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10:31, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Terra Incognito (OOCs)

Posted by SteamRollerFor group 0
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 487 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Fri 23 Dec 2022
at 02:05
  • msg #352

Getting Back To It...

As I said in another game, very sorry the GM has been so ill. I do hope he recovers and feels able to play more actively soon.
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 268 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Mon 9 Jan 2023
at 20:39
  • msg #353

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 352):

Hey Everybody!

Something that some of you may know about me is that the December to February time of year is when I send my Brain out for a good Washing.  And as so often happens, I then can't remember where I sent it, and it takes a month or two to find it again ... so that's where I've been.
(I.e., my Manic Cycle is at its yearly lowest, and I don't give a shit about nothing!)

But enough of my lies and excuses...


StarMaster went back into the hospital last Friday (01/06).  Over the last month -- after he'd been cleared of COVID by the Doctors -- he was still feeling weak and "out of it".  The weakness got slowly worse, and he also lost his appetite, just couldn't sleep well, and had difficulty focusing.

He finally managed to schedule a VA appointment to actually see a Doctor for next Friday -- so he needed to go to the VA to get bloodwork done this past Friday.

He was unsteady on his feet by then, so I drove him up to the VA for the bloodwork that morning -- we got home around Noon and about an hour later, his VA Doc calls up and orders him to get to an ER immediately!

The Doc said his A1C was way abouve 9.0.  That's no typo -- abouve 9 - point - 0!!

We rushed him immediately to the Hospital (assume Standard Hospital ER Nightmare) and finally got him admitted.

As of the time of this writing, if the Docs actually have any idea about the cause of what's happening, they ain't telling StarMaster...

Anyway, That's all I know.  I'll keep checking in with him, and if I learn anythi--Crap!  My Brain fell out from my ear again!

Now I gotta go chappabloomatonka...pllllllllllllltt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 488 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Tue 10 Jan 2023
at 02:24
  • msg #354

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 353):

As I said elsewhere, this is deeply disturbing, but I hope now our GM is actually in the hospital, he will get the help he needs.
Catherine Harston
player, 211 posts
Proper Young Lady
Tue 10 Jan 2023
at 06:43
  • msg #355

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 353):

Hugs all around!
GM SteamRoller
GM, 206 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Mon 16 Jan 2023
at 05:32
  • msg #356

Getting Back To It...

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.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 489 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Tue 17 Jan 2023
at 02:19
  • msg #357

Getting Back To It...

Very best wishes for recovery and rehab. This sounds like a horrible experience, but I am glad you have finally turned the corner.
GM SteamRoller
GM, 207 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Mon 30 Jan 2023
at 22:35
  • msg #358

Getting Back To It...

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.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 490 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Tue 31 Jan 2023
at 02:15
  • msg #359

Getting Back To It...

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 358):

Very sorry that your recovery is being so slow. My wife and I tend to lack energy too, but that is mostly old age, not COVID.
GM SteamRoller
GM, 208 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Tue 31 Jan 2023
at 02:25
  • msg #360

Getting Back To It...

Yeah, that, too. The tiredness is probably still a hangover from COVID, but the lack of stamina is all on the hospital stay. It's why they normally send  you to rehab. Since I had support at home and the VA would cover some home health care, I felt I'd be better off at home.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 491 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 03:04
  • msg #361

Getting Back To It...

If all goes as planned, I will be leaving early Saturday Feb.25 and arriving in Britain early Feb. 26, where I will be staying doing research until I return Mar.13. I am usually able to post to RPOL from the computers in the B&B where I regularly stay, but I do not expect to post Feb.25 or Mar.13.
Catherine Harston
player, 212 posts
Proper Young Lady
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 17:45
  • msg #362

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 361):

Neat! I hope the trip goes well!
GM SteamRoller
GM, 209 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 19:58
  • msg #363

Getting Back To It...

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.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 492 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Sun 26 Feb 2023
at 21:32
  • msg #364

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 362):

So far, I have reached London, but have done almost nothing yet but travel, eat and doze. I hope to go to the British Library tomorrow (Monday Feb.27) until about  8 p.m. and then check in again here sometime after 9 p.m. London Time.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 494 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Sun 12 Mar 2023
at 21:31
  • msg #365

Getting Back To It...

Tomorrow (Monday Mar.13) I expect to spend all day returning to my home in the US, arriving about midnight. I hope to be in shape to resume gaming Tuesday Mar.14
GM SteamRoller
GM, 211 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 17:35
  • msg #366

Getting Back To It...

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!
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 495 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Mon 10 Apr 2023
at 03:09
  • msg #367

Getting Back To It...

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 366):

As I said elsewhere, I am very sorry for the miserable RL situation and hope the hospital treats you better than the rehab. I would be glad to game on if your situation ever permits. I wish you a truly happy Easter and a better future.
Catherine Harston
player, 215 posts
Proper Young Lady
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 08:30
  • msg #368

Getting Back To It...

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 366):

Oh my goodness! I hope things get better!
GM SteamRoller
GM, 212 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Sun 7 May 2023
at 08:14
  • msg #369

Getting Back To It...

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!
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 496 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Mon 8 May 2023
at 02:12
  • msg #370

Getting Back To It...

Deepest sympathy. See my fuller response in our other game.
Catherine Harston
player, 216 posts
Proper Young Lady
Mon 8 May 2023
at 05:45
  • msg #371

Getting Back To It...

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 369):

Oooh, ouch. My aunt had a difficult recovery after a surgery earlier this year.
GM SteamRoller
GM, 213 posts
Gearhead
Machinesmith
Wed 17 May 2023
at 13:04
  • msg #372

Getting Back To It...

Sympathies for your aunt. Don't wish it on anyone.

___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.
Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 497 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Thu 18 May 2023
at 01:31
  • msg #373

Getting Back To It...

As I said elsewhere, very best wishes for your continued recovery.
Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett
player, 269 posts
Navy Commander (Ret)
Wandering Explorer
Thu 6 Jul 2023
at 23:16
  • msg #374

Getting Back To It...


Fellow Human Beings ... Fellow Gamers ... Friends ...

It is with a saddened heart that I inform you all of the passing of Robert Rusk -- better known to many of us as StarMaster.

Rob passed in his sleep on Thursday morning, July 6, 2023, at approximately 10:30am.  He had been hospitalized since early in the year due to complications concerning Cancer & associated surgeries.  He was 73 years old.

Rob was a Comics Fan Boy & fiction writer wannabe his whole life and came to Roleplaying in the Early Days of 1978.  It was my distinct pleasure to have met him, and gamed with him, since that time.

After his Retirement, Rob committed himself to the community he found in RPol, participating in over 20+ games, here.  He was an especial "softie" for GM-adopting abandoned games and working to keep them running, for the enjoyment of the Players.

He will be missed.

Grimsby H. Baskerville
player, 498 posts
A Colonial agent knowing
Mars past and present
Fri 7 Jul 2023
at 01:15
  • msg #375

Getting Back To It...

In reply to Joseph Rudyard Hunnisett (msg # 374):

Very sorry to learn of this loss to the RPOL/sf/gaming community. I am of much the same generation that Robert was, being 73 years old and coming to role-playing gaming in 1976.
At this point, it is always a great loss when another of the old-timers goes.
Catherine Harston
player, 217 posts
Proper Young Lady
Sat 8 Jul 2023
at 07:47
  • msg #376

Getting Back To It...

Very sad, I am terribly sorry to hear it.
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