Been out of commission for the last week or so. Funny how the body works — one day your healthy and feeling fine, going about your business and the next, your body is in pain, trying to tell you something isn’t quite right. I like to consider myself in tune with my body. I know there are familiar pains, like when I’ve been walking all day and I get home and it hurts to walk up the few stairs to my apartment. I know I can’t eat certain things without getting a stomach ache, and I know how my stomach is going to feel if I go ahead and do that. There are other familiar pains I have, when something isn’t right.
I knew the pain I had been getting over the last couple of days from the time I had a kidney infection, years before. The pain this time was a little more intense and so finally I had to have it checked out. Yes, I did have a kidney infection. Yes, I would have to get some rest and take antibiotics. Yes, I would have to go without tea and coffee and caffeine in exchange for water and cranberry juice. As far as I knew, the antibiotics I was given were doing their job, but it turns out they weren’t. I was put on a stronger dose of antibiotics and so far, I think they’re doing the trick. The pain isn’t as intense, doesn’t last as long. I don’t feel as tense or anxious. My body isn’t in a panic of pain.
I joked about it with a co-worker, saying it’s just a kidney, I have another one, but really that was just my way of dealing with my anxiety. Really, I added, I’d like to have them both. I was scared that if I didn’t take care of myself while I was sick that something more than an infection could happen, and so when I am sick I am a baby, to myself, mostly.
Britt took care of me, taking me to the hospital, and bringing me home after the second visit to the doctor, running to the pharmacy twice, and keeping me company, which really was the best medicine because if it’s just me alone, the panic is more harsh. It’s good to have focus on something/someone else. I’d like to thank online games (pogo!) and marathons of The State and Reno 911 that were, luckily enough, running the week I’ve been ill. Reno 911 never ceases to amuse me and I have a soft spot in my heart for The State.
Another great distraction was the release of the new Harry Potter movie which was entertaining and disappointing at the same time. I might write a long rant about that, since I want to get in the habit of writing more and updating my blog more, but right now I have written enough. Would like to get back to reading. Right now, I’m reading The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, which is slow moving, but enjoyable. I also have an itch for new music to listen to, so there’s another distraction.