Anonymous Asked

I got an email the other day. An anonymous post on this blog asking if I'm doing OK since it's been a long time since I've posted.

Yes, I'm fine.
Also? Nope, not fine at all.

In October I had an endometrial ablation... basically they cauterized my uterus to stop uncontrollable bleeding. Seriously not as horrible as it sounds and I have loved the results so far.

Not fun.

In November I had a lump removed from my ear. (Benign). It was so large they had to remove skin from behind my ear to graft to the skin on front of my ear. It was supposed to be a "simple procedure." I had about ten stitches behind my ears and about 30 around the graft. It was really gross and a titch painful.

I had no idea how long the recovery process would be. It's almost two months later and it's still painful and healing. And of course it's the side I sleep on, which means I'm not sleeping well. Since November.

I'm still at The Evil Empire, they love me and think I'm a "wonderful asset to the company" and love the way I handle the tough clients I have... but a week before Christmas they told me that they need me to do it better and faster and more or they'll have to let me go.

I did miss some time, what with the two surgeries and all, but that doesn't seem to matter in their grand scheme of things.

Of course, the way The Evil Empire works is that they will suggest that I resign rather than fire me, which is kinder than it sounds. If you get fired you'll never work for the county again.

Christmas Day I spent in the ER in considerable pain - we thought it was my gallbladder. If we're counting that would have been three surgeries in three months. Not good.
I spent six hours in the ER and in the end it was like shaking a $200 Magic 8 Ball that also dispenses pain meds. Nobody knew why I was in pain or why even the IV Demerol wouldn't touch it. It wasn't my heart or gallbladder or lungs though, which was some comfort but not much.
By Monday the pain was radiating down my right arm and side and the skin was numb and also sensitive to pressure... which reminded me a lot of how I felt when I had shingles ten years ago.

Shingles just happens to be caused by weakened immune system and high stress. Interesting.Also? Nerve pain looks at pain killers and laughs so hard it pees a little. And that hurts too.

Tuesday my Dr said, "Yup, it's shingles. Go home and sleep for a week."

So that's what I did.

My job was not happy at all, but I had a note.

So this week I'm feeling better. Well, comparatively better anyway. If you've had shingles you'll know what I mean. The pain doesn't make me want to run into oncoming traffic anymore.

I'm behind and my stats suck but it's getting better. I've put in a couple of 12-hour days this week, but I'm working on fixing that.

So that's how I am... tired and stressed and recovering. Pretty much the same as always!

I'll update more often just in case there's anyone left to read this!