It’s December 12th, heading swiftly towards that blinged-out-commercialized-day of Christmas. I’ve put up a few decorations, the tree, some lights outdoors. The weather has been in the highs of 78-80 this week, but it is now pouring down rain and windy as all get out outside. We finally not only saw the snow geese (Canadian geese); we saw a few flocks of them as well. Supposedly, the weather is turning chilly in the next few days as a cold front creeps its way down here. I’ll believe it when I feels it.
Since my new doctor appointment early in November and since starting on the herbal tinctures as my new treatment, dropping the antibiotics, I actually have felt half-way decent. The fatigue has decreased, the migraines are few and far between, and the nausea is way less. It honestly has been a nice breather from the new normal of suckthelymeville. Thanksgiving break was pretty awesome. I was able to do a few things that I haven’t done in so, so long. It was a real treat!
But I knew these next few weeks would be the real challenge at work. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter break. While yes, technically, this is only a span of three weeks, believe me, it feels like six. It’s the end of the semester. Things are coming at teachers from every which way. It is always a tough time of year, but as usual, for me it is breaking me down. I know it did last year as well. I’m not trying to be whiny about it at all. It is what it is. I try to keep in mind that even for normal, healthy people, this time of year is extremely stressful no matter what profession and this helps a bit. But I will say this, by yesterday, I was all played out. All day long, my brain was empty and sore. I couldn’t focus on anything at all for more that a nano second. You laugh, but this is the truth. I tried to be productive. Now, I am laughing!
Today, I feel like a bus hit me. The soreness, the aches, the headache, the beloved (not!) nausea. I haven’t slept well in the past few nights and last night was no exception. Tossing and turning. Laying too long in one position produces pain, this wakes me, I turn over, kind of awake, then the process begins over. The unrestful sleep is killer and is just exacerbating all of the other awesome Lyme stuff. My head is hurting. Not a migraine, but just enough to make my stomach nauseous. I hate this combo of symptoms in particular. It feels like having the flu which is just downright miserable in and of itself. Only with Lyme, you don’t know when it might let up or go away. So, Reality Check.
Guess what, sucker? You still have Lyme disease!
I LOVE to fantasize. About activities, about going places, about projects at home, about eating yummy food without experiencing indigestion. It keeps my mind busy and delighted, it can sometimes distract me from the ugly gloogy gooks rumbling around in my body. And then. Sometimes, I go a bit overboard going so far as to actual Make Plans to do a said fantasized scenario. This rarely works out well. This holiday season, we have two events we have said “yes” to: an open house event and a dinner event. And even committing to these two things were difficult. While I definitely want to go and have fun with people, especially this time of year, I worry so much about getting to that day / evening, feeling terrible and then canceling. Not only is it disappointing for my people, and for my husband, but it is so freaking disappointing for me. The fantasy comes crumbling down, and I’m left with the slap in the face. That realization that I’m still limited. This is Reality.
How is everyone doing out there? Drop a comment or two so I know I’m not alone. Hoping it’s a pain-free day for all! -B
