In the hospital

[Shell B]

Skyrim is a time suck! Glad you're up and about, dude.

[Minimalist]

That sucks, I_B.

Get better soon. Hospitals are no place to be when you're sick.

[Jackalope]

Well, I returned to work last Monday and discovered that I really wasn't ready. By the middle of the workday, I was in too much pain to think about much of anything else, and the pain extended well into the night, keeping me from sleeping much.

So, as of Thursday, I'm back off work indefinitely. I'm grateful that I have disability insurance, or I'd be fucked - and not in the good way.

Yesterday, I got a bit of bittersweet news. I had been waiting for the results of several blood tests, and the last of them finally came in. The doc tells me that I tested positive for "lupus anticoagulant antibodies" - basically meaning that I have antibodies that attack normal proteins, causing abnormal blood coagulation. Think of it as the polar opposite of hemophilia. She told me that this doesn't necessarily mean I have systemic lupus, though it is a possibility. I have to get a confirming test in a couple of months to confirm the diagnosis (Antiphospholipid syndrome, a.k.a. Hughes syndrome).

So now I have the answer to the puzzle as to why all of this happened. It's treatable but not curable, and knowing is better than not. With proper treatment, I should have a normal life span, which would not likely be the case without. It's likely I'll have to be on anticoagulants for the rest of my life, which carries risks and dietary restrictions.

It's damned frustrating for recovery to be taking as long as it is, and I'm anxious to be able to resume my life.

[Minimalist]

At least you know what it is and that it is treatable.

That's something.

[Jackalope]

At least you know what it is and that it is treatable.

That's something.

Absolutely. That's the sweet part of the bittersweet news.

[fr0d0]

Yeah that is sweet... that you could expect a normal lifespan is huge dude.

[Jackalope]

Yep - and with some adjustments I will be able to continue doing two things that are important to me: solo backpacking and scuba diving.

Life span is certainly an important thing - but it might be a difficult choice if it meant giving up the things I love.

Thankfully, I now know I don't have to choose.

[Shell B]

Hang in there, I.B. Once you know what your treatment plan will be in the long run, you will be able to plan a happy life around it.

[Jackalope]

Hang in there, I.B. Once you know what your treatment plan will be in the long run, you will be able to plan a happy life around it.

Thanks, Shell. Won't know a lot until I see the hematologist next week. But I'm staying optimistic, which is half the battle.

[Shell B]

I agree. That is half the battle. You just have to wait it out and enjoy life in the interim.