The phrase “I don’t want my normal
to be snatched away” hit me straight to the heart while I was reading this book
“Uninvited” by Lysa TerKeurst. Although she was talking about relationships, I
felt like it was speaking to me. This journey of chronic Lyme’s disease and
other co-infections has definitely changed “normal” for me and in many ways. This disease has robbed me of a lot,
especially my normal.
Last two weeks have not been the
best weeks. In many cases I have faked it till I could go home and rest. I had
no idea why I was feeling so bad, but found out that I am allergic to two more
medicines. Seriously! My body just doesn’t seem to like me. I keep gaining
weight not matter what I eat; most of it is water weight. I have to go to the
bathroom almost every hour. I can’t fully exercise partly because of my fatigue
and mainly because of a previous hip injury that has been exasperated because
of this illness. The list could go on!
I think the thing I feel more self
conscious about is what others think. I truly want to not care what they think,
but I can only imagine how tired they are of hearing about why I can’t join
them, why I can’t eat this or another excuse. Recently another family got
together with our family. The mom mentioned that they had almost made other plans
because they weren’t sure if we would make it. Honestly I don’t know how often
I have canceled on them, but the comment hurt deep even though it was truth.
There is part of me that just doesn’t want to explain anymore and then there is
another part of me that wants to scream “PLEASE DON’T FORGET ME.” Just because
I can’t do it today doesn’t mean I don’t want to be invited the next time.
It is such an inward battle. I am
sick of my excuses. Some days it sounds like all these little excuses that to a
healthy person would just blow off and think they are making this all up. This
is all in their head. I agree! I wake up and think this is in my head. I will
push myself together and think positive. Then I collapse later that day without
any energy to give to my family. Before I got sick I would of probably told
myself the same thing. You are making up this pain. Deep down that insecurity
of no one believing me rises up each doctor appointment and each conversation
with a friend. If I were them I would be sick of me. So I try so hard not to
bring it into the conversation, but it never fails I still do. Last week I want
to scream to the world I hate that I have more allergies to medicine and food. I
wanted to scream “I can’t even breath correctly.” I wanted someone to feel my
pain. I feel so alone some days. My friends going along with their lives not
realizing I want someone to just text me and say “how are you feeling.” They
are probably afraid that if they do ask that they will get a long drawn out
whiny story. Who wants a complainer in their lives. I wouldn’t want it. So how
do I change that. When is complaining about something new that is going on
important to be aware of or something that is just a side effect to this
disease. It took me 10 days to realize one of the medicines I was allergic to.
It crept up on me slowly, then when I added a new medicine one to the mix
everything got way worse quickly. Why didn’t I believe myself that something
was off. Mainly because I do not know what is normal for me anymore.
Thankfully I do have friends that
ask about me and also I have ones that are going through some of the same
things I am. I know that I am not alone. I just feel misunderstood.
