Designated Doodler

Alright so this may not be the most thrilling post ever, but if you've struggled with acid reflux, it's worth the read. And you may not even be aware that you do struggle with acid reflux! At least I wasn't aware… As a child I would often tell my parents that my throat felt "tight." It was difficult to explain, and the throat specialist they took me to as a child said I was fine. So I went on with life and tried my best to ignore this odd feeling. Sometimes my throat would feel "tighter" than others - usually after eating. And it wasn't until I was in college that my allergy doctor informed me that this feeling was likely due to acid reflux. This was really surprising to me because although I had heartburn at times, I rarely felt the searing acidic burn in my stomach/throat that most people associate with acid reflux. After learning this, I took Nexium for a while but soon forgot all about my acid reflux issues. It wasn't until this ...

One thing I do when I'm stressed out or need to think...is take a shower. An absurdly hot, peel your senses off shower. Tonight I made a b-line for the scalding hot water. My clothes, all snaps and buttons, end up haphazardly on the floor. It's almost criminal how I treat my delicate clothes. A thin navy blouse, beige corduroy pants, blinding white shoes all make a trail, like breadcrumbs to the shower. Everyone's always telling me I'm so young, but sometimes I feel so old. So worn out, so scared of the future that it paralyzes my present. I wasn't particularly thrilled to find out today that Dad's getting surgery on his leg next week. I tried to enjoy dinner. I didn't even voice my distaste for meat, like I usually do around my parents. I sipped the red wine and engaged in witty banter. And then that moment happens and my heart drops into my stomach and all the air gets sucked out my lungs. I'm sure that no one would enjoy watching their Dad...