The Perfect Storm

About a week ago I was feeling like a teenager after my first session of physical therapy.  The lower back was not hurting and I was over over the moon about having a therapist that comes to your home instead of having to travel 3 times a week to him.
The next day though the perfect storm began to brew in our home.  I had my second physical therapy session and was feeling sort of okay.  That afternoon, however, I developed a fever and my back pain seem to be intensifying at a rapid pace.  I went to bed and prayed things would be better in the morning.
On Saturday, I woke up feeling kind of weak and the back was hurting a bit, but tolerable.   My sweet husband offered to make me an extra large watermelon smoothie for breakfast.  I sucked it down and decided I was feeling well enough to go to the kitchen to prepare four different meals at once so my hubby would not have to worry about cooking for at least a couple of days.  Surely, I would be better by then.
I was in the middle of peeling potatoes when I became weak and felt I was about to pass out at any minute. I headed with my cane toward the bedroom as fast as I could, but midway I felt the urge to vomit so I told the hubby to bring a bowl.  Just as he turned the corner, the vomit came out like I was Linda Blair in "The Exorcist."  I felt so awful about nearly showering him with the smootie he had lovingly prepared for me just an hour earlier.
A few minutes later, I felt better so back to the kitchen and we finished cooking.  The family had lunch and I went to bed.  Later  I developed fever and decided it was time to go see Dr Candy.  She said I was severly dehydrated and had a serious infection.  Three hours later, after serveral medicines being administered via IV, we were on our way home.  I felt a bit better, but still pretty weak.
On Sunday afternoon I developed a very high fever so the hubby decided that was enough and off to the hospital we went.  I had been communicating with my orthopedic doctor via emails over the last day or two because my pain had intensified so much.  Dr Mauricio said he would be at the emergency room waiting on us.  We arrived and I was quickly admitted to the CIMA hospital, which in my opinion is like checking into Hampton Inn, except with great medical care.
After multiple tests I was told that indeed I had a very nasty infection, which was exacerbating my back pain.  On the second day of my four day stay, an MRI was done and it indicated one of my disks was completely gone and I had a pre hernia on another disk.  Doc Mauricio said the back issue could be addressed with physical therapy, hydrotherapy, losing a couple of poumds, and leading a life style that involves no heavy lifting, learning to bend with the knees, etc.
I was released Wednesday, but was banned from flying for four weeks.  I was supposed to accompany my dad on a trip the following Sunday, so that trip had to be cancelled.
On Thursday, my hubby took my dad for his cardiology checkup since he was still planning to leave Sunday.  I was laying on my stomach getting physical therapy when hubby calls and says "possible bad news."  Really?  My dad had to be sent home with a holter to monitor his heartbeat for 24 hours.  Just as they were arriving into Atenas, about 35 minutes from the hospital, the hubby gets a call from the hospital that there is a problem with the holter so they have to turn around and come back to the hospital.  The problem turned out to be installing a AAA battery!
On Friday, hubby and my dad head back to the hospital to leave the holter.  But just as our streak of bad luck would have it, my dad had to be hospitalized for 24 hours, in the room adjacent next to the room I had just occupied earlier in the week.
So now my dad has been banned from flying for a week.
On the upside, we have had the most wonderful support from friends and neighbors.  My sort of adopted daughter stayed by my side 24/7 so my hubby could be at home taking care of his mom, my father, and the doggie.
I am now home doing much better and grateful not to be in pain.  I am also grateful that my dad's problem is being taken care of by a wonderful doctor.
I cannot say enough about the medical care system here.  If you have private insurance like I am blessed to have, you can feel like a celebrity.  The physical therapist comes to your home, as does the phlobotomist to draw blood, doctors will  personally answer phone calls, and correspond with you via email.
Hopefully, our bad luck has come to an end and all will be better from this point forward.