It’s been a very long time since I let myself write here. That needs to change.

It Hurt Too Badly Then.

My last entry was private because I wasn’t sure if I could handle response to it. But, it’s been months now — so, in the interest of honesty — I feel like it’s only fair to share that Adam and I had to make the terrible choice to end a very wanted pregnancy at 14 weeks because of a whole bunch of bad physical shit involving both the baby’s and my likelihood of survival. It was a layer of hell, and I’m glad it’s over. It’s been about 2 months since the surgery, and I’ve never been more vehemently pro-choice or more grateful to live in Illinois.

It Hurts Right Now.

I saw Dr. J (my neurologist) in December, and he let me know that he expected me to have a flare because of the surgery, just like I would have if I’d been able to carry to term. Well, it’s presently medrol dose pack time for me, and I figure if I can’t write about having an exacerbation my 10+ year MS journal, it’s time to hang up my blog… and I’m not ready to do that.

It Just Might Hurt Forever.

Also in the interest of honesty — I’m genuinely sorry for saying that I “conquered” suicidal thinking. That shit is habitual AF after 30 years. So, the thoughts still happen most days, and I am still expert-level at acknowledging the thoughts and dismissing them — or telling Adam when they get persistent and not engaging in active self-harm.

It was blithe of me to act like I was “all better.” Truth is, I understand myself a lot better, and getting to that point was freeing. But 30 years of consistent incorrect thinking doesn’t re-route over night, or even over a decade, apparently… much as I wish it would. I just hope, in the great someday, when I actually am dying (not by my own hand), that the part of me that begs for relief or release finally gets to be happy, right at the end… though I’d settle for passing without there being a moment to acknowledge I’m done. I wouldn’t want the opportunity to judge my story like a book. I’m too harsh a critic.

But Life Is Pain. Anyone Who Says Otherwise Is Selling Something.

Real talk, someone I barely knew died about a couple of weeks ago. She was vibrant, sarcastic, geeky, and hilarious — and friends with a bunch of my friends from growing up. I thought really well of her, despite not being close. Her death, while it has no day-to-day affect on my life, hit me harder than I could have anticipated. I’ve been thinking about her (and our mutual friends) every day since I found out.

I keep wondering “Why did she just randomly die, and not me?” It’s a question that is only natural when someone younger than you dies — especially for anyone who is already acutely aware of their mortality and natural human fragility. I keep trying to answer that question, as though an answer exists. (Ha!) I both want to vent my unquenchable fury at the random chaos that is existence *and* justify my being. So, I’ve been trying to focus on being kind and supportive of others. It’s more productive.

Should I Be Selling Something?

In that vein (kindness and support), I’m still working on refining the keto cookbook. I’ve even gotten a domain name for it, and I’m thinking about setting up a simple meal-planning/support service. I just wish I felt more confident in offering that sort of help without a nutrition degree.

I’m doing my best, sticking to the diet and staying under 20 net carbs, but all the seizures I’ve had this week have me questioning if I actually know what I’m doing. More and more, the answer seems to be “no.” Of course, MS does sort of gaslight you about how your body’s supposed to behave… but I think it may be wise to buy a blood testing kit to be sure that I’m actually accomplishing neurologically therapeutic levels of ketones. I’ve heard that the pee strips lie.

Unfortunately, the blood glucose/ketone meters are ~$60, and the test strips are a buck a pop (on Amazon, at least). I’m going to call Aetna tomorrow and see if they offer it to Medicare patients through mail order for cheaper. Heck, even if they don’t, I should probably get one anyway, in the interest of honesty.