Sunday, May 03, 2009

Turns out temporary amnesia IS funny

Hello.

I've been in bed for 6 days. Bed also means sofa. Bed also means guest bed.

I have viral meningitis. It started as a simple ear infection and with the loving support of a compromised immune system spread to my sinuses, bronchial tubes, and spinal fluid. My immune system is compromised because it attacks itself (rheumatoid arthritis) so I put it in timeout (by taking a drug called methotrexate which is also a chemo drug.) It responds by no longer showing up to work when infection calls.

What was I saying?

Oh, yeah. Viral meningitis is some bad juju. I am able to move around for less than three hours a day. Those three hours feel like I have a cold. The other 21 feel like a have a medium case of Alzheimer's with a side order of concussive brain injury.

But am I worried about this? NO, dear reader! Let me bring you in on a little secret: amnesia is your friend.

There are reports coming in from rather reliable sources that I have been absolutely miserable this week. Tears, pain, yelling in my sleep, not sleeping, loss of appetite, agitation. Sounds terrible, doesn't it? But here's the thing: what you don't know really WON'T hurt you!

144 hours I've lived with this and I remember maybe 12 of it. And those 12 are really iffy. What I do recall is this: people are very funny. I feel like I have laughed a ton. My family assures me that I have not. In fact they say this rather grumpily. Wonder what that is all about?

My point is... and by my point I mean what I am thinking at this very moment, not whatever was in my head when I started this, whenever that was.

What was I saying?

Oh, yeah. You are so funny. You could do stand up.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ok. Do need to worry? Do I need to pray? Can I make you some chicken soup? Perhaps I could send you funny stuff from time to time - that is if you check your e-mail. Oh well. If we can do anything - and we are willing to do anything - please let us know. psyjlg@aol.com
Vicky and John

Unknown said...

Wow, I have no idae you had meningitis, but I suppose this is what I get for not reading your blog. I hope you're better soon.

I can definitely relate to the amnesia thing. Right after I had my shoulder surgery I spent 2 weeks doped up on percocet. As far as I'm concerned I slept about 20 hours a day and don't remember much of anything when I was awake, but this is apparently not the case. According to Lea and our friend Grace I was not actually asleep and was quite goofy and hilarious. Mostly this was because I had conversations that I knew nothing about and still don't remember. I even had imaginary conversations that I do remember but didn't really happen.