It’s been 3 weeks now since I gave birth to the prettiest baby in all the land,

and for the most part I have recovered completely. I can eat whatever I want without dire consequences, and bathroom functions have returned to normal. I do have a problem with lower back pain, no doubt a result of my completely useless stomach “muscles”. There is, however, one problem I’m having that I can’t find any logical reason for.

Diet Coke doesn’t taste good anymore.

You need to understand that I have been exclusively drinking Diet Coke since the 80s. My diabetic Mom only bought diet soft drinks, and when Diet Coke came out she stopped buying Tab. It became my drink of choice. Oh sure, once in a while at a restaurant I would order Diet Coke and get served Diet PEPSI instead, which I begrudgingly drank while grumbling under my breath that waitresses should TELL you if they don’t have the drink you ask for.

In college, I would order rum and Diet Coke at the bar. But what really solidified my love affair with this elixir of life was when our local chain of convenience stores started offering 32 ounce refillable mugs, which cost ONE PENNY an ounce plus tax. So for 34 cents I could get enough delicious pop to last an afternoon, or a shift at work. One summer BC and I sublet an apartment near the MSU campus, right across the street from the convenience store. I don’t remember how many times a day we would run over there to fill up our mugs.

I’m telling you all this so you’ll understand my confusion, my hurt feelings, my despair over what has become the sad fact I call “Diet Coke doesn’t love me any more.” The last one I drank was Nov. 17, the night before I had the baby. Then I got the virus, and didn’t drink anything but a few sips of water for a week. When I left the hospital, BC said “would you like to stop and get a Diet Coke?” Why yes, yes I would! We stop at the same convenience store mentioned above, and out he comes with a delicious cup of fountain pop. I take a sip, and something is…wrong. It doesn’t taste right, I say. Maybe it’s just because I’m still sick. 4 days later, at the grocery store, I buy a 12 pack of cans. Come home, quick-chill one in the freezer, pour it in a glass. It tastes…wrong. My friends, that damn stomach virus apparently ripped the very taste buds out of my mouth that were reserved for Diet Coke drinking pleasure.

I googled “stomach virus” and “changes in taste buds”. Nothing. I asked the student nurses who came to interview me for their Patient Care class. Nothing. I have NO IDEA if I will ever enjoy drinking Diet Coke again. It’s like losing a friend I tell ya. If anybody has ANY experience with this, or has any thoughts on the subject, please feel free to share. Because I don’t know what else to do. I want my friend Diet Coke back.

Here’s a picture of my Dad with Kaitlyn, and one with me