"The body is a marvelous machine...a chemical laboratory, a power-house. Every movement, voluntary or involuntary, full of secrets and marvels!"

Friday 18 July 2014

ponsuwan
Theodor Herzl

Well. I have been rather neglectful here lately. *dusts off blog* I do have a valid reason, and really I shouldn't be blogging here now, but I have a couple of things to tell you, so!

First of all, the reason I've been a bit quiet here and generally online is (to cut a very long and not very interesting story short) that I'm dealing with a recurring injury in my right arm. Initially it was diagnosed as repetitive strain injury and treated as such. As a result of this injury, I've always favoured my left arm for computer work/carrying, etc. As a result of that I now have the same problems in my left arm. At the moment it's really severe. We're talking cramps, pins and needles, aches, strains, the works. Waking up in the night with both arms completely numb. Stress headaches at work because the pain is so intense. Neck and back ache because my posture is going to hell as I try to sit comfortably at my work desk for seven hours a day. So I went to my GP to see if she could recommend anything for the pain.

Instead, she's sending me for blood tests.

Now, this injury/problem goes back about eight years, and in eight years not a single doctor has ever suggested it's the result of anything other than repetitive strain. This is the first time anyone has suggested an alternative cause. This lovely GP listened to me describe my symptoms and said, "it could be RSI. It could also be a neuropathic condition, a vitamin deficiency, or a thyroid problem. So let's test you for those and then discuss management depending on the results."

My goodness! I cannot tell you how amazing it feels to hear that your chronic pain might have a treatable cause! I'm so used to hearing, "we can't do anything, just try to avoid computer work," that I can't quite believe there's a possible alternative answer.

But in the mean time, I'm still in pain and I still have to do my day job. And I have a short story and a novel coming out in the next few weeks, so I'm going to be editing quite a lot in the near future /o\ In light of that, I'm trying to restrict my "non-essential" internet/computer time as much as possible, so I may be a little quiet on social media for a while. But I am about and I will answer any questions/emails/Etsy convos I get, so get in touch if you need to!

Now, second point of business. I did mention this briefly on Facebook earlier in the week, but for those who might have missed it: the supplier I used to buy my tobacco flower fragrance oil from no longer carries it, and I can't find a new supplier for it. Currently I use tobacco flower in Absinthe with Faust and Jazz Hands, and once my current stock runs out, I'll be temporarily discontinuing those two scents to re-work them. So if you like them as they are, buy now!

Third point of business. I'm going to be taking a week off from August 11th - August 15th. My sister-in-law is due to give birth sometime then and I want to be on hand to take a look at my first niece! In addition, I'll be working on loads of new stuff for the shop and a Secret Project that I hope to unveil towards the end of this year!

So that's me at the moment! Hopefully I'll get some answers from my GP soon and I can get back to more regular blogging and general internet use!