Final preparations

We're in the last 48 hours before I leave town to pick up my new friends, the helminths.  Lots of little last minute stuff going on here, like assembling a wardrobe completely comprised of wool and down (it's been awfully cold in Europe this winter), making my transportation arrangements, getting my dog and cat sitting settled, etc.

These are the kinds of things we all do before a trip, but I'm also doing some preparing for the health journey I'm going on.  I'm spending a lot of time (too much time, really) thinking about how I feel about this big leap I'm about to take.  Funny how I've been planning for this for almost 9 months now, but I still wonder, is this the right thing for me?  Don't worry: the answer is definitely "YES!" It's just that I am such an indecisive little ninny that I question EVERY decision right down to what cheese to put on my cheeseburger.

Which brings up another area of preparation: diet.  Since travel is so difficult on my system, I try to watch my diet for at least a few days before I go to give myself the best possible chance to do well while on the road.  So I had some "farewell french fries" on Sunday, but now it's all about easy to digest grains, fish, and fruits.  Plus coffee.  You know I'm not going to give up my coffee, no matter how bad it gets!

Another strategy to help me cope with the stress of travel is to try to get some extra sleep in these days before take off.  So I'm trying to get to bed earlier and am squeezing out as many extra minutes before I hop out of bed in the morning as possible.  (But if you follow my Facebook page, you know I was posting around 11:00 last night!  At least I was doing it from bed....)

The last preparation is in terms of medications.  I have a stash of enemas, which are a liquid form of a pill that I take 3 times a day.  The enema works as a topical application of the same med, and is typically taken at bedtime so you can (hopefully) retain it for a full 8 hours.  I was planning on doing one of these each night of the last week before I go, but honestly, I just couldn't face it.  Of all the treatments I've been on, mesalamine enemas suck the most.

So instead I am adding a foam enema in the a.m. and a suppository in the evenings--much easier treatments to swallow, as it were.  Yesterday I had my latest Remicade infusion, so I'm good to go there.  And starting a few days ago, I doubled my dose of prednisone from 5mg to 10mg.  For those who know the evil that is prednisone, that may not sound like such an astounding dose, but I am so freakin' sensitive to the stuff that it is rocking my world: my appetite is way up and I'm not sleeping as well.  Soon, I know my face will start to balloon out, and I will get even a little more testy than usual.  So this coping mechanism is at odds with my "eat better and get more sleep" strategies, but this one is important because it might help stave off any possible reactions when we introduce those cute little worms later this week.


The last preparation is responding to all the nice thoughts and kind wishes of those wishing me well on my journey.  I've been hearing from everyone: family who have been with me from day one, friends from high school, college, and beyond, other "helmith-ers,"co-workers, former co-workers, and even co-workers of former co-workers!  All have shared with me their assurances that they are behind me 100%.  So if the power of positive thinking has anything to do with the success of this treatment (and I'm certain it does) then I am well prepared to take this on.


So think of me when you wake up Saturday morning--that's about when I suspect the deed will be done!  And then be prepared to keep standing by me, because remember, this is a JOURNEY I'm on, not a destination.


Thanks, all!


P.S.  I added a link to a really good website under For More Information, to the right of this page.  If you're looking for an intro to helminthic therapy, please check it out!