It's an update!
Hello!
As always I am ever grateful for everything you have been and done for this campaign. You’ve been generous with your contribution, your sharing, your time and your patience.
I on the other hand have been slow as molasses getting you updates and more importantly, your books. I’m as frustrated with the situation as you may be, though I’ve been dealing with something that I’ve not been up front with you about.
Maybe in some of the IG comments you’ve seen me mention dealing with personal issues but not being specific. Or maybe you noticed that I’ve not been streaming as often as I used to or as often as you’d like me to be. And for those who have seen me do a drawing stream, some have noticed a tremor in my hands. This tremor has been getting progressively worse.
I haven’t mentioned this problem in the past because I didn’t know what was going on and didn’t want to spook anyone. I thought I could manage it. I was taking Magnesium L-threonate which helped a little and also drinking booze, which really helped, but also messed up my days in other ways. While I was terrified, I thought I could handle it. I was wrong. Thinking that maybe I have Parkinson’s or MS, I decided to go to a doctor to really see what is going on.
Good news: I do not have Parkinson’s or MS. After blood tests, x-rays, CTs, an EMG and an MRI it’s been determined that I have
Severe Canal Stenosis. In plain english, my vertebrae are progressively growing inwardly into my spinal cord and outwardly with arthritic bone spurs. My nerves are being pushed out and into the spurs, getting trapped, causing pain and tremors. The pain and tremors have effected my sleep and work for some time. And as I said before, I was taking Magnesium and Whiskey to self medicate, thinking I could handle it. The tremors keep getting worse.
Better news! The stenosis is treatable with something called an
Anterior Discectomy and Fusion. (ACDF) for short. If you're curious, here’s a video of the procedure:
https://www.spine-health.com/video/anterior-cervical-discectomy-and-fusion-acdf-video
The surgeon is going to do this on my Neck/Spine on 3 levels. C-3/4, 4/5, and 5/6. I’ll be getting 3 titanium plates with 4 screws each. I will be bionic!
The Best News!! The surgery is happening on
May 22nd. (13 days from today.)
I’m certain you have many of the same questions that I had. I hope to answer them.
Will you get your book? Yes! The book will be finished!!! This surgery will make this happen a lot faster.
Recovery time? I’ve been told that my throat will hurt the most, being difficult to swallow etc for a few weeks. I can return to my desk within 3-5 days. Pain-wise, the Dr. said most complain about their head feeling heavier for a few weeks.
Are you sure the procedure will fix this? Yes because the doctors are being double redundant in the treatment. Both the surgery and a primidone prescription will knock both the pain and tremors out. While I’m not looking forward to the surgery, I am absolutely bursting with excitement and gratitude that I’ll get my full capabilities back.
I know this update is frustrating. Thank you for your patience with me. Your kindness is unparalleled.
Thankfully there is a solution and we have the book to look forward to. That and more streaming. I miss it.
If you have any questions, please send them my way.
See you sooner than later.
I’m lucky to have you.
FragaBoom!
