If you have been following along on either the weekly "Progressive Politics:Tennessee Style" (PPTS), or the twice-weekly "Jibber Your Jabber" on netrootsradio.com, I've been what my Father would call "out of pocket" for a while.
Truth be told, I've been kind of ill. I just got home from the hospital after a really rather exciting adventure with what became somewhat of a life-threatening infection. If you were to look at me today, you might mistake me for the original Scrooge of Mr. Dickens' imagination.
Follow me just below the squiggledoodlethingey fold, and I'll tell you a little bit about it.
This is going to be short; in fact, the shorter, the better as far as I am concerned.
I have some tumors which need to be dealt with. I've had a couple of particularly bothersome (and unfortuntately for me, visible) tumors originating with both Parotid Glands. Originally identified as non-malignant "Warthin's" tumors, recent medical reality suggested that there was something troubling going on. The focus of the concern was a really fast growing group of questionable nodules on my Thyroid Gland. This led to an increasing difficulty in eating, and a persistent cough.
So, Docs and other medical types being the Docs and other medical types they are, it was decided that biopsies would be taken to "get a look" at what was going on--along with the perquisite "glow in the dark" radiation exams. The radiology went very well. The biopsies did not. But not perhaps in the way one might think.
Evidently the tumor of the Right Parotid Gland had devolved into one large mass of infection; dangerous infection as it turned out. When the Doc entered that space, it opened up a geyser of infection which, as liguid is want to do, found it's own space. The trouple was that this space was not confined, nor contained.
The infection began to spread across, as well as up and down my right side of my face. It did collect, in one instance, below my ear--then began a process whereby an abcess was formed. I would like to tell you that this abcess was painful, but that really doesn't do it justice. In a little time, something had to give. As it turned out, my skin gave. Off to the White Coats we went.
It has been a real fight. All kinds of medical specialists have been attending with some of their very best efforts to literally save my life. Nip and tuck for a bit, but stubborn finally won out, for now.
I am home, and have bandages which amaze and astound. Once again, I should have known better, and gotten help sooner. But stubborn is as stubborn does. I now am receiving (at home) daily doses of what I call "Gorilla-Cillin" sufficient to fell a full-grown Buffalo. But I am home. In April, I will go to Vanderbuilt Medical Center to prepare for the removal of my Parotid and Thyroid Glands. I have to be physically and mentally prepared for that battle.
I'm working on it every day. This is an important part of my therapy. Thank you for that. It really, REALLY matters. I would ask for your best thoughts and prayers as this amazing journey continues. There really IS a "beyond the valley" on this path, and I am still rooting for my walking that part, as well.
Some might ask why I bring this personal story to this community. My response is simple: Where better to bring it?
Your Friend On The Journey!
Bud