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Honored Contributor
Posts: 11,193
Registered: ‎07-21-2014

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

I would absolutely not! Im sorry that SIL and your Husband are having health issues. God Bless.

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. —Helen Keller
Honored Contributor
Posts: 13,510
Registered: ‎05-23-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

Thank you all for your responses. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 12,887
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

I hope I didn't sound like a bummer in my post above.

 

Instead of going to her home for the holiday, why not pick a date that you all could meet *in the middle*.  Check out the weather forecast a few days out and plan from there.

 

You and your husband drive an hour or so and they all drive an hour.  You can bring your own food and drinks and some beach chairs.  

 

You won't need to be in their home and you will have your own food.  But everyone can still gather round and talk and talk and talk!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 511
Registered: ‎07-09-2014

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

No way ,  C-diff is awful , and the diagnosis stays with you forever ! 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,665
Registered: ‎10-25-2016

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

Hi @Mindy D ,

 

I'm so very sorry that everyone in your family is dealing with various health issues that are so very serious. 

 

I'll be thinking of all of you...Heart

 

I had a bout of C. Diif.

 

It happened from taking oral antibiotics long-term at home for a stubborn skin infection.

 

I didn't get the C. Diff. in the hospital, but I had a really good Hospitalist taking care of me when I was in the hospital who had me tested for it and it was caught and treated immediately while I was in the hospital.

 

I had very mild symptoms. I was already in a private room so they isolated me.

 

When I was released from the hospital, I had to keep treating at home for it and I was given specific instructions on how to clean my bathroom specifically. 

 

C. Diff. is a spore infection that can live on surfaces for a long time. That's why surfaces have to be disinfected.

 

Since your SIL has birds, I wonder if a natural silver disinfecting solution would be safe to use around them? There are cleaners out there made with silver in them.

 

Also, when I got out of the hospital, I checked with my doctor about taking some Florastor to help with my colon. 

 

It's a type of probiotic that's made from a natural yeast and it's supposed to help balance gut flora with this type of an infection.

 

I wonder if your SIL has tried taking it?

 

You can buy it over-the-counter at various stores.

 

I'm terribly sorry that your husband has been suffering from chronic migraines for all of these years.

 

I used to get migraines.

 

Now it's chronic pain from various injuries/sources, including Neuropathy.

 

My heart goes out to all of you. Heart

 

I agree with our other posting friends here and their advice to you and would just stay home for Thanksgiving this year. 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 3,405
Registered: ‎03-29-2020

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

Are you sure you want to go at all, considering the circumstances? I've had C Diff and it's no joke--I had to take medication for 6 weeks that gave me a stomach ache the whole time.

Stay home. Be as tactful as you want but you DON'T want to risk your health or anyone else's.

If you need to, you can remind all the parties involved that by next year most of this will have gone away and you can have a grand get-together. Hope this helps.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,894
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

I can't  think how you or your husband could enjoy the visit when the entire time you fear touching or eating anything and he not only has pain in his head, but can't enjoy eating either. Also to consider, keeping your relatives at a distance will be awkward  and they may not take it well, making you the topic to be discussed and revisited annually at every future Thanksgiving. I know this because I have a family too.

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,031
Registered: ‎03-19-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

I don't get the dilemma.  Just say husband is not well and cannot attend this year.  Hope things get better and we can get together then....

Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,159
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

[ Edited ]

@Mindy D wrote:

OK, here's the story. My husband and I love his brother and our sister in law. We love our niece and her husband and one year old baby. We've been dying to see them. Our niece is inviting us for a thanksgiving this year. SIL, BIL, baby will be there. We usually sleep at niece's when we drive up. They are 2.5 hours north of us. Niece and BIL live in different homes.

We and BIL are triple vaxed. SIL is currently double vaxed and is awaiting approval to get another vax due to her current illness. Niece and nephew not vaxed. 

 

Main concern. SIL has active, reocurring, C. Difficile infection. She has been trying to get fecal transplant but has not had success. Her illness came after having peritonitis from a burst appendix two months ago. I don't want this infection for either myself or my husband. I'm terrified of bringing into my home. C diff is notoriously difficult to eradicate.  Once you get it  it's extreme,y difficult to get rid of it. SIL found out she has AFib and needs heart surgery but can't get it until C Dif is gone. We feel so sorry for her. She has been so ill. We do want to see them. C diff is very contagious and surfaces are easily contaminated and a real ordeal to disinfect, requiring daily special processes more intricate than any COVID protocol you might have read about. Right now, we can't even be certain that BIL, niece, nephew and baby have not picked up the C diff infection. They have had way too much physical contact. Ironic because niece has degree in molecular biology and she's a germophobe. 

 

We will probably have to rent a car. We recently did and it cost $1000. I would prefer to stay in a hotel this time. I'm not even sure if they are any decent hotels nearby them. I have one idea how to get around the contamination problem. If we could meet them for dinner at a restaurant and if they could visit with us on the hotel lobby and grounds, it would be a way of solving the issue. 

My husband has been horribly ill with a yet undiagnosed stomach or bowel condition, despite battery of tests by specialist. Moreover, my poor husband is in excruciating pain every minute of every day from chronic cluster headaches. He will be suffering the entire time. He's also not eating much due to the gastro problem. 

It's not good to have someone that could be infected with C diff prepare a meal either. 


I'm not going to want to hug anyone because of the risks. I'm not even going to want to sit on a chair or couch in either niece's or BIL's houses. 

 


@Mindy D   It seems to me that zoom is the way to go under these circumstances.  I zoomed DD last Christmas, first time, and it was almost as if she were in the room with me.

 

With zoom, it is not people sitting, she walked around going to her sofa to open gifts, then going to the tree to get more, the dogs running around.

 

You would be able to see the baby walk, if she is walking now, etc., etc.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,744
Registered: ‎10-30-2010

Re: Would you visit someone at their home for Thanksgiving under these circumstances?

My answer would be a gentle decline, stating your husbands cluster headaches, and the unbearable pain that he would be in. 

 

I actually feel sorry for the toddler. 

 

I think the Zoom call would be best option for the entire family.