My husband and I have 2 weeks off around the holidays to slow down a bit. By slowing down, I mean that we actually have time to do some of the other items for my health situation without having to work it all around our paying jobs. We are so grateful for this time off together. Simply taking our full-time paying jobs off of our plates feels like a vacation even when we aren’t actually on vacation.
I am very slowly increasing my treatment dosage for Lyme, and as is the norm in our life, we are having to work around the side effects. The side effects right now include rashes, mild to severe headaches, torso pain (to put it in simple terms), and urinary pain. The treatment can also dysregulate my nervous system due to the brain inflammation caused by the toxins, so I work extra hard to use my tools to regulate my nervous system during these times. I am so grateful that my husband and I have a relatively solid understanding of the side effects and that we are prepared for and discuss them openly as a couple and with our support team (doctors, therapist, etc.) when needed. There are so many days when I use the side effects to help me determine when my body needs a break and when to keep going.
In between all of the shit, we are also taking time to rest and connect. We started a tradition a few years ago of putting together jigsaw puzzles during the holidays. We really enjoy it, and it gives us something different and fun. We also planned a date night of driving around and viewing Christmas lights in our area. My husband created the driving route, and I created the podcast playlist. Unfortunately, we had to fit in the date night on a day that was a little rushed, because we weren’t sure how I would physically feel the rest of the days before Christmas. We had a good time regardless of the timing, though.
We are hoping that I feel well enough to wear a mask and stop in to see some family during holiday celebrations. There are quite a few holiday celebrations with extended family, so it is a busy time of year for us. It is difficult to make plans when I never truly know how I will feel each day. We also have to think about my health and safety even more so during the winter months. Fortunately, many of my family members understand that I have to make my safety a priority. This means that I will be wearing a mask as usual and only stopping by a holiday celebration if everyone is healthy.
I know that not everyone has family members like mine who are supportive about family gatherings and wearing a mask, so I am grateful. I saw Tyler Merritt’s short video below on Instagram last week, and I thought I would post it as a reminder for the general population. For my safety, I still need to wear a mask. And, it is not because I am not over the pandemic. It is not because I am trying to make some kind of political statement. It is because I am dealing with an invisible chronic health situation that requires me to take extra precautions. I can’t wait for the day when my body is physically stronger, and I don’t need to take extra precautions. Until then, my husband and I will continue to do our best to live alongside this invisible chronic illness.
Brutal. Side effects of treatment. A snail’s pace.
Beautiful. Holiday PTO. Slowly increasing the treatment dosage for Lyme. Knowledge and tools to help with the side effects of treatment. Our support team. Jigsaw puzzles. Date nights. Masks. Family.
Just another day of . . . This Brutiful Life: The Brutal & Beautiful Moments of My Life.
This Brutiful Life 