Scribbles and Bits

Rogan: this month has been a 28 episode month so far. I have now had more episodes in the past 3 months than I did in all of 2023. 109 was my record for most episodes in a year (in 2020), and I have already blown past that in a year that’s not even half over.

That I have managed to not just avoid hospitalization, but not flub any of my biggest business responsibilities is, I’m telling myself, an accomplishment to be proud of, even if I feel like microwaved dogshit and haven’t been growing my business how I would like.

I just keep reminding myself, through gritted teeth as necessary, that this cannot last forever. One way or another, I’ll get where I need to be. But anyway, that’s why I’ve been quiet.

Rogan: One of the tablers at the Watertown Zine Fest tested positive, and as of late last night, we are testing negative but showing the weird, idiosyncratic-to-us symptoms we had to COVID last time: horrible throat plague, moving rapidly up into sinuses, aching hips, etc. Last time this happened, we tested negative for three days, so we're isolating from the rest of our household, masking indoors, and hoping we don't get anyone else sick.

UGH. I was going to get my vax booster FINALLY and now I have to cancel it AGAIN.

*puts turmeric and ginger tea on IV drip, bunkers down with stockpile of cheesy movies*

EDIT: UGH I AM AN ELEMENTAL OF SLIME

We got our first monkeypox vaccine shot last night thanks to Health Innovations, Fascination Boston, and the local Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It was quick, easy, free, and we got a Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence sticker. :B It's on our sketchbook now. It was one of the best vaccination experiences we've ever had, and whoever had the bright idea for these groups to join forces deserves a medal.

If you can, please get vaccinated! Help protect your friends and fellows!

I was able to recline and take a nap today! And I haven't needed nearly as many pills. So we wanted to say thank you to all the wonderful people who've been helping us through all this:

minoanmiss  for making me chicken soup and bringing it to my door, even though it is cold out there and I know she has a lot on her plate. My stomach is starting to accept proper food again!

grahamlore , runeroot , and their household for the care package of food they gave me on the first day. As stressful and tumorous as this business has been, it's been a relief to know that food will not be a problem.

storyheight  for watching Atlantic Rim 2 with me, despite being in a different state and me being too doped to be any technological help at all. Bad movies with good friends: what more could I ask for?

Genius Cat Owner, for surprising me with a gift of books so even though screens are giving me trouble, I have not been bored! I finished the Disabled God, now for Matrix or Even Though I Knew the End!

sinistmer , for the lovely surprise card.

marzicastella  for medical advice.

Double thanks to my roommates for taking me to the ER, filling my Rxs, taking me home from surgery, helping me get up and down, and just being generally kind and firmly helpful, even when pain was taking out my sanity.

And thanks to all of you who've sent well-wishes and congratulations. If I deserve the kind, caring friends I've got, I must be a helluva guy. Growing up, being incapacitated this way was terrifying, and it's been a moving experience to realize that it doesn't have to be a nightmare, to realize that no, I have great people in my corner that I can rely on. This experience had the potential to be absolutely traumatizing, and that it wasn't is because of all of you. I have not been alone in this at all; on the contrary, this surgery has made me more aware of the web of relationships I am tied into, and it's a wonderful feeling.

You guys are the best. Thank you. <3

 Rogan: surgery had complications, so am now frontstuck to take the pain.

Turns out one of the tumors had grown through a blood vessel, so we lost about 400 mL of blood (and a bunch of it is sloshing around where it shouldn't be.) Combined with the CO2 they pumped our guts with, that is putting pressure on our phrenic nerve, causing intense pain that heavy painkillers barely put a dent in. Now I know for certain what a purely-physical level 9 pain feels like. It sucks.

Without the heavy dose, breathing, talking, reclining, or lying down all hurt. With it, the pain is manageable.Fortunately, it seems that pain is all it is. Everything else is fine. Just gotta wait this out for a few days.

We also apparently have a dermoid ovarian cyst but that is a problem for future LB. (But another golfball sized tumor? Possibly with teeth and hair inside? UGH. So sick of tumors. At least they're all noncancerous?)

 Good news! We don't have cancer!

Miranda: Having surgery. Wish us luck!