You will be alarmed and, I hope, properly sympathetic to hear that since giving up Amazon, random googling of self and celebrities with whom only a select few are familiar (i.e. Phoebe Price, who is famous for having red hair and… I’m not sure what else) that I have developed an assortment of physical ailments. Which I will now very generously share with you.
The Twitch. It is located just under my right eye. It’s been with me for several days now (perhaps since the last time I checked DListed.)It is persistent enough that I have to go around with my finger pressed into my eye socket. I’m thinking of naming it. If you have any suggestions (other than Twitch) I’d be happy to hear them. If you see me out somewhere, please make a point of staring fixedly at the twitch because I love that.
The Clot. Last weekend I went over to Vancouver to talk to some terrific young writers in Burnaby. I spent many hours in the car because I refuse to get out of my car on the ferry. (See below.) Anyway, on the drive back to catch the ferry home, I developed an acute case of what I suspect was deep vein thrombosis. My leg began to hurt very deeply, which is probably why they call it “deep vein thrombosis”. I tried pointing my toe, the way they recommend on long flights, but I was driving and every time I pointed my toe I had to take my foot off the gas. This caused sudden deceleration. My car is an Echo and weighs approximately 35 pounds, so I can’t count on momentum to keep it going. Toe pointing also seemed to cause the car to swerve, which was frightening for me and the other 2.4 million drivers on the freeway, so I had to quit treating myself for my condition. I survived, barely, but now my deep vein thrombosis has moved into my knee. I think the clot is being held in place by my knee cap. (Any doctors out there might let me know if this seems likely.) The knee aches steadily unless I’m working out or walking quickly. Needless to say, Frank is getting a lot of extra exercise. I’m having to eat double just to cope with the condition and its side-effects. I’ve purchased a giant container of Ibuprofen and am popping them regularly in order to stop the clot from getting more inflamed and bursting forth and stopping my heart, which is one scenario I’ve thought about quite a bit.
So… is it worth it? Would I be better off going back on the Internet? No. I think in balance, having a permanent eye twitch and life threatening blood clot in my knee is preferable. I’m getting a LOT written. In those rare moments when the pain allows me to sit at my desk and the twitch eases enough for me to focus on my computer screen.
Let me end by thanking you for your caring and get well wishes.
xoxoxo