healthy thoughts

On Monday morning, I woke up with a sore throat and achy body. I'm getting sick, I thought, but it wasn't anything incredibly alarming. I took some pain medicine, got ready as usual, and hopped on the train to go to work. Consequently, my mother had a doctor's appointment that morn so I took an earlier train to not get in the way of it. With my extra time, I strolled down Park Avenue and into Union Square. These days, I can't walk to work like I used to, (even the extra 45 minutes wasn't quite enough,) but it was nice to get in some fresh air and a morning stroll before I settled into my desk.

[Vegan Broccoli & Cream Soup]

I got cracking right away on the numerous things that had to be done. It was going to be a crazy, busy week and I fully intended to help out my boss and coworkers with the workload. By one, however, I could tell that my stamina was rapidly dropping; I had a slight sinus pressure headache and major bottle chills. The office is always cold though and I had brought more medicine with me so I took that and tried to forget about how I felt. Instead, I tweeted about my "withering body" (because I am not one to outwardly complain) and continued on. It wasn't until five that I realized I really wasn't okay, but who ducks out an hour before their day is over? Exactly. I waited 'til six and hopped in a cab to Grand Central. If I really was sick, I wanted to spare the rest of New York and her tourists from catching it too a.k.a. spreading it on the subway. I took the first train I could and ended up passing out almost immediately as it left the station.

[Crudités and Basil Pesto Hummus]

My dad picked me up with mi abuelo in tow and I was embarrassed at how incapable I was to hold a conversation in Spanish. I came home to the rest of my family and mi abuela sitting on the patio with wine glasses full and various plates ready to be passed around. No tengo ganas a comer, I told them, after giving everyone a kiss hello. My mom, the last on my rounds exclaimed immediately, "Go lie down, you most definitely have a fever." I followed suit, took some more medicine and hit the hay about 7:45 in the evening for one of the worst sleeps ever. From feverish chills to cold sweats, I tossed and turned all night.

Yesterday was kind of a blur. I made two phone calls, one to my office to let them know that I couldn't come in, and another to my doctor to schedule an appointment. I went in at three o'clock. She asked about my symptoms and proposed a rapid strep test and a mono spot. Both came back negative. Still, taking one look at my throat (I'll spare you the gross details) and hearing the feverish stories, she wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic and told me she was sending out for a thorough mono test. If you feel better with the medicine, she told me, it's definitely strep, otherwise it's mono and there's nothing I can do  but prescribe something to help with any discomfort and let it run it's course. I personally think it's strep throat, and I really hope it is. I want to be back in the office asap and I can't even think about missing the Healthy Living Summit.


The plan today is to take it easy and rest. It would otherwise be ridiculous that I'm awake right now at 3:30 in the morning, but after going to bed at 5 p.m. yesterday, it's not so much. My appetite is off and most things are either unappetizing or too painful to imagine eating, so I plan on sticking with smoothies and hot/cold soups. It's in times like these that one really begins to appreciate their body and it's healthier state. If you could, I'd love to know any feel-good home remedies you have to share. Otherwise, please join me in thinking healthy thoughts... I need to be back up and running and able to treat myself to a solo lunch at Bleecker Street's new Le Pain Quotidien right away.