Finally got around to taking pictures of my new scar. It's well on it's way to being healed and isn't bad, as scars go. They have these pads you can place on top of scars that minimizes their appearance and makes sure they heal flat. I'll get one soon.

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200,000 new cases every year, in a few years it will be impossible for you to not know dozens of people with Lyme ( Read more... )

So far most of the gains made by the cortisone shot have held, with some pain returning to my right arm but nothing like the horrible stabbing pain I had previously. He said next time he could put more of the cortisone on the right side so maybe that will finally do it. I'm just glad to not be in extreme pain 24/7 and moving ice packs from place to ( Read more... )

My friend Fran is really struggling right now in her treatment course for Lyme Disease. It is as brutal as an extended course of chemo. She is a gifted writer and performer and goes out of her way to help others. I ask everyone who believes in prayer (energy/vibes/etc) to send a prayer that she has the strength to endure her treatment (and that it ( Read more... )

This project of memoir writing is a curious one because I am forced to remember how I thought and felt about people and events at the time. I've already had one present-day disagreement with someone who was unhappy about what I wrote about her. I know her in the present in a very different way than I knew her in the past. But I am writing about my ( Read more... )

A good resource: Pain Community News Archive list for .pdf issues from the American Pain Foundation. You can sign up to receive these for free by mail or read them online ( Read more... )

I finally posted about vaccines and misinformation because I reached a critical mass of annoyance ( Read more... )

Recently, a writer I much admire, Fran Varian, posted a moving request to send our love, prayers, candle-burning, spells, good energy, or whatever help we can spare, to a wonderful woman in the poetry community who was just diagnosed with a rare and vicious form of cancer. You can read the details of Gabrielle Bouliane's lifetime contribution to ( Read more... )

Just a reminder that author Fran Varian is still struggling with late stage Lyme Disease (since it is so often undiagnosed until it's progressed a long time) and without health insurance, like so many writers, artists, musicians, and other creative spirits. (Link leads to Amy Tan's Lyme Disease story.)

Please consider Donating via Paypal or credit ( Read more... )

Over the weekend my father in law, Mike, had breathing problems and was taken to the hospital. He has blood clots in one of his lungs and they are giving him blood thinning medication and doing tests. We are still waiting on the results. Mike has been struggling with depression for the last few years as well.

Prayers/good thoughts/etc. deeply