In the afternoon on Saturday, December 5, I started to feel unwell. I was sore and achy all over. My hips hurt. Then I started running to the bathroom - a lot. Next, I began to run a fever, my head hurt, and my stomach felt like I had eaten ground glass. Vaguely, my throat didn't feel right. It came on rather suddenly.
I was trying to figure out how I contracted Covid-19 without coming into contact with anyone outside my immediate family for more than two weeks. Did I pick it up off a package delivery? It didn't make sense.
I had a low-grade fever, but my belly was hotter than my forehead. I took some Tylenol and went to bed, hoping that I hadn't somehow exposed my family to the virus. My son brought me chicken noodle soup and toast.
Then I felt the familiar pain on the lower left side of the abdomen. The weird stretching sensation, as if something is pulling at my intestines. The feeling of needing to go to the restroom even though nothing will happen if I try. Abdominal pain severe enough to stop all activity, which worsens with movement. I realized that the diverticulitis was back, after being gone for a year. I was grateful it wasn't Covid-19. I had no upper respiratory congestion, no loss of smell. This is a beast, but it's a beast I know how to fight.
I debated whether I should go to a weekend clinic again. It seems like every time this happens, it's on a weekend and my doctor's office is closed. The weekend clinic doctor prescribes an antibiotic, an antifungal drug, and if I'm lucky an antispasmodic. But only if I haven't taken Tylenol because there has to be a fever or they won't prescribe. Also, it's expensive to go to a weekend clinic, (or any doctor) even with insurance. My gastroenterologist has told me that next time I get sick I should come and see him so he can see the symptoms himself- - and run tests. My primary care physician has pretty much the same attitude. It's frustrating because it sounds like they don't believe what I am telling them.
So instead of going to the doctor, I decided to self-treat. The next day, I stayed in bed all day. I took Tylenol and strong probiotics at double the recommended dose. I ate lightly and gingerly, avoiding all carbs except non-starchy fruit and honey. Turning over in bed caused excruciating pain. I spent an hour trying to decide if it was worse to be thirsty or try to get out of bed and get a drink of water.
Goddess Bless me, I have sinned. It's been a year since my last confession. It's been a year since I have been brought to this. I have eaten all the long-chain carbohydrates without regard for the consequences. I didn't eat enough fermented food, didn't take my probiotics. I forgot that my body has different needs, and I neglected those needs. Damnit what a fool! I only have myself to blame.
The next day, Monday, I went to work, but it was tough. I was better but not completely well, able to function - sort of. I kept debating whether it was better to call out sick for the rest of the day or risk being mediocre. My son was amazing. He made me a delicious and filling meal with nothing on the forbidden list.
Today, Tuesday, I'm not 100% back to my old self, and it still hurts to press on my belly, but there is some improvement. I'm keeping up the probiotics and the diet until things are completely back to normal. I can have homemade yogurt from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet recipe book, almonds, and applesauce, etc. I'm taking it easy. Fortunately, it's already a scheduled day off. It no longer hurts to move.
I'm recording this because I want to see the pattern over time and try to figure out what works and what doesn't work. If I keep up the regimen for a few weeks, will it go away? What brought it on this time? Why did it feel like the flu at first? Should I go on an SCD "fast" periodically to keep this from coming back? I don't care for the diet, but the pain is far worse. Hopefully, I'll have a handle on this within the next few weeks. Will I have to deal with this for the rest of my life?
