All I want for Christmas isn't MONO.
Yes, boys and girls. It only took me 33 years but I finally got "the kissing disease." I'd been feeling down and out for several days, watched a fever come and go, dealt with some unpleasant night sweats that I thought was just me releasing the fever, and unenthusiastically welcomed a sore throat and swollen glands before I finally said enough is enough and went to the doctor. (Ok, truth be told I went at the bequest of a boy I like who knows a thing or two about medicine but I digress). I went to our local CVS Minute Clinic the day before Christmas Eve that I never even knew existed and it's like a hidden gem! It's a $25 office copay and there was no wait! Good to know if I can't see my doctor last minute and am in need, there's an alternative to Urgent Care! Anyway, so I went and the Nurse Practitioner said I didn't have the flu and didn't have strep and likely just had some upper respiratory virus that needed to work through my system. Ugh ok.
But I wasn't getting better. The return of the fever, more night sweats, and an enlarged gland that made my neck look like it was preggers made me return to the good ole Minute Clinic Sunday. (Ok, again I went when the boy told me if I didn't he'd basically never speak to me again. He's quite dramatic.) And I told the NP I was exhausted. And sleeping a ton. And not getting better. Strep swab again and this time, mono test.
"I can't have mono," I told her. "I'm 33. Also, that's the kissing disease and I'm not running around town kissing every boy under the mistletoe. I can't have that." But then I did. Positive. Mono.
So here's the thing with mono. There's NOTHING you can take for it or do about it. It basically moves in uninvited and stays. Like an unwelcome guest that barges in, eats all your food, trashes your house, and is in no hurry to leave. Unapologetically. How kind of you, mono. I've read it stays with you for up to a month before you fully feel 100% again. Lucky me. For the boy who can't sit idle for more than an hour without getting antsy, facing several days of rest has been HARD. I'm maniacal about working out and I haven't seen a gym in 11 days. I cringe writing that. I'm trying to focus on letting go since I can't control it and being thankful that it didn't stop me from celebrating the holidays with my family and that I didn't have to cancel any trips this week. My schedule was free, my calendar empty.
So with the help of The Affair on Showtime (I've streamed both season 1 and 2 - LOVE IT), a book from my friend Molly, "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng (amazing!) and a few movies, I'm holding my own. Trying to keep in perspective there's nothing I need to be doing and nowhere I need to be and I've got the week off. Until next Monday, I'm a free agent. Just keep resting. Could be worse.
Cheers.
But I wasn't getting better. The return of the fever, more night sweats, and an enlarged gland that made my neck look like it was preggers made me return to the good ole Minute Clinic Sunday. (Ok, again I went when the boy told me if I didn't he'd basically never speak to me again. He's quite dramatic.) And I told the NP I was exhausted. And sleeping a ton. And not getting better. Strep swab again and this time, mono test.
"I can't have mono," I told her. "I'm 33. Also, that's the kissing disease and I'm not running around town kissing every boy under the mistletoe. I can't have that." But then I did. Positive. Mono.
So here's the thing with mono. There's NOTHING you can take for it or do about it. It basically moves in uninvited and stays. Like an unwelcome guest that barges in, eats all your food, trashes your house, and is in no hurry to leave. Unapologetically. How kind of you, mono. I've read it stays with you for up to a month before you fully feel 100% again. Lucky me. For the boy who can't sit idle for more than an hour without getting antsy, facing several days of rest has been HARD. I'm maniacal about working out and I haven't seen a gym in 11 days. I cringe writing that. I'm trying to focus on letting go since I can't control it and being thankful that it didn't stop me from celebrating the holidays with my family and that I didn't have to cancel any trips this week. My schedule was free, my calendar empty.
So with the help of The Affair on Showtime (I've streamed both season 1 and 2 - LOVE IT), a book from my friend Molly, "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng (amazing!) and a few movies, I'm holding my own. Trying to keep in perspective there's nothing I need to be doing and nowhere I need to be and I've got the week off. Until next Monday, I'm a free agent. Just keep resting. Could be worse.
Cheers.
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