Lady of Leisure

I’m not big into politics. Yes, I live in Washington DC. Yes, I am a Federal employee. But it’s true, I am not big into politics. Unfortunately Lyme disease and politics go hand in hand and as I wade through the murky Lyme disease treatment/recovery waters, it is one of the only political topics I will gladly talk your ear off about. This past February I wrote a three part post that documented the politics behind government agencies hindering research on Lyme disease; click here for a refresher, or to read it for the first time. 

Recently, politics and my Lyme disease battle crossed paths again in the form of a government shutdown; and I have to admit that Lyme disease-wise it was refreshing. Don’t get me wrong, I am not condoning the decision to partially shut down the government from October 1-16, 2013. In my opinion nothing was gained politically by that stunt. I could go on and on about how the shutdown was a waste of money and set off a far-reaching chain of negative events for federal employees and those throughout the United States who depend on federal programs that were effected during the shutdown, but like I said, I am not really into politics, and you’re not reading this blog to gain insight into my political musings. Let's get back to the Lyme.

Don’t Bother Me, I’m On Furlcation

A common theme in many discussions surrounding my health is that people don't understand how I have managed to keep a positive attitude and work throughout the scary months leading up to my diagnosis, and throughout my on-going treatment despite the fact I am exhausted and experiencing painful symptoms. For many years I pushed myself through grueling athletic events with a smile on my face as a hobby, and not many people understand what drove me to do that either. I feel like the same thing applies in terms of how I have chosen to take on Lyme disease. I have previously mentioned that some days I cannot get out of bed, but if the pain is manageable I much rather be at work or hanging out with friends; it is the way I am wired. 

For the first time since I was diagnosed with Lyme disease I had a nice chunk of schedule free time... well almost schedule free time. Due to the fact I was furloughed during the shutdown I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I still had to wake up every day and take my supplements and medications that need to be ingested an hour before I eat. An hour later I would eat breakfast and then take the rest of my antibiotics on a full stomach. And then I would do it again around dinner time. But other than that, nobody was expecting me to be anywhere and I took full advantage of that. If I woke up in the morning and didn’t feel well, I would go back to sleep after completing my antibiotic ritual. If I slept all day, then that is what my body needed to do. If I woke up a few hours later feeling refreshed, I filled my day with relaxing activities like furlough lunches, reading, trying out new recipes, watching Breaking Bad, and walking around town to take pictures of all of the signage and barricades that were telling people what was closed due to the government shutdown.

During the first week of the government shutdown we had “summer in October weather” which inspired an outing to an apple orchard with a couple of my similarly furloughed friends. When not wandering around the orchard remarking about how nice it was to be out of the city and marveling at the vast apple selections, I was silently worrying about picking up ticks. This is now a regular occurrence for me when I spend time outdoors in non-paved areas near the woods. The last thing I want is to get bit  by another tick-borne illness carrying tick. Truth be told I also get concerned when I see all of my friends posting pictures of their kids playing in tall grass and leaves, but that is another story.  Thank goodness that the tick-free Radio Flyer wagon offered up a safe spot to rest my tired legs.

The beautiful weather also inspired me to do the most thorough cleaning and organizing project I have done since moving in to my condo. I had the usual aches and pains but I was so energized and well–rested that nothing was slowing me down, which all changed when a cold front arrived and blew the unseasonably warm weather out of town. Thanks to the Lyme disease I ended up with stabbing pains in many of my joints; it made me grumpy and I chose not to leave my condo for a couple of days. I was hoping the weather related joint and muscular pain that I experienced last winter would not be as severe this time around, but sadly I must report that the cool/damp weather is still my nemesis. The cooler weather was the catalyst that ended my outdoor activities and caused me to sit on my couch for hours at a time watching Breaking Bad. To say I have become addicted to a show about methamphetamine is an understatement. Since the furlough ended it has been hard for me to adjust to the fact that I can no longer watch 5 episodes in a row on a weekday afternoon while lying on the couch in my pajamas. 

All kidding aside, for the past few weeks I have been having a hard time adjusting to being back at the office. It was refreshing to have a chance to let my body do what it wanted to do, when it wanted to do it. Having to be back on a time schedule has left me feeling more exhausted than usual. The fluctuating weather pattern we have experienced over the past couple of weeks has added to my discomfort. Adjusting to the time change is taking longer than usual, but I am back in the swing of things. I wake up early enough to partake in my daily morning antibiotic ritual before I head to work to play catch up on deadlines that were missed during the furlough. If I have enough energy after work I go to yoga or I catch up with friends. Often I doze off on the metro heading home from work which is a signal that my day is over and of course I am still preparing all of my own food while wishing I could just eat ice cream and pizza for dinner every night without repercussion. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go watch some Breaking Bad.