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08:41, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Last Radiance Bar & Grill (OOCs)

Posted by MysterionFor group 0
Tom Wolf
Player, 360 posts
Human Fighter
AC 2, HP 29
Thu 29 Sep 2022
at 23:42
  • msg #561

Re: The Seventh Magic

Take care of yourself and your family.  A few days without an update because of Ian is a minor inconvenience for us to deal with.  Family comes first.
I won't be posting this weekend.  I picked up 4 extra hours of OT because of a co-worker being off this weekend.  That was even before Ian hit Florida and now it is probably going to cause mass chaos for me when it hits South Carolina.
Rodrigo
Player, 351 posts
Elf of Belcadiz
black leathers, sword
Fri 30 Sep 2022
at 16:49
  • msg #562

Re: The Seventh Magic

Said it in our other game. Stay safe.
Mysterion
GM, 523 posts
Storyteller
Sun 9 Oct 2022
at 13:48
  • msg #563

Re: The Seventh Magic

Yea! Power's back as of Friday afternoon. Internet came back late Friday night. We thought it'd take long because we're at the tail end of a line and the telephone pole and transformer at the other end of the block were both lying on the ground because the pole had snapped in half!

Spent yesterday cleaning up, picking up the pieces, putting things back in place, and making sure nothing got burnt out. We'd unplugged the TVs and shut off the AC at the circuit box, so we seem to be okay.

Our two house cats keep wanting to go out on the back porch like they used to, but it's half gone, so that's not going to be an option for awhile.

Anyway, expect to get caught up on my games today.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 304 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Tue 1 Nov 2022
at 06:19
  • msg #564

Re: The Seventh Magic

These Moon-Men are mannerless, Mysterion, says Mage-Singer!
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 306 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Mon 7 Nov 2022
at 23:17
  • msg #565

Re: The Seventh Magic

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 564):

I'm using my book, so it doesn't tjhionk I've forgotten it!
Mysterion
GM, 527 posts
Storyteller
Tue 6 Dec 2022
at 03:45
  • msg #566

Re: The Seventh Magic

As I probably mentioned, ever since I caught COVID back in October, I've felt like crap even after it went away. Supposedly, the aftermath leaves you tired for months. So I don't have enough energy to post very often most days, and when I do, I'm barely managing to do chores and run errands.

Last two weeks, I've been having minor chest pains on my right side (I'm not an alien--I only have one heart and it's on the left). While I thought it was just a muscle strain from lifting something, my previous heart problem and age had the VA nurse advise me to go to the ER.

So Thursday afternoon, that's what I did! After two days of poking and prodding and inspecting and injecting, they finally determined that I had absolutely no heart concerns. They sent me home Saturday morning with a $600 prescription! At least the first month is free, but unless the VA covers it, I won't be taking that next month.

And the stupid part is that I felt worse when I got discharged than I did when I went in!

Outside of the hospital, though, someone suggested my tiredness/lack of energy may be due to an iron deficiency, which might also account for my lack of appetite.

And then there's the insomnia... haven't slept in five days.

Anyway, I felt a little better today, so we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 307 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Tue 6 Dec 2022
at 07:17
  • msg #567

Re: The Seventh Magic

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 566):

Oh, yeah, the aftermath is awful.  I was on my ass and semi-functional for a while.  The chest pain is scary as hell, I can imagine, but as far as insomnia goes I can offer some insights my therapist and ex-girlfriend's mother (a retired psychiatrist) gave me that might help.
Mysterion
GM, 528 posts
Storyteller
Thu 22 Dec 2022
at 17:20
  • msg #568

Re: The Seventh Magic

 
 Apologies to everyone for not keeping up with my games by posting more often, but I've been under the weather since the beginning of October and haven't had much mental energy. 
 
 
  M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S  
 

Mysterion
GM, 529 posts
Storyteller
Mon 16 Jan 2023
at 05:39
  • msg #569

Re: The Seventh Magic

So here's what's been happening...

I've been 'ill' for about three months now, starting with getting COVID back in the beginning of October. Wasn't too bad and I got over it in a few days, but it left me with the typical aftermath symptom of being tired ALL THE TIME. I was slowly getting over it, and even had a few hours of energy every day.

