Do you take care of your SO when they are sick?

[lovetoscrap]

DH has a stomach illness of some sort, either a bug or food poisoning. He got really sick last night around 9:30 pm and was really bad until about 2:30am. I stayed up with him until then, and then got my pillow and slept on the couch downstairs so I could hear him throughout the night ( He didn't want to go to our bed and risk spreading infection to me so he stayed downstairs). I was up several more times when I heard him to make sure he was okay. When DD13 got up about 6:30 I went on up to bed since she was downstairs and could come get me if needed.


Anyway, I was telling someone that I was tired today and explained why. She was shocked that I hadn't just gone to bed at my normal time. She said that she would have let him just take care of himself. DH did tell me to go to go on to bed, but didn't argue at all when I said that I was staying up in case he needed me. I think he was relieved. And I know he would have done the exact same thing for me.

Do you take care of your SO when they are sick? I know that some people just ignore them and expect them to deal with it on their own. DH and I always check on each other, bring drinks and soup and crackers or whatever is needed, just as we do with the kids. Are we not normal?

 

[AshleyW]

I think it's normal.. I do the same when DFH is sick. I don't get sick much, but I'd imagine he'd do the same for me.. or at least he'd better. Not only have I stayed up with him, but I even cleaned up after him once when he was really sick and didn't quite make it to the bathroom.. side note: cleaning up vomit out of thick carpet = EWWW. sorry if that's saying too much for some, haha. But, he has a really weak stomach and it would probably make him even MORE sick to try and clean it up.

 

[mickeyboat]

I don't know that I would be able to help DH much, but I would not be able to sleep if I knew he was actively sick at night.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

The only time my DBF was really sick, I was sick too, so it was all we could do to care for ourselves. But, with my Ex, I learned men need taking care if whenever possible
I dont think I could just go to bed knowning they were sick, thats just mean IMO. (talking REALLY sick, not just a cold or upset tummy)

 

[sbell111]

I'd rather my wife just went to bed.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'd rather my wife just went to bed.

 

[4nana]

Absolutely, TLC is a matter of love and respect in our neck of the woods. Plus, I believe we promised 'in sickness and in health' in our wedding vows . Now if it is something minor, DH doesn't want me fussing over him . But the few times he's been really sick or had surgery I gave him as much TLC as he'd allow. I believe
what goes around comes around and thankfully the times I've been down and out he's been there for me.

I feel for your DH and I'm sure your he appreciated your TLC . Sending best wishes he feels better soon!

 

[sbell111]

Absolutely, TLC is a matter of love and respect in our neck of the woods. Plus, I believe we promised 'in sickness and in health' in our wedding vows . Now if it is something minor, DH doesn't want me fussing over him . But the few times he's been really sick or had surgery I gave him as much TLC as he'd allow. I believe
what goes around comes around and thankfully the times I've been down and out he's been there for me.

I feel for your DH and I'm sure your he appreciated your TLC . Sending best wishes he feels better soon!

I've been in the hospital four or five times since I've been married. Each time, Cathy was kind enough to keep other people from filling up my room to let me relax. She kindly got me whatever I 'needed' and spent the nights with me, but she wasn't stuck there the entire time. She has responsibilities that took her away for part of the time. That's OK.

When I am just sick or have the flu or whatever, she is nice enough to pretty much leave me alone. There's certainly no reason that she shouldn't try to get some rest just because I'm feeling crummy.

 

[hiwaygal]

Are we not normal?

To answer your REAL question...yeah, if my DH is sick, I will do whatever I can to take care of him. He's rarely sick so it's the least I can do to kinda repay him for all the things he does for me when I'm feeling bad.

 

[Disney Doll]

Yes, i do take care of him when he's sick, and he does the same for me. Thankfully, neither one of us has ever been seriously ill, so "taking care of" consists of bringing Tylenol, tissues, making soup...that kind of thing. And yes, certainly if I thought DH might have difficulty during the night and I might not hear him if I was sleeping upstairs, I'd sleep downstairs.

