You’ve got to put your mask on first…

Every flight, passengers are admonished that in case of emergency, they must secure their mask before they can assist someone else. I’ve heard this ad nauseam for years. I know, I’m no good to any of my children if I can’t take care of myself. I try.

Last summer I started having horrible pressure in my right eye. We were on vacation and I honestly wanted to have a melon baller delivered to our resort so that I could scoop my own eye out. I went to my eye doctor. He changed my prescription. It’s still there. Additionally, my hair (I have a lot of hair) was coming out in handfuls. I had awful anxiety. My PCP kept telling me it was stress and I needed to relax. Oh, okay, no sweat.

By Halloween, I was convinced I had a head full of thick, wiry fishing line underneath expensive hair color. In November, I was standing in my classroom and felt like I got punched in the chest. It took my breath away.  At the 2pm bell I drove straight to my PCP. It’s stress. You need to relax.

To make a long story short, in early a March, Eric and I were sitting in a doctor’s office at MGH. Two doctors met with us; I have Graves’ Disease. Holy God!!! Am I going to look like Marty Feldman?!?! (Go ahead, Google him….I’ll wait.)

I asked what triggered this. They both indicated stress. “Have you been under any stress lately?” I looked to my right at Eric who just two days before had a sudden onset of Bells Palsy. The right side of his face was numb and drooped. His right eye didn’t blink. Without hesitation, we both replied “no, not really.”  I winked at Eric, he couldn’t wink back.

We got to the parking garage and cracked up.  If they only knew!  I mean, we were crying laughing. Sometimes you don’t realize how much stress you’re under until you take a pause.

This April vacation we won’t be relaxing in warmer weather like the years past.  I’ll be having my thyroid removed.  I need to take better care of myself.  If I don’t, I’ll be no good to anyone else.  It’s pretty sage advice for all parents.