I had a doctor's appointment scheduled for mid-October but then Hurricane Ian hit. The VA clinic took some damage and was closed for two weeks. I finally got the appointment rescheduled for Jan. 13.

December 1st, I had a minor chest pain on my right side. It felt like just a minor muscle strain but at my age and with my medical history, I felt it was prudent to check. Called the VA clinic to see about a walk-in visit the next day and the nurse I talked to went into panic mode with the 'chest pain' words, and told me to go to the ER. So, on Friday, December 2nd, that's what I did. More panic mode.

Spent 4 days being poked and prodded, inspected, detected, and injected and stuff, only to be told my heart was fine. More exactly, they couldn't find any cause for the chest pain... the obvious cause seemed to elude them.

Here's where it started going to hell. Getting out of the hospital, I had an extreme loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and NO ENERGY. Didn't have any of that when I went in!

Not only was I not hungry, but nothing tasted appealing any more. Could barely eat my favorite foods, and then only 2-3 bites. On top of that, I ran out of one of my diabetes medicines. Not eating and drinking much, I also wasn't taking my meds as regularly as I had been.

This went on for the next three weeks, so things probably grew gradually worse without me quite realizing it.

December 31st, I managed to pull a back muscle, and while the pain meds I took didn't do squat, I at least knew it'd go away in a few days. It did. And then I got hives!

Jan. 6 I went to the VA clinic to get bloodwork done for my doctor's appointment. No sooner did I get home than the doctor called to tell me my blood sugar level was 903! I needed to go to the ER pronto! That's where I've been for the past week. :-(

I still didn't feel all that bad (weak and no energy), but I definitely had some serious health issues. Turned out I had ketoacidosis and some kidney issues. After a few days treatment, the keto was gone, kidneys were all better, and my blood sugar was back to normal. Now I had to survive the 'recovery'. As long as I was stuck in that hospital bed, though, I knew I wasn't going to get better. So now I'm home.

Have a nurse helping me, and physical therapy should start tomorrow. And now I have to play tag with a doctor's appointment again...

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all this is in case you, family or a friend should find yourself in a similar situation, you'll have a heads-up/warning about what's might be happening.


Now it's just recovery and rehab.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 308 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Mon 16 Jan 2023
at 07:53
  • msg #570

Re: The Seventh Magic

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 569):

My god!  I'm glad you got help.  That's some scary things.  Take care!
Tom Wolf
Player, 362 posts
Human Fighter
AC 2, HP 29
Mon 16 Jan 2023
at 10:59
  • msg #571

Re: The Seventh Magic

Glad you are ok.  Take care of yourself.
Mysterion
GM, 530 posts
Storyteller
Mon 30 Jan 2023
at 22:37
  • msg #572

Re: The Seventh Magic

Still here. As it turns out, seven days in a hospital bed really did a number on me, no doubt helped along by my age. Still tired most of the time, energy/stamina comes and goes. There are times when I get out of the recliner and only manage to take three steps before I have to sit down again. Other times, I can get up and zip around the house with the walker with no problem. So it seems like it's going to take me twice as long to recover as I was hoping/expecting it to.

Hoping to get back to my games in another day or two.
Mysterion
GM, 531 posts
Storyteller
Wed 22 Feb 2023
at 17:06
  • msg #573

Re: The Seventh Magic

More health issues. Been in hospital for past 11 days. Transitioning to rehab soon. Will update when I can.
Mysterion
GM, 532 posts
Storyteller
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 20:02
  • msg #574

Re: The Seventh Magic

So while I was stuck in the hospital bed for two weeks, I wrote and rewrote this post in my head several times. Don't remember any of it now, so here's the newest version.

THE NEVER-ENDING STORY...

The Missing Chapter: when I was discharged from the hospital back in January, I was sent home with a Foley catheter, which was more of an annoyance and handicap for my home rehab at the time. Managed to get an appointment with the VA  urologist two weeks later. He thought I should never have been sent home with it, but it was time to get it removed. Took a week of scheduling shuffles but finally went home without it on the following Thursday.

