The Second Storm

What a week here in Rhode Island. Hurricane Irene hit and knocked power out for a good portion of the State. We had been without power or water since Sunday and had it restored on Wednesday. We were fortunate to be able to shower and do laundry at a friends house. Many others just had power returned today.

Hauling water from the pool to flush toilets, boiling water for washing and cooking on the grill all were difficult for me and I relied on my teenager and husband to help. It's sobering for me to admit that-what I can't physically do anymore.

I noticed my leg muscles wasting away this week-lack of exercise and immobility. My arm muscles don't have any tone either-soft where there used to be definition. I feel like half the person I used to be.

Day 10 of my second month of antibiotics was going fairly well. The small twitches and low grade fevers, shortness of breath and chest pain have become common place. On some rare days it trades places with brain fogginess, deep pain and skin rashes. Somedays they visit all at once. It's amazing to me what you can get used to.

This is me. I'm posting this horrible picture because well-it's where I am. It's not who I am but...that's me. Left eye drooping with a facial rash.

Last night the second storm hit. Not a weather storm or hurricane but the Herx storm. I don't even know what time it was but I got up last night from my bed and had a need to vomit. Thankfully I didn't but I quickly lost my blood pressure yet somehow made it back to my bed. I was disoriented and woke up Larry. I think I scared him from the look on his face. I can only imagine what I looked like.

I was jerking and shaking violently for hours. Welcome to the Herx storm. No introductions needed-I know you well.

Somewhere in the nonstop twitching, I managed to fall asleep I think from pure physical exhaustion. Morning did not treat me well. My muscles are sore and lead like from the constant motion, I have no strength to walk today. My left arm won't stop moving. My right hand can't grasp. Creating this post has taken 5 hours.

After the Herx storm-it's detox day. Tons of water with lemon, ginger tea, Vitamin C doses, rest. It is all I can do today.

That and my 3 times daily cocktail regimen. Life goes on. Storms present themselves and then blow out sea. Some linger and stay a while.

 I will be here a while I think.