24 Comments
User's avatar
Chris Stanton's avatar

Glad to see you’re doing so well, Natalie. And my pick for your mascot’s name is Brainiac.

Natalie Mead's avatar

Ahoy, Chris! How go your endeavors both Substack and otherwise?

Chris Stanton's avatar

All is well, thank you very much! Or at least as well enough…

Istiaq Mian, MD's avatar

Welcome back Natalie! I'll take your writing in whatever pace you deliver it :)

Thanks for the honest reflection. I'm elated for you to be in remission. Enjoying the little things is such a big thing, I hope those moments deliver bigly for you!

Also, what does fast-casual mean? I've never heard anyone describe Denver or another city like that.

Natalie Mead's avatar

Thank you, Istiaq! I'm elated, too, and still often pinching myself.

Fast-casual--good question! Restaurants whose food quality and overall experience lie somewhere between fast food (e.g. McDonald's) and full-blown sit-down with table service. Examples that originated in the Denver area include Chipotle, Noodles & Company, Qdoba, Quizno's, Garbanzo's, and Tokyo Joe's.

Amanda Jaffe's avatar

Glad to see you back here, Natalie!

Natalie Mead's avatar

Aww thanks 🥰

Elinor Abbott's avatar

holla from one colorado girl to another! i had no idea you were also from there! i've been living in europe for a decade and salads are deeply, profoundly missed. americans get flack for our unhealthy diets but these mf'ers ain't never heard of mixing a whole bunch of yummy vegetables together???

Natalie Mead's avatar

Oh cool!! Where in CO? And thank you for the validation re: salads. I got a lot of crazy looks when I asked for any sort of vegetable, and half the salads came plain without dressing!! 😱

Elinor Abbott's avatar

Idaho Springs! In the UK they put something called "salad cream" on salads 🤢

Natalie Mead's avatar

Idaho Springs is beautiful! I’m from Littleton. And yes, I saw this mysterious salad cream in the grocery stores…looked to me like mayo!

Donna H's avatar

I relate to your message. I too suffer from chronic pain due to arthritis, aggressive arthritis, like developing spurs along my spine especially my neck area. My pain is nevertheless is constant. On mild days I push forward, while other days of intense pain. People look at me like I am crazy when I say arthritis is crippling. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Natalie Mead's avatar

Donna, arthritis sounds like a very hard time! And arthritis is, like migraine, one of those things where people assume it's not disabling, maybe because the milder form of it is so common? Hang in there!!

Donna H's avatar

Thanks 😊

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Natalie, I've been thinking of you so much lately! It's actually weird that you suddenly popped up in my feed. I've wondered if things were still going well with your remission and I'm so happy to hear you're well for the most part.

Especially travel!!! Milk it all you can, you've got lots of time to make up for 😊

Natalie Mead's avatar

Thanks, Kristi! How are you doing??

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

Hmmm well, I didn't lead with that because this is your recovery story lol. My migraines have been worse but the silver lining is that I made it through the battery of med trials I have to get through in order to qualify for injectables. Now I'm in the midst of figuring out how much of the cost my blue cross will cover and whether I can afford it 🙄

Just the other day, I reread your DM from several months ago about the diet that helped you. I'm still intrigued and in exploration mode.

Natalie Mead's avatar

So sorry to hear that, Kristi. And that is a rather thin silver lining ;) Let me know if you need any other help or support---I'm not going to shove the diet option down your throat (pun intended!) if that's not where you're at right now, and I know a lot about injectables too!

Kristi Keller 🇨🇦's avatar

On the contrary, that IS where I'm at. I keep reading books about miracle food, coconut oil, etc. And keto. I would waaaay rather do it the dietary way than the drug way because I'm pretty sure drugs have screwed up my system. I'm always in research mode so yah...if you have a support group of one lol...I'm in 😄

Natalie Mead's avatar

Consider me your support groupie! One thing to keep in mind is that the clinic offers financial aid if you’re in need of it.

Linda Hoenigsberg's avatar

Natalie. I was fascinated as I read this. My life has also been one of overcoming health issues and the anticipatory anxiety of trying new things now that I'm "better." I'm planning a trip in the Spring and I'm having all the "feels" just planning it, but I'm determined not to give up any more of my life. Thanks for this, and I hope you have a marvelous time in Denver, which will provide you with better memories the next time you think of traveling.

Natalie Mead's avatar

Thanks for reading Linda and yes, keep on chasing after the life you couldn’t live for so long!! I’m rooting for you.