Marie left me with a full fridge, a list of dos and don’ts and a handful of phone numbers. I felt prepared for the nuclear winter that is Denmark, and things were going well until I tried to use the microwave and the kettle at the same time. A fuse blew (come to think of it, I think the seller may have predicted that something along those lines would happen). I tried saying “Let there be light” a few times, but it stayed resolutely dark. Very, very dark, although there was sufficient light to get me into bed – and in the morning there was enough light for me to see that I didn’t understand the 40 year old foreign fuse system at all.
Our next-door neigbour had said she would be happy to help out with any problems (although she speaks no English). Lots of people are happy to offer help feeling that it is very un-likely that the help will ever need to be given, but I had to take her on her word, and she was fantastic! A cursory look revealed that she too was out of her depth, but out came her mobile and within minutes her father appeared, diagnosed the problem and went off to the nearest shop (several miles away) to buy fuses, then returned and made light.
So what has all this got to do with PD? Well, had I been my old self, I would have worked out the fuse system and solved the problem myself somehow. Failing that, I would have been able to think of an alternative solution without ringing Marie in the middle of a meeting. I could have confidently strolled across the frozen tundra that is our driveway without falling and having to turn back. Indeed, I could have driven Marie to the station and therefore have had the car so been able to do my own fuse-shopping. But with PD, I now have to rely on the kindness of others. I am pretty sure that had we been new neighbours in the city (any city), I would have sat in darkness and waited for Marie to return to a fully defrosted freezer. We’ve picked a good place to live.
PS: I have now seen a doctor (as a private patient since I am still waiting for the magical CPR number that will throw open the doors to national health care) who has referred me for a X-ray of my hip and for physiotherapy while we wait. I have my first physio appointment in two days. I hope for pain relief, Marie hopes for a set of exercises she can taunt me with. I know she means well…
PPS: When I fell over in our icy driveway, to my surprise it didn’t hurt at all. Maybe the jolt of adrenalin helped, and also prevented a panic attack. Anyhow, I just stood up, no fuss, no mess, and went back to the house. With PD there will be many falls in the future, and although there was obviously some climate input involved, I’m wondering if this counts as PD fall #1?
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see - you just moved in and there goes the fuse box and the light. We delt with that constantly in our old home. Replacing fuses is easy living in a big city but you are in the country and you have lots to learn about an old home. We love our brand newish apt. everything is moderen, if not boring. but at least we don't need an electrician to climb the mast and replace the burned out wiring. Cute old home it was but old is the underlying pain in the wallet.
Hubby had years of pain in the back because of the sciatic nerve. Finally got an epidural about 2 years ago and basically is pain free now. The epidural had magically worked in litterally seconds.
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