I had a scare on Monday. I’ve not been feeling well for a while. 

A few weeks back, I couldn’t hold door down. The mere thought of food caused a tidal wave of nausea. I honestly thought, despite the high odds stacked against it, that I was pregnant. I’m not. 

This past weekend, I started having bad diarrhea. TMI, I’m sure, but it’s part of my story. Then I ate and got extremely nauseous. Sunday I spiked a fever of 102.7. I usually run around 97.5. I got the fever down and thought I was through the woods. 

Monday, I was heading into work, sitting, waiting for the bus, when I got nauseous and a bit lightheaded. No work for me. I slept a bit, then went to the doctor, expecting to be poo-pooed and sent home with a note to return to work. 

The next thing I knew, I was in a wheelchair, crying, heading to the ER. I was getting IV fluids, electrolytes, and pain meds. Then a Cat Scan. Then another bag of fluids. I thought…ok…time to get rid of the useless appendix. 

A doctor came in, asked me a bunch of questions, then told me I have a severe case of colitis. She asked me if I’d ever been diagnosed with any inflammatory bowel disease. I was so taken aback, I didn’t know how to answer her. That’s one area of my body that I thought was in good working order. Joke’s on me, eh?

Why am I telling you all of this personal information? Why should you care? Why is the title of this blog “self care” instead of “Deneen’s sob story?”

This whole story began a long time ago. It is a tale of a woman who didn’t take care of herself. She has a long history of putting herself, her mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health way behind the health of others. 

You see…where I am today is totally preventable. Whatever my diagnosis, had I taken care of my needs instead of neglecting myself, I wouldn’t be laying in med in pain, feeling my colon, instead of living my life.

If you’re still with me, you and I are embarking on a journey of self-care. I’m going to take whatever the doctor tells me tomorrow and after the inevitable colonoscopy as a clarion call. We are going to learn to truly, holistically take care of ourselves. 

Do you want to take this journey with me? Do you have a similar story? Let me know!