Back in the 70s, my boyfriend at the time (now husband for almost 49 years) gave me a button that read,
“Patience is a virtue…Virtue can hurt you!” 😂. My mum didn’t find humor in that. Anyway, patience for Mr Crabby Pants seems to be a challenge. (It also didn’t go unnoticed that crabby was all in caps!!)
His energy should return to normal or near normal after all the treatments end. Of course everyone is different and it can take a little longer for some people than others. But knowing the drive and ambition of Mr Sunshine, his motivation will have him recuperating at a steady rate. The healthier and more active people tend to be prior to treatment, and if they keep walking during, they bounce back much faster. Several of my doctors and nurses attributed my quick rebound to all the walking I did while in treatment. It really does make a difference. So with all your husband’s trips out to the work shop and trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy, he’s going to be fine!

As far as butting heads…from my perspective as a patient; My husband was so attentive and very much like you wanting to make sure safety rules were being followed, temps taken, food intake, meds downed, etc… As much as I love him dearly and appreciated his TLC, I felt I was being overly protected and smothered.
As patients we’re quite aware that we’re ill, weak and vulnerable. It’s difficult to maintain dignity when you’re feeling like a child being told what to do, no matter how much love is behind the intentions. A good trick is to pick your battles and maybe lengthen the leash a little bit. By now he knows the routine and the rules! ‘Think~2 year old”. He may be contrary but he still needs you. So just stand by, be supportive and take some time for yourself and your creativity while he’s going through the crabby stage of his chemo cycle. Hang in there!! ☺️