Friday, June 25, 2010

The Rules

Being radioactive is WEIRD. Just the thought of it. I don't really feel much different though. I have experienced some light nausea and feeling uncomfortable- much like mild morning sickness during a pregnancy. Other than that it hasn't been bad. And since I can pretty much sleep when I want- I just take a nap and usually feel better. Mostly it's just ODD to be secluded. Let me share with you some of the rules I have to follow right now.

For one thing I have to stay on the Low-Iodine diet. This is so that the radioactive iodine can work better. Low-iodine doesn't mean no salt, but it does mean no IODIZED salt. That means I can't eat most processed foods because they all contain salt which is usually iodized. No seafood or soy based products including many kinds of beans. No Dairy. Nothing with more than 5-10mg of sodium per serving. I can have grains if I make them myself with non-iodied salt. I'm a quilter- not a baker. So it hasn't been pleasant. Seriously, if you can think of a food it probably has iodine or salt in it. My diet is pretty bland and boring.

I cannot be less than 6 feet from another adult and must limit that time to less than 2 hours a day. I can't be around any children or pregnant women. I have to sleep more than 12 feet from anyone. My kids are in another state visiting grandma and grandpa and my husband is working long hours and sleeping down the hall in our oldest son's room. I wave HI to him from the bedroom door. It's STRANGE.

I must MINIMIZE the amount that I use any items that may become contaminated (i.e. eating utensils, linens, telephone, etc.) Clean items often and before anyone else uses them. If you think about this it means- EVERYTHING. At this point I cannot sew. Sewing and touching all of my fabric means that I could be contaminating those fabrics. I would have to wash everything. And I normally don't pre-wash. I also wouldn't be able to send a quilt to a quilter without washing it first.

I thought about folding and packaging patterns- but I'll contaminate them too.

After the 10 days I'll have a little more freedom but for now I'm forced to stay in bed as much as possible so as not to contaminate anything. I have to limit what I touch in any case. See, I told you it was WEIRD. Just sit for a moment and think about it. Other than my lappy, the TV, and a book (that I just can't seem to get into) there's not a lot to do. Although I have done a little bit of coloring. :o)

Oh, and a little pattern sketching has been going on. But of course, they won't be ready for a couple months yet.

On that note- ENJOY THE FREEDOM that comes with having to do all the things we wish we didn't have to. Sometimes the peace and quiet we ask for comes in a way that makes us wish we never asked for it. At least I know this is but for a small time in the grand scheme of life. Thanks for all your well wishes. Do me a favor- when you sew, think of me! :o)

10 comments:

Amy said...

Wow! You are incredibly isolated in ways I know I didn't understand. Thank you for the reminder of all of the blessings I do have. My thoughts are with you and I hope the treatments are successful.

Moose on the Porch Quilts said...

And here I thought you would have a dozen quilts done! Just a dozen quilts planned. Oh my! Thank heavens for the tv and a laptop, but oh! I get bored in the hospital for a couple days. Praying these days will pass as quickly as they can for you!

Yvonne said...

Thanks for sharing what you are going through. It must be so boring and lonely! I hope for you that it will lead to being cured for you! Just know that even with an ocean in between we in the Netherlands will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

onlymehere said...

I've had a couple of friends go through this and you're actually lucky that you get to stay home. Both of them were quarantined in a hospital for all this time! They seriously had nothing to do. One took a book but had to leave it in the hospital to be thrown away afterwards. I'll be thinking of you and praying that the treatments are successful.
Cindy

SheilaC said...

I don't know how you keep from going crazy...

will you have to get a new mattress/bed??

hang in there!

SheilaC

Beth said...

I am so sorry thatyou have to go through the extended period of isolation. You really do have a lot of rules to follow. Hopefully at the end you will be 100% ok!

ara said...

Animo!!!!!
Besos.

jlk said...

Oh yuck. That is no fun at all!

Pokey said...

Tough rules! I hope they pass quickly AND effectively, and that old poisoning kills what it's supposed to. Thinking of and praying for you today, sweetie!

Amber said...

That is intense! Again, I wish you a speedy isolation and recovery.