Good morning and happy Monday! How were your weekends?
Thank you all so, so much for the happy thoughts, prayers, e-mails, messages, letters, etc. you’ve sent about my illness. I’m happy to report that I’m feeling really really good, and getting stronger and stronger each day.
One of the main reasons I was able to leave the hospital so early (despite my speedy recovery) is because while I was there, a really nice nurse (with a name too hilarious for me to repeat here) installed something called a PICC line in my arm. The PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) is a more long-term port for an IV drip; it’s connected to an artery rather than a vein, so my arms won’t be destroyed every 72 hours when they have to find a new one that isn’t bruised. The line is right in my bicep and has a thin wire that goes up through my arm, across my collarbone and over near my heart. Of course you can’t see that part, but the outer tubing is tucked up under that little purple armband (AKA a purple tube sock).
While I have a nurse come to my apartment three times a week to take labs (blood pressure, blood work, etc.) I can dispense most of the medication myself. The antibiotics I’m taking (for bacterial meningitis) come in this cool little plastic ball that looks just like Harry Potter’s golden snitch! It doesn’t hurt at all, and I can walk around the house and even eat while I take it. Medicine is so cool
As I said, I’m feeling really really good. My only complaint right now is that the circulation is a little off in my legs, so all of the blood flows to my calves and feet when I stand up or sit in a chair normally. Really not a big deal, and it’s getting better every day. Most of the time I sit with my feet propped up (like your great great aunt), but yesterday, I made my first foray into the outside world since I came home from the hospital on Wednesday! It was a little chilly, but the fresh air felt amazing. Armed with my green juice (Juice Generation’s Supa Dupa Greens: spinach, kale, parsley, romaine, cucumber, celery, lemon + apple), B, my mom and I took a short walk to the dog park steps away from the front door. When I went into the hospital, the flowers were blooming but there weren’t a whole lot of leaves on the trees. Now, however, I can see what looks like a green jungle from my bedroom window!
My appetite has returned with a vengeance, and I’ve been eating a lot of my usual favorites, like this Laura-inspired oatmeal bowl topped with tahini, dried figs, and honey.
I’ve also been eating the occasional salad, and have been reaping the B-vitamin benefits from toast with a little Earth Balance and nutritional yeast.
What has been true, though, and was confirmed for me by someone who’s partner had an almost identical case of bacterial meningitis, is that my tastes have changed somewhat. It takes me forever to decide what to eat now, and so many things that I used to love (eggs, avocados) just don’t sound very good. I can’t drink alcohol while I’m on the antibiotics (and my immune system is pretty shot right now, anyway) but the idea of booze doesn’t sound so great either. Italian, Indian, Japanese… cuisines I usually can’t get enough of aren’t very appealing right now. Another thing I haven’t had since “the ordeal”? Coffee! I’m allowed to drink it, and it’s been brewed for breakfast nearly every morning, but it just isn’t what I want. There’s not a whole lot that I’m actually craving, other than really thirst-quenching things like fresh juice, kombucha, and ice-cold water. My palate may go back to “normal” once I’m off the antibiotics and am used to being home and cooking again, but this also may be a good opportunity to do a little experimenting. The most important thing is that I keep eating and get my strength back up.
There have been a lot of visitors (including my Aunt Mary, who we were lucky enough to see just a few weeks ago!) who have made it so nice to be at home. One afternoon this weekend found sixteen people squeezed into our tiny living room! Love all around.
Everyone is back to work this week, so things will start to go back to normal again. Meanwhile, I’ll be home doing important things like racing through season 3 of Mad Men and starting some of the fabulous new books that arrived in the mail.
Life is good
Did your (or anyone you know) palate change when your health changed? I know this happens a lot with food poisoning, and I love hearing about pregnancy cravings!