That Friday night when getting ready for bed, I lost my balance while setting something on the floor and fell over on my back onto the concrete floor. My housemate helped me get up and everything seemed fine once I was back out in the recliner. Nope. Come Saturday, I was in excruciating pain across all the muscles in my chest and back. Doan's, Aleve, Tylenol didn't help at all. Monday added a heating pad... better. Wednesday, switched to BenGay... better, but still couldn't sleep, so Thursday went back to the VA for some stronger pain meds.

That doctor saw the previous records and thought I might be having a pulmonary embolism and immediately did an ambulance transfer to the ER. 6 hours later the ER doctor decided that wasn't the case and sent me home with vicadin. Didn't do anything but pharmacy was closed so had to wait till the next day to get more.

After that, everything was fine for a few hours. Mid-afternoon, I suddenly couldn't move my legs!

EMT/PD shortly had me back in the ER. MRI of head and neck revealed a tumor in my C2 vertebra. Had spinal surgery next morning! Being the weekend, it took 4 days to get the pathology back which identified it as prostate cancer. Caught it early and getting chemo, and now in rehab to walk again.

Other than that, I'm in great health (for my age)! Probably 4-6 weeks in rehab before I go home.
Tom Wolf
Player, 363 posts
Human Fighter
AC 2, HP 29
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 20:08
  • msg #575

Re: The Seventh Magic

Take care of yourself.  Your health comes first for you.  We can wait patiently while you recover.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 309 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Sat 25 Feb 2023
at 07:59
  • msg #576

Re: The Seventh Magic

Tom Wolf:
Take care of yourself.  Your health comes first for you.  We can wait patiently while you recover.


Yeah, take care of yourself.  You're a lot more important than a game.
Mysterion
GM, 533 posts
Storyteller
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 17:51
  • msg #577

Re: The Seventh Magic

Apologies for no update but really didn't think there was one.

Still paraplegic trying to recover mobility at a poor rehab facility with bad nursing and half-horrible food until...

Developed a sore on my butt from laying in bed 24/7 that didn't get treated properly and turned gangrene, so now I'm back in the hospital with surgery scheduled for Tuesday.

Recovery to go home was still about a month away. Don't yet know how this new problem will affect that.

Low energy levels at rehab have left me with a one-track mind--just have trouble shifting gears between game systems right now.

My OCD stubbornness is still keeping me from pulling the plug on my games. I really have fun running games and it really bums me out that I can't keep them going right now for all of you. For those of you who are still sticking around waiting for the game to restart, I sincerely apologize for the delay. For those of you who have moved on, no hard feelings here--I completely understand.

Anyway, Happy Easter to everyone!
Tom Wolf
Player, 364 posts
Human Fighter
AC 2, HP 29
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 18:01
  • msg #578

Re: The Seventh Magic

Happy Easter. Take care of yourself.  No need to apologize for trying to get yourself well.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 310 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 22:04
  • msg #579

Re: The Seventh Magic

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 578):

Yeah, take care of yourself!

And, a belated Happy Easter to all.
Rodrigo
Player, 352 posts
Elf of Belcadiz
black leathers, sword
Wed 12 Apr 2023
at 16:07
  • msg #580

Re: The Seventh Magic

Take care of yourself. This is just a game. I am not bound to go anywhere.

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.
Mysterion
GM, 534 posts
Storyteller
Sun 7 May 2023
at 08:19
  • msg #581

Re: The Seventh Magic

Can't sleep, can't focus to post... turn. More of the same. Turn. Repeat.

STAGE MINUS ONE--SPINAL SURGERY: Hell, I don't even remember half of it. This would have been the spinal surgery to remove the tumor and put me on my back for two weeks. DONE. SUCCESS!

STAGE ZERO--REHAB ERROR: Weeks at rehab facility where inadequate and improper nursing care turned an ordinary bedsore into a far more serious gangrene wound... one that now needed surgery to fix. DONE? WAS THAT A SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

STAGE ONE--BACKSIDE SURGERY: Operation on my tailbone went off without a hitch apparently. Just left with a major wound on my tailbone. Couldn't/can't put pressure on the wound while it heals, thus laying on my side and having to get turned to the other side every two hours, necessitating having to learn to type on my laptop upside down and sideways with one finger. Remember, this is at the BETTER recovery/rehab facility rather than at home, so options are still limited. Did I mention the I-V dangling from my arm that also gets in the way? DONE. SUCCESS.

