I'm very thankful that in this acute stage I have my husband. He is beyond amazing and wonderful. I also think he is using this time almost to thank me for being there for him through his own health crisis.

I just have enormous guilt because I'm usually the caregiver. Brain patch, I have asked him if its too much and he says only sometimes. He always says I'm wonderful and worth it, but I just feel like he's wearing out.

As far as what I contribute... I do some very basic meals, some dishes, clean bathrooms, floors, put away laundry, help with homework, and organize things. The yard (snow removal) is done by a friend of ours. I take frequent breaks and don't do much at once. It's just so foreign to hand over all control of the major stuff, to my partner. So it feels like my contributions are... well... nothing. My main roles are gone.

Thank goodness I have WCB income because without income I would feel like even more of a drain. Four months post injury and I'm struggling to define my new self.

Starr I'm amazed at all you do. How strong you are! I think if my husband hadn't literally died to his old self (twice in the ER) this past year, there's no way he'd be doing all this. So it's a mixed blessing. We've been to hell and back together. If I didn't sound grateful in my first post I certainly feel badly for that, because I am truly indebted to my partner and thank the heavens for him. Thus the worry, for him, and not myself.

CC, as always, good advice. My symptoms haven't changed (in my signature line) the biggest issue is debilitating head and neck pain. The NP I saw was just for WCB satisfaction. On bad days with migraine (today was one) I rest a lot, ice a lot. But even today I organized my son's room between rest periods. On better days, I do household tasks just not like I used to. And I feel so badly for this man who is so wonderful, I never feel as though I deserve him. I'm grateful beyond words. I just hope he is coping... He doesn't let his stress show much because he worries about me, yet I worry about him. Vicious cycle of anxious people I guess.

Su seb, I do relate to your grocery store issue, very much! I hope things start to turn around for us!

MiaVita, I wish everyone had a caregiver like mine! Thank you for your compassion. I hoped I didn't give the impression that I wasn't grateful.

So I take it no one's caregiver ever burned out before because I'm the only one lucky enough to have one?

I noticed no males responded either. That may mean female caregivers don't suffer burn out, or convalescing males just don't notice. (Lol JK JK JK!)

Overall the impression I get is, I best shut my mouth and do something nice for him, and hope it's enough for another week of dealing with a totally changed partner. Okie dokie!