Children's Lit Newsletter /22/26

TL/DR - Lots of pain, inability to focus

Hey all!!

Here's the sentence where it's hard to feel bad for me. I was in Paris (see what I mean?) and got a stiff neck after reading at a table (all injuries in our family tend to be 'literary' ones). That spiraled into excruciating pain, no mobility in my neck and an introduction to the French medical system (we used airdoc). While it was cheap, it was also not helpful. Their belief in the healing abilities of ibuprofen were not helpful (and neither was the ibuprofen). Luckily, the Spousal Unit travels with pain meds in case he gets another kidney stone while overseas (it's happened before, and all he was offered was, yup, you guessed it, ibuprofen - which was no help whatsover). So, between that, and good muscle relaxants (the only helpful prescription I got from the doctor), was able to get home (HINT: wheelchair service is free at the airport, but you have to book 48 hours in advance through your airline - it was the ONLY way i managed to make it to the plane)

It has been six weeks, and while the pain has been relatively well managed with drugs, the mobility is not there, the focus is not there (I have literally only been able to read one and a half books) and the cause has not been found yet. I am INCREDIBLY lucky and privileged to have fantastic insurance, a wonderful doctor, and a good friend who is an MD who is also looking over everything. I've had two MRIs (with and without contrast), and multiple blood tests. Now waiting on appointments with the neurologist and rheumatologist. I am also incredibly lucky that Ismayil (aforementioned Spousal Unit) is able to work remotely and is also the one who does most of the cooking, so i'm being well taken care of.

I have over 8000 unopened e-mails, so if you have messaged me, I'm sorry I haven't responded. if you need to get a hold of me, please send an e-mail with "URGENT' as the subject line, and I'll sort on that subject line. I have the spoons (#SpoonTheory) to be on the computer about 15 minutes/day

If you want to put good, healing thoughts for me out there - that would be lovely.

Sending hugs to all of you,

Sharon

p.s. Please excuse any errors, I'm not doing any proofreading