h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm not one to beat about the bush with regards reality, (despite getting a tad spiritual of late..some call that denial ).

But hey the first day of spring after weeks of cold and rain..(I missed the so called summer in winter..as I was in hospital, fencing with grim reaper)..and it is poignant.

And I managed to spend the morning in the House of Death. Well that's my OTT name for it. Lots of people look like skeletons..another lot well over weight. I'm feeling full of life and decidedly alienated. The place has a pall.

A mass of info is given and more bloody scans and an EEG. My heart is tip top they tell me. I could have told them that.

6 months of misery will begin on Thursday..and I'm not supposed to fight the tiredness. I am advised to wear oven gloves to get things out the fridge. Cold will cause pain. Stay out the sun as much as possible..and don't forget to wrap the PICC line inserted in cling film..getting it wet is dangerous..Various phone numbers are given for emergencies.

It simply isn't me..all this..but apparently it is.

It'll be 5 hours stuck in that place on Thursday whilst they drip strong poison into me...then tablets everyday to go with the tablets I take to keep the madnes at bay The PICC line goes through the vein and finishes above the heart Poisoned heart?

I'm practising my gallows humour but I've a heart full of anger about it all. Rage..oh yes.

Some wild flowers in the garden. Spring is sprung.

http://gallery.me.com/flyingants#100834

All the very best of luck , Effers.


I'm sure you'll pull through, and be better for it!



Jabs

Jabs, I'm *not* looking for sympathy, but thanks for the good wishes; you've a good heart.

Effers, sorry to hear that you are undergoing that medical treatment--it sounds really awful. I really loved your photos of the wildflowers, you are trully an artist.

On the silliness of materialism in medical science I can offer several items from Salon.com that call that sort of nonsense into question quite readily:

NDE -explained
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/21/near_death_explained/singleton/


Rebuttal:
http://www.salon.com/2012/04/29/near_death_revisited/?source=newsletter

The author seems to be a reputable neurologist.

Hi Elektra,

Yes it does sound awful, and I'm consumed with fear about it. I just don't know how bad the effects will be..but I opted for the strongest stuff. And I'm consumed with dread all the time about a horrible death..and I have to see dying people everytime I go to that place.

I don't like my reactions much. Before I was upset for people..too much..now I put up a big barrier and wish they'd just disappear...my emotions are in turmoil.

It helps to post here how it is...it's absolutely horrible in every way.

And its changed my outlook on not suppressing parts of myself to do with things that give *meaning* to my life.

I shall post more in response to your links about such experiences giving *meaning* to people's lives, and that should be *respected*. PZ Myers is a cultural thug.

I need to learn from something I posted elsewhere here today.

An unexpected twist in life. There'll be people to meet in the chemo place...new experiences.

See what their perspective is.

Off in a bit..armed with Anne Bronte's Tennant of Wildfell Hall and R. D. Laing's The politics of Experience.

Both read before...but good to take old friends with you on a scary journey.

Thank god for Anne Bronte. Laing was a poor choice...far too depressing. Strong intelligent fascinating main woman character, the landscape of the Yorkshire moors..an underlying wit underlying the bleak bits..and controversial. Best Bronte novel IMO. It was perfect for the chemo place. Optimism and a lightness of touch - a good friend indeed.

The nurses there aren't a patch on the King's ones..too bubbly somehow and the Macmillan one is annoying in that she will rush up to me stare intently into my eyes and grab my hand and ask if I'm okay? can she ring me next week? I say no....

I like my women intelligent and humorous and a bit reserved with maybe a giveaway twinkle in the eye then you can flirt a bit..

Mostly men in my area. Wouldn't talk properly about what we were doing and the reality of it..just banter and trying to outdo one another.

And it was all a bit scifi. Sitting around on these big reclining chairs with stuff being pumped into you for hours.

Heck it wasn't so bad in the end..though I was nearly grizzling at the start. Sandwiches, biscuits and tea and coffee brought round..and really they are *very* friendly there.

Side effects are already hitting. They said cold would be a problem causing painful pins and needles. When they said anything cold..including England at present..they meant anything that isn't strictly warm and cosy. But I won't moan on...And I've a ton of tablets to take blah blah...

And mother is due to arrive any minute.

Hurray for Anne Bronte - that was a really weird family to start with and being out in the middle of the Yorkshire moors didn't really help. with your mother, after weathering the infusion you should be brave enough to cope with her unless she is a . Hopefully the pills will help and turn the thermostat up.

hi Effers

please excuse the intrusion, i arrived here courtesy of an old QOTD of yours


the world is an old place for us** - and the indigenous folk of the Antipodes seem to have a better handle on that than most

on any journey, i feel it's as important to know where you've come from as it is to know where you're going - a sort of spiritual 'Intro & Outro'***


regarding health matters, thank you for sharing with us something so personal and significant in your life at the moment; i hope that your future path leads you back towards a fulfilling journey - i've heard that attitude is everything

i hope to read your contribution(s?) to the Post when you feel ready
a-l-s


** but barely a nipper for the Universe

*** which i see you've linked above - one of the few vinyl singles i ever bought - and still own

I'm glad you had Anne with you. I've always liked her and her sisters better than that Austen woman.

I'm spending an awful lot of time out doing medical stuff lately, too. The doctors aren't sticking stuff into me, however, and the stuff's certainly not as severe as what you're putting up with.

Pile on the blankets!

Thank you. Welcome to my journal, AlwaysLunchtimeSomewhere. I loved your post. And the 'intro and the outro' connection is good.

Hi anhaga...regards to your daughter..she's in my thoughts. I feel comradeship with all that struggle with health..although I have always had problems with mental health..I took my physical health for granted though.

Yes its tough.

More from Anne Bronte. I marked this from her preface yesterday.

'Let it not be imagined, however, that I consider myself competent to reform the errors and abuses of society, but only that I would fain contribute my humble quota towards so good an aim, and if I can gain the public ear at all, I would rather whisper a few wholesome truths therein than much soft nonsense.'

Fain is a lovely word isn't it? And the last bit really appeals

**

Yeah look out for my article in the Post next week..I'm pleased with it. I need some way to channel my creativity at present. Always come back to writing - it was the first way.