 

[HunnyPots]

Honestly? No! The only sick people I can stand to care for are my kids.
Adults? You're on your own. If you're unconcious, I'll call 911!

My husband, on the other hand, has this whole Florence Nightengale thing going on. If I'm sick, he absolutely hovers. I guess I'm lucky, but mostly I'd rather just be left alone! Yeah, I guess I'm rotten...

 

[disykat]

While we do take care of each other, in that situation it would be "wake me up if you need me." Even with my teenagers I would just go to bed, leaving my door open and instructions to call for me if needed.

I still seem to have that "mommy sense" that wakes me if anyone is sick - including the dog - so I really wouldn't worry about just going to bed.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've been in the hospital four or five times since I've been married. Each time, Cathy was kind enough to keep other people from filling up my room to let me relax. She kindly got me whatever I 'needed' and spent the nights with me, but she wasn't stuck there the entire time. She has responsibilities that took her away for part of the time. That's OK.

When I am just sick or have the flu or whatever, she is nice enough to pretty much leave me alone. There's certainly no reason that she shouldn't try to get some rest just because I'm feeling crummy.

My DH doesn't want to be bothered when he is sick or has had surgery. heck, when he was in the hospital last time, I was to keep visitors away which was easy because I was out in the hallway! He really doesn't like to be bothered, period. This was years ago so maybe he has mellowed.
But his elbow surgeries have had me there but never hovering. No hovering...he'd freak out for sure.

If he is vomitting, I'll toss him the garbage can.

 

[Fintastic]

I'm VERY vomit-phobic. I've been that way my whole life. If somebody throws up in front of me, I cry. Thankfully I've been able to handle DD's throwing up, but anybody else (even DH) makes me really upset. I know sooner or later I'll have to take care of DH during a sick episode, but thankfully in our seven and a half years of marriage I haven't had to do it yet. I would try my hardest to help where I was needed, but I can't promise it would be very good care. He'd probably be better off without me.

 

[Acklander]

nope, beyond running out to the store to pick up cold medicine or scripts, I pretty much leave him alone. When I'm sick, I prefer to be left alone as well, that way I can get some rest. I don't think I would have married him if he was the type to "hover" while I was sick or expected to be pampered while he was sick.

 

[sbell111]

If my wife is sick and I am in a different part of the house, she'll just send me a text if she needs something.

 

[Angelhalo]

I take care of my DH making sure he has everything he needs etc. He doesn't do that great of a job for me when I am sick.

 

[shortbun]

Normally my husband just sleeps and wants NO attention. On the two occasions that he was really very ill, I stayed with him or within earshot. I would want to know that someone was keeping tabs on me if I was REALLY sick-like influenza or food poisoning.

 

[pilotwife_02]

If my husband needs meds or something at the store, yes, I'll get it for him. But I won't stay up all night tending to him. We have two small boys and I work so I need to rest myself and make sure I can function myself the next day and honestly, I don't try to keep from getting sick myself and keep the boys from him so THEY don't get sick.

Mean? Perhaps, but it's fine with him and as long as it doesn't bother him I guess it's not too bad Also, he whines worse than my 2 and 3 year old and I'm afraid I might hurt him so it's best that I stay away from him Seriously, I have never seen a person SOOO sick from a simple head cold.

 

[suejai]

My DH doesn't want to be bothered when he is sick or has had surgery. heck, when he was in the hospital last time, I was to keep visitors away which was easy because I was out in the hallway! He really doesn't like to be bothered, period. This was years ago so maybe he has mellowed.
But his elbow surgeries have had me there but never hovering. No hovering...he'd freak out for sure.

If he is vomitting, I'll toss him the garbage can.

My DH is the same, he just really wants to be left alone. Now, when I am sick thats a totally different story - I'm not allowed to do anything for myself. It is not an equitable deal but he gets testy if I try to help him.