Are You Really Feeling Weak or Do You Just Have a Cold?

Sharon's mom always jumped at the littlest thing that Sharon had going on. Ow, I bumped my arm...let's head to the doctor. Ouch I have a sore throat...let's treat it with some medicine. ...you get the drift.

So the first time I heard from Sharon "I feel weak" I thought, oh no, I hope this isn't going to be a seizure or the flu. So I quizzed her to try and figure out what "weak" meant.

What does weak mean? "I don't know"

Do you have a headache? "No."

Do you feel so tired you don't feel like you can get out of bed? "No."

Well, what do you mean by weak? "I don't know. I guess I just don't feel good."

Well, what doesn't feel good? "I don't know."

Sharon, you have to help me understand what "weak" and "I don't feel good means." Do you feel sick to your stomach? "No."

Do you feel like you are going to throw up? "No."

Are you dizzy? "No."

Sharon, weak basically means that you don't have energy, that you feel so sick that you don't feel as though you can get out of bed. Do you feel that way? "No."

So you don't feel weak then, right? "No, I guess not."

So how do you feel? "I don't know. I feel weak."

Ugh!!!

Get my point? How did Sharon feel? She had a cold. She had a little sore throat. Did you know that it was the end of the world?

Okay, I know for her it didn't feel good and I know her mom used to drop everything and baby her (How you say? Sharon has indicated that once mom went out to the store and bought her Legos because Sharon wanted something to build. Not just any Legos, but a tub that probably cost about $50. How you say? Sharon has told us that when she felt she had a cold, she would crawl into bed with mom. As a kid you say? Try in the last five years. Remember, Sharon is 44), but come on.

Yep, another rude awakening moment for Sharon. Girly, I said. I know you aren't feeling well, but you have to realize that we all get colds and there isn't a lot that can be done about them. You need to have fluids and take it a little easy. Be watchful and make sure you are taking your vitamins and maybe drink some warm tea for your sore throat. Probably don't have cereal because you shouldn't have milk (if you have a tummy ache) and you should have some soup. But we aren't going to baby you, you need to get through this. If it does get worse we certainly we'll deal with it, but it is best if your body tries to fight what it can. As long as you don't have a high fever, I am not throwing medicine at this...it won't make a difference anyway.

Off to work we went and I checked in with her later. She had tea...she ate cereal (grrr). Upon coming home, found that she hadn't eaten soup, but thought she felt better so she had something else. Feeling better? Great, then the whining can stop for sure right? Caught in a situation there, Sharon. Want the sympathy, but also want to to what want to do. Hmmmmm.

Today was our meeting with Robin at Life Skills Unlimited. We are excited about working with her. Robin is going to get those independent living skills going to pick up where my husband and I have been lacking. Robin will be fair, but she will be tough and make Sharon accountable. I see the tunnel widening..our goal is the end of summer and independence. The journey truly begins now.