And now for something completely unexpected... And a plea for donations
The appointment with the PCP was unexpectedly short -- he had a student with him, which means the student took up 25 min of my 40-min appointment taking a history. A history. Which is (1) contained in my documentation, which goes back 30 years, and (2) is already known very well by my PCP. And then he had to go give said history to the PCP. Another 10 min go by, while I gave up and laid down on the not very comfortable exam table, because I couldn't sit any longer.
The pain in my upper chest from the pericarditis is worse than ever. It's now since November that I've had it. And suddenly in February (causing an ER visit, it was so bad) a terrible pain that goes in a line around from my spine following the rib line to just under my right breast. But I hadn't broken a rib: the ER X-rayed me. Theyd checked the gallbladder, or tried to (the resident AND attending literally couldnt' find it, but I haven't had it removed - they gave up and sent me home and told me to see my PCP).
So I waited until my appointment, a month later.
He finally came in, asked me two questions, touched (gently) where the pain is, and said: "You have a rare form of shingles."
One without a rash. And it goes into the muscles and organs. And because the ER didn't treat me fast enough, he couldn't give me the usual anti-virals for shingles, so what can I do?
Nothing. Wait for it to go away. IF it ever goes away. Sometimes when it's this variety, it doesn't. For years.
The pain is intense. Sitting, lying down, really just *living* is painful - riding in a car makes my eyeballs want to explode. Which makes it interesting to drive. Which means I've been having to close the bookstore a lot. That hasn't been helping our finances (see below).
I have been recommended to try CBD oil. I've gotten some and am starting with a teaspoon morning and evening - I think this is all snake oil, but my PCP is really quite fantastic and he says he hears good things. So, what the hell. I spent $19, and we'll see.
Speak of $19. That reduced what I literally have to my name to $74.28.
You heard that right. I haven't gotten a copyediting gig since December of last year. I write and the response is always: "Oh you're great, we'll use you again, we'll be in touch." Then nothing. Again and again.
I'm desperate. I don't know if anybody is reading this anymore, but there's a link to DONATE to our house and living fund on the right-hand side of my journal here. It leads to PayPal and a donation setup. If we can't get some donations, we won't be able to buy my medicines and definitely not any food.
Please pass this around. I'm leaving this entry to Public.
I've been so sick for so long now - we owe the hospital $5k and our monthly medicine just for ME has a copay total of over $300. And then there's basic food (and me with the crazy needs for gluten-free and dairy free foods because of the out-of-control IBS).
Thank you. I know it's hard now for a lot of you, but maybe if this is passed around, some people can help with a little.
The pain in my upper chest from the pericarditis is worse than ever. It's now since November that I've had it. And suddenly in February (causing an ER visit, it was so bad) a terrible pain that goes in a line around from my spine following the rib line to just under my right breast. But I hadn't broken a rib: the ER X-rayed me. Theyd checked the gallbladder, or tried to (the resident AND attending literally couldnt' find it, but I haven't had it removed - they gave up and sent me home and told me to see my PCP).
So I waited until my appointment, a month later.
He finally came in, asked me two questions, touched (gently) where the pain is, and said: "You have a rare form of shingles."
One without a rash. And it goes into the muscles and organs. And because the ER didn't treat me fast enough, he couldn't give me the usual anti-virals for shingles, so what can I do?
Nothing. Wait for it to go away. IF it ever goes away. Sometimes when it's this variety, it doesn't. For years.
The pain is intense. Sitting, lying down, really just *living* is painful - riding in a car makes my eyeballs want to explode. Which makes it interesting to drive. Which means I've been having to close the bookstore a lot. That hasn't been helping our finances (see below).
I have been recommended to try CBD oil. I've gotten some and am starting with a teaspoon morning and evening - I think this is all snake oil, but my PCP is really quite fantastic and he says he hears good things. So, what the hell. I spent $19, and we'll see.
Speak of $19. That reduced what I literally have to my name to $74.28.
You heard that right. I haven't gotten a copyediting gig since December of last year. I write and the response is always: "Oh you're great, we'll use you again, we'll be in touch." Then nothing. Again and again.
I'm desperate. I don't know if anybody is reading this anymore, but there's a link to DONATE to our house and living fund on the right-hand side of my journal here. It leads to PayPal and a donation setup. If we can't get some donations, we won't be able to buy my medicines and definitely not any food.
Please pass this around. I'm leaving this entry to Public.
I've been so sick for so long now - we owe the hospital $5k and our monthly medicine just for ME has a copay total of over $300. And then there's basic food (and me with the crazy needs for gluten-free and dairy free foods because of the out-of-control IBS).
Thank you. I know it's hard now for a lot of you, but maybe if this is passed around, some people can help with a little.