Sorry for the delay in making a new post. I have had a lot going on. My creative side feels inspired today and so does my activist side. I have decided to start a little fictional story as part of my blog. I will still make "regular" posts, this will just be an addition. The posts that are fictional will begin with the title: Jennifer's Journey. Jennifer is a fictional character with interstitial cystitis. I am creating this story to help people see the challenges that an IC gal can face through out the day without having to put my entire daily routine out there or the daily trials and tribulations of anyone else that I know.
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The story will also have some drama, romance, chaos and all that good stuff too, so I hope you enjoy.
Please check out this first installment of Jennifer's journey...
Jennifer's Journey, part 1: Is it the Weekend Yet?
The alarm goes off at 7:00 am. Jennifer hits snooze. She would give anything to stay in bed. Last night was rough, she woke up three times to pee between midnight and 4:00 am. Two snooze buttons later Jennifer finally pulls herself out of bed and makes her way towards the bathroom. Urinating is always her first task for the morning. Jennifer would like nothing more than to wear jeans to the office for casual Friday. Sadly, she opts for comfortable yoga pants instead that she attempts to pass as dress pants daily. People in the office tend to gossip that Jennifer is a clothing snob for not dressing down in jeans on Fridays. Jennifer is far from a clothing snob. Jennifer doesn't wear jeans because it hurts too much.
Jennifer gets to work on time at the advertising agency and plops down in her cubicle. As her computer boots up she looks at her co-workers' desks. She sees a variety of coffee cups and Red Bull cans everywhere. Jennifer's tired body craves caffeine badly. Jennifer battles back and forth in her head pondering if she should drink a cup of coffee or not. If she doesn't drink it, she will feel sleepy all morning. If she does drink it, her bladder may flare. "Screw it ", Jennifer mumbles to herself as she makes her way towards the office Keurig maker. She figures one cup won't kill her. At least it's Friday, so if her bladder flares she can sleep in tomorrow.
Jennifer gets down to work and adjusts her IC cushion that she has been passing off as a back pillow for the last three years. She munches on some graham crackers so that she doesn't have to take her first round of medications on an empty stomach. During a 10:30 meeting, Jennifer watches the clock constantly. The invite said it would only last fifteen minutes and it has already been 45 minutes. Jennifer has to pee so badly it hurts, but she doesn't want to be rude and get up while someone is speaking. When the hour mark hits Jennifer has no choice but to quietly slip out for a bathroom break. Her bladder spasms were getting so bad she would have nearly passed out if she didn't urinate soon. Her three least favorite co-workers Becky, Melissa and Tiffany give her dirty looks and whispers for "wasting time in the restroom yet again. "
When lunchtime rolls around, Jennifer heads to Wendy's with her two best work buddies Jack from accounting and Jodie, an administrative assistant. They are the only two in the office who know about her IC. Jack and Jodie are talking about how super excited they are for the weekend. Jodie has plans to go salsa dancing with some friends and Jack and his partner Richard have a weekend booked at a Vineyard two hours outside of town. The two ask Jennifer what she is up to. Jennifer plans to stay in tonight and rest her usually tired body because she has big plans on Saturday night: she is having her first date with Cliff, a 37 year old business owner she has been chatting with for three weeks on Match.com. Jennifer hates dating because of her IC, but at 31 she knows she has to start putting herself out there if she ever wants to meet the right person, get married and have kids. Jennifer is both excited and nervous. She tells her pals she is contemplating canceling due to nerves. Jack, who is very into astrology and tarot cards, tells her that she better not cancel because he has a feeling that Cliff would change her life forever. Jennifer laughs and takes a sip of her beverage. "Only time will tell," she says to her pals.
On the ride back to the office, Jennifer ponders more about the weekend and life. She realizes that everyone else is always in one giant race to the weekend finish line. It's almost like making it to Friday at 5:00 pm allows people to push a freedom button. Jennifer doesn't ask "is it the weekend yet? " everyday at work like most of her pals. She knows no matter what day of the week it is, she will still have IC.
Check back soon for more information about IC and to find out how Jennifer's first date with Cliff turns out.
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1 comments:
I'm so sorry that you have gone through all that you have. Stay strong :)
xoxo
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