The STUPID swine flu (H1N1 virus)

OK, so I was recovering pretty well after the surgery. I never made it for a full 8-hour day at work, but was feeling better every day and had recovered the hearing in my left ear. Until, that is, about 1 1/2 - 2 weeks after I started back to work, so about 3 1/2 - 4 weeks after the surgery. I had no resistance, so was hit hard by the swine flu. The fever from that caused more swelling in my brain, which caused all kinds of stroke-like symptoms. The pressure in my head (from the brain swelling) was very painful, but on the RIGHT side, not the left. I lost almost all control of my left arm and hand (can't find the right keys to save my life!), and could only keep my glasses on for about 15-20 seconds because it was too painful, so couldn't read, work on the computer, or do anything else that required me to see closer than the end of my arm. So, off work again. And still off work, many weeks later. They have assigned my duties to other employees, for the most part.

This has caused big changes in our life. Maybe that was the plan all along. We have had to pull Dean from RVC and put him in public high school because I have no income, not even disability pay. Disability from the surgery expired when I went back to work the first time, and the flu itself is treated and gone, but these residual complications are falling through the cracks in the who-is-actually-taking-care-of-me-now floor. The surgeon has basically released me, it's out of the normal realm of my primary care doc, and I have an appointment with the neurologist, but not til the end of January. Oh, well, it is nice to be at home, and I needed to relearn how to live a simpler life, so... Unfortunately, Allen's company is on cutback, too, so his income is less than usual now. There is a meeting next Tuesday of the administration team at work, so I will find out Wednesday if they are going to take me back or not. Time will tell, right? As always, life is interesting.