I’m not taking a blood test this month. And I’m putting off the brain MRI to check on the neurological symptoms. Because I’m going on vacation at the end of June, and I don’t want to know that anything is wrong.
Crohn’s-wise, things are doing well. Fruit season is upon us, and I sit and eat one luscious strawberry after a juicy nectarine. I am grateful for Jasper bringing these worms back, and for the worms themselves sucking on me as I eat. I am still in stunned admiration that 10 little worms could do so much, and are still alive, for that matter. Makes last year look like one giant, painful, experiment that I could have avoided. I still have mucus before bowel movements, but am sleeping through the night, having about 2 bowel movements in the morning, usually a third or fourth in late afternoon, sometimes just a squirt then, or gas.
I’ve been eating everything. I’m actually getting a fat stomach. Toast for breakfast, mmmm. Homemade biscuits with strawberries and orange blossom honey. Pizza! I mean, pizza from a take-out delivery place! Admittedly, this gives me gas, but not diarrhea. Thai food, Indian food, ceasar salad! The list goes on. I’ve discovered those “Endangered Species” chocolates, and the grizzly bear is made with beet sugar, which my husband assures me is still sugar. But it’s 72% cocoa…that makes the antioxidants worth it, right?
I did give myself diarrhea from too many nectarines and apricots, but there was no pain, just the fruit making its quick round out of my system. This morning was my “strawberry poop” which was soft, but not diarrhea, heavily strawberry scented, so I’ve recovered within a day. I actually enjoy my bowel movements now, it is so satisfying when they don’t hurt! I was a little uncomfortable last night while at the beach watching fireworks, but partly it was because I was full of strawberry biscuits and beer. I will relish the day, if it ever comes, that I have one solid bowel movement without mess or fuss, and I can hold it at will for as long as it takes to find a toilet. The Crohn’s disease dream.
Oh, I’m drinking beer without issue. But I’ve realized, after 17 years of never having one and feeling deprived, that I don’t really like beer.
I’ve added kombucha, and I think it’s helping. In another week I won’t’ have to buy it. On the label, it says that it includes lactobaccilli and s. boulardii, which is the yeast they’ve studied in Crohn’s before, with encouraging results.
I still feel tired a lot, but think I do more than the average person and have forgotten what normal is. People are amazed when they see my yard and vegetable garden, I have started an underground restaurant, I am writing a book on Crohn’s disease, I have relandscaped the front yard and am trying to start a band, and paint 10 paintings by next March. Oh, and I homeschool my children… I don’t know why I need naps.
The neurological symptoms are fading, but I notice a surge the week of my period, about around day 6-10, which is happening now. My GP wondered if perhaps the red dye they use in the iron shots (ferlecit) was the culprit. Regardless, I wait. My MRI is rescheduled for July 31st – I’ll know then if I have brain cancer or something else lovely I haven’t thought to worry about.
There’s some question that the contrast solution they use for the MRI might affect the worms. I’ve also got to have a partial crown, so may do it all in that week, check for worms, and redose. I may redose anyway if the worms survive the procedure.
Because I miss the “hookworm high”, and though I sound crazy, love the feeling after the worms burrow through your skin, and you feel like anything is possible, you are one with the world, and you want to stand on your hands in celebration that you may have finally found something, after all this time, that works.
Go, wormies, go! Got to go feed us some strawberry shortcake now…
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