STAGE TWO--STAPLES/SUTURES REMOVAL: Staples and stitches still need to come out. Don't have a timeline for that yet but presumably soon.
___STAGE 2.1: First half of the staples were taken out Tuesday. On schedule, standard routine. DONE. SUCCESS.
___STAGE 2.2: Second half of staples were removed Friday. Again, right on schedule with no complications. DONE. SUCCESS.
___STAGE 2.3: Sutures are currently supposed to come out on Monday, though that probably depends on how the final healing has progressed, since not everyone will heal the same way. PENDING.

STAGE THREE--WOUND REHAB: sitting protocols start as soon as sutures come out (?). Start getting used to sitting up  again... in 15-minute intervals. No details yet on frequency or duration. Will kind of depend on how well I do, but further complicated by not  having any control of my leg muscles. Requires moving to a normal bed rather than this deluxe air bubbling mattress that's meant to stimulate skin/muscle do I don't get more bedsores.

STAGE FOUR--HOME REHAB: As soon as I can stand up on my own two legs, I should be able to go home for final rehab. Regain mobility. At this point, there's no telling how well the wound rehab and the paralysis rehab will work together. The therapist seemed to think they could make them work together in synergy, but I didn't get a whole lot of enthusiasm from him. I suppose it could be uncharted territory for him.


ON THE BRIGHT SIDE: I now qualify for Frequent Surgery Miles. I've had four surgeries so the fifth one is free! Oddly, I started with the Big One (double bypass heart surgery 15 years ago) and that went easier than these.

Still not sure if there's a light at  the end of the tunnel yet--if there is, hope it's the Battery Low indicator and not the Westbound #9 train!
Mysterion
GM, 535 posts
Storyteller
Wed 17 May 2023
at 13:08
  • msg #582

Re: The Seventh Magic

___STAGE 2.3: Sutures came out on Monday right on schedule, but the final healing is still in progress for several weeks/months. DONE. SUCCESS.

STAGE THREE--WOUND REHAB: sitting up for continued wound rehab protocols start as soon as sutures came out, about a week ago now. Start getting used to sitting up  again... in 15-minute intervals twice a day. Moved to a standard air mattress bed. Frequency and duration will kind of depend on how well I do, but further complicated by not having any control over my leg muscles and not enough feeling below the waist. Communication/responsibility issue has only produced one session--should have been six by now! PENDING???

___STAGE 3.5--RESUME PREVIOUS REHAB: In a week or two or three depending on how quickly I improve here, I get transferred to yet another Rehab facility for continued wound recovery... takes a long time... as well as mobility rehab.

___Stage 3.7--TRANSFER TO NEW REHAB: So the Wound Recovery has done well enough that I'm getting transferred to a different rehab facility for the Sitting/Mobility rehab. Don't know why there's a difference other than where I'm at is more medical than therapeutic so they need to make room for a new patient.

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: Different tunnel, different light. I suppose it's a step in the right direction, but we'll have to see how it goes.
Anneth Mage-Singer
Player, 311 posts
Human Dabbler Level 3
HP 13/13; AC 05
Wed 23 Aug 2023
at 04:00
  • msg #583

Re: The Seventh Magic

Hello, everyone, I learned today of StarMaster's passing.

Here is the thread, where a friend of his told us the news: link to a message in another game .

I share this information for any who, like me, might have been wondering what happened.  He will live on in my memory as one of the best Dungeon Masters that I have ever played under, always friendly and patient.  Rest well, StarMaster.
Rodrigo
Player, 353 posts
Elf of Belcadiz
black leathers, sword
Wed 30 Aug 2023
at 00:40
  • msg #584

Re: The Seventh Magic

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 583):

Yeah he was a great DM. He will be missed.
Mort
player, 242 posts
Mort the Minotaur 37hp
Rambling Ranger L3
Tue 7 Nov 2023
at 18:19
  • msg #585

Re: The Seventh Magic

yeah, been around long enough now, having friends and family passing is becoming more common.

Starmaster, I never got the privilege to play in one of his games.
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