"Well, looks like you have Mono."

Rewind to three weeks ago. I got home from a later night at work, was feeling a little funny, and woke up at 3am with a pain in my left side. After spending time on the phone with my boyfriend, the "nurse on call" for my insurance company (who knew that was a thing...), and panicking that somehow MY appendix was actually in my left side, I went back to bed and visited the urgent care the next morning. 2 days later, I was in the ER because the pain had worsened and between that and a visit to a urologist, I learned that my kidney was swollen which is possible evidence that I had passed a kidney stone without knowledge. Hm.

A week later, I was feeling better but was still experiencing extreme exhaustion, all along pretending I was fine due to two fun, warm, sunny trips I had planned during this week. After getting back from trip #1, I caved in to my malaise and squeezed in another trip to urgent care to address the knives-in-throat pain I was experiencing (and covering with ibuprofen). No strep. Tonsillitis. Blood work. Antibiotic. Should be feeling better next day. Positive thoughts. Yay.

I was sitting in the airport in Nashville on Thursday and called the doctor to get the results of my blood work and what do you know...this 27 year old professional has mono. "Isn't that a thing that only college students get?" I asked. Nope. Blood work don't lie. Mono has moved right on in to my little body. Rude.

You know the type of news that simultaneously makes you feel relieved and also knocked over? That was this. Happy to have answers, annoyed at the weeks of sore throats and exhaustion that will follow...especially when on my way to a girls weekend beach vacation. Blah.

In true fashion, I started to think about the meaning behind the timing of this. Although most people would claim there is no meaning and it is just bad luck, I rarely, rarely think that way. Everything has meaning to me. At the very basic level, I was thankful to get the diagnosis while en route to 5 full days of sun and nothing but moving slow, no agendas, and relaxation. What a blessing that was.

So, here we go. Lessons from the mono:

1. Slow down. Too much IS a very real thing for you. 

• This sounds extremely dramatic, but life can be very demanding (and will just become more so). I used to be able to do it. To be able to work a lot, and still push my adventure-loving, night-is-young self to fill the off-hours. I can't do it any more. It isn't healthy for me and I have to pay attention and rest. Something just has to give. 

2. You have to learn and listen to your own body.

• I remember learning this a few years back. Our bodies are really cool things and most often, they're designed to let you know if something is wrong. I have to listen to that and to not second guess any of it. 

3. FIND A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

• Ha. I've finally learned this one. Finding doctors in a new city is just...difficult. However, that whole saga above would've been a lot smoother and easier had I found myself a trusted primary care doctor.  The hassle of not having a doctor isn't worth it, and I'm sure that it is comforting to have someone that you can call when things pop up. But, DON'T WORRY, I now have a urologist!! Lesson learned.  

4. At the same time, we all have a little doctor in us that should be trusted.

• I said almost a week before I was diagnosed that I had mono. I have text messages to prove it! Having a doctor is helpful, but sometimes we know what is wrong and just need it confirmed. 

5. Question authority sometimes...respectfully.

• Remember that second urgent care trip? He wasn't going to test me for mono until I asked about it. I've learned this is part of taking care of myself...when it comes to health, I have to be good at asking the right questions and making sure that doctors have a full picture of what is going on inside. Doctors are people, too, and sometimes it is okay to throw them a bone. 

6. Hug your support system. (and return the favor).

• Thankful. Sickness could be so lonely. 

7. This won't be the last time sickness overtakes your plans.

• Vacation = long days on the beach, yummy cocktails, late nights, etc. HA. A few hours on the beach, lots of throat-numbing medicine, naps, one cocktail, and early evenings. It is all okay and I have to learn to be better at being sick and letting go of the pride that makes me want to push forward through it. Rest, rest, rest, doing everything my body needs to get healthy. 

8. The answer is the beach (or another happy place).

• Again, this trip has been the biggest, most tremendous blessing. There is no better place to be sick and to relax than at the beach.