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12:32, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Bottomless Mug (OOCs)

Posted by DMFor group 0
GM StarMaster
GM, 152 posts
Thu 22 Dec 2022
at 17:21
  • msg #927

Re: OOC Thread

 
 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  
 

Lowrra
player, 226 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Thu 22 Dec 2022
at 22:03
  • msg #928

Re: OOC Thread

Merry Christmas,  Starmaster!  And don't worry,  this holiday season is taking its toll on everyone
Brankx
player, 196 posts
Dwarf rogue/sorcorer
Ac: 16. Hp: 8
Fri 23 Dec 2022
at 09:36
  • msg #929

Re: OOC Thread

no apologies...with covid and christmas, we all need a break
GM StarMaster
GM, 153 posts
Mon 16 Jan 2023
at 05:39
  • msg #930

Re: OOC Thread

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.
Lowrra
player, 227 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Tue 17 Jan 2023
at 00:30
  • msg #931

Re: OOC Thread

That definitely sounds traumatizing, my friend.    I'm glad you see you're doing better
Gora
player, 275 posts
We are our own Masters
Till the Gods take a Hand
Tue 17 Jan 2023
at 01:15
  • msg #932

Re: OOC Thread

In reply to GM StarMaster (msg # 930):
mirroring Lowrra's concern GM so glad your safe and hope your condition continues to improve
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Tue 17 Jan 2023.
Brankx
player, 197 posts
Dwarf rogue/sorcorer
Ac: 16. Hp: 8
Thu 19 Jan 2023
at 11:41
  • msg #933

Re: OOC Thread

As a nurse myself, it’s good to hear your home and on the mend, and like the others, we are glad your ok
GM StarMaster
GM, 154 posts
Wed 22 Feb 2023
at 17:05
  • msg #934

Re: OOC Thread

More health issues. Been in hospital for past 11 days. Transitioning to rehab soon. Will update when I can.
Lowrra
player, 230 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Wed 22 Feb 2023
at 17:36
  • msg #935

Re: OOC Thread

Please take care of yourself,  my friend
Brankx
player, 201 posts
Dwarf rogue/sorcorer
Ac: 16. Hp: 8
Wed 22 Feb 2023
at 22:41
  • msg #936

Re: OOC Thread

No rush....your health is first
GM StarMaster
GM, 155 posts
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 20:02
  • msg #937

Re: OOC Thread

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.
Lowrra
player, 231 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Fri 24 Feb 2023
at 23:51
  • msg #938

Re: OOC Thread

I'm so sorry for this drama, my friend.   You definitely deserved better
Please keep us in the loop
GM StarMaster
GM, 157 posts
Sat 25 Feb 2023
at 00:23
  • msg #939

Re: OOC Thread

Thanks for all the well-wishes. Sometimes a RL absence isn't as simple as it seems.
GM StarMaster
GM, 160 posts
Wizard of Space/Time
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 17:15
  • msg #940

Re: OOC Thread

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!
Lowrra
player, 234 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 20:53
  • msg #941

Re: OOC Thread

I'm so sorry to hear about your health issues.  Many of us are struggling with our own, goodness knows, so I know we can definitely have sympathy for yours.
I love this character and this game, so I don't mind waiting for you.  Take care of yourself and take your time.
Gora
player, 280 posts
We are our own Masters
Till the Gods take a Hand
Sun 9 Apr 2023
at 21:15
  • msg #942

Re: OOC Thread

as a dual amputee! I can relate so well to your situation.  One big difference I think I will have over you is... I love public hospital food:).  I just don't understand how people can put it down so much.

but I digress

Like Lady Lowrra, Gora is happy to wait for your return.
Larmiun Dol'Uten
player, 81 posts
Tue 11 Apr 2023
at 14:58
  • msg #943

Re: OOC Thread

Hope the best for you, Starmaster. Take care.
GM StarMaster
GM, 161 posts
Wizard of Space/Time
Sun 7 May 2023
at 08:05
  • msg #944

Re: OOC Thread

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!
Lowrra
player, 235 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Sun 7 May 2023
at 19:17
  • msg #945

Re: OOC Thread

I've had my own harrowing takes of surgery and rehab, but this is definitely a traumatic read.
I'm so happy that you're recovering, even if it's not as well as you wish.
We're here whenever you want to vent or just chat.   And we'll be here whenever you're ready for more gaming.
Until then, please take care of yourself my friend
We're all rooting for you
GM StarMaster
GM, 162 posts
Wizard of Space/Time
Wed 17 May 2023
at 12:53
  • msg #946

Re: OOC Thread

___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.
Lowrra
player, 236 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Wed 17 May 2023
at 17:15
  • msg #947

Re: OOC Thread

We're very happy for the progress you've made so far. :)
D'M Bones
GM, 572 posts
From Beyond the Grave
Wed 9 Aug 2023
at 21:18
  • msg #948

Re: OOC Thread

GM StarMaster:
___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.

hope you are okay my own surgeries have taken so long
Lowrra
player, 237 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Wed 9 Aug 2023
at 21:23
  • msg #949

Re: OOC Thread

In reply to D'M Bones (msg # 948):

Sadly, he's not okay, I'm afraid.    I heard in another game that he passed away
D'M Bones
GM, 573 posts
From Beyond the Grave
Sat 26 Aug 2023
at 04:34
  • msg #950

Re: OOC Thread

Oh I'm very sorry to hear that :(
Lowrra
player, 238 posts
Wood Elf Druid/Monk
HP 9/3 AC 18
Sat 26 Aug 2023
at 05:24
  • msg #951

Re: OOC Thread

Yes, i had thought he was getting better.
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