Health Issues.

TLDR: Nothing's urgent, but I'm not doing all too fine these days 😅

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Soooo hey, everyone. Writing this to sort of explain a few things that I feel have affected my productivity over the last 2-3 months. I don't usually like to talk personally about my general health because I always feel very awkward doing so. There's always a bit of "am I just an attention whore right now" echoing in my head whenever I do.

To start with, my health is not in any urgent danger or so. At least neither I or the doctors think so considering the tests we've run. But here's the deal.

For the last two months plus change, I've been suffering from mild to slightly severe dizziness on an almost constant daily basis. Sometimes the dizziness is manageable, and sometimes it's borderline impossible to work with. And dizziness isn't the only thing that's been affecting me, over the last 2 months, and quite likely all the way to January, I've been getting progressively more lethargic and I've noticed that I've had lapses in my memory since at least 2 months ago.

Kinda explains why I've forgotten to write up the polls and post the winner announcements on the regular, huh? 😅

Like I said though, we're not sure what this is caused by. Or specifically we're not sure what the instigating cause is because the reason it feels like I've just downed a bottle of wine every morning is likely because I'm anemic, meaning I have fewer red blood cells than normal, and my blood pressure is quite low. For the last 6-7 months I've been DYI-ing hormone replacement therapy with estradiol patches and cyproterone acetate, given to me by my gf and her gf.

One of the more rare side effects of cyproterone is internal bleeding.

I've been doing blood work every two months for the last six months, and every single one has shown that my hemoglobin levels have been consistently low. The latest one also showed low erythrocyte levels which is another indicator for internal bleeding.

We're still not sure though because I did a colonoscopy about three weeks ago and the surgeon did not find anything... Although he called me last week to admit that he missed a fold near the end of the examination. So maybe that's where the culprit is after all? In any case we agreed to schedule me for another examination in three weeks.

Yesterday I also met my new doctor at a different practice than the one I've been going to for the last 8 or so years. The less we say about my old one the better, but let's just say that they've been dismissive and unconcerned with almost all of my issues for years.

The new doc was absolutely wonderful though. We agreed to put a stop on my DYI-ing, something I was more willing to do with him because he never gatekept his concern or care behind a demand to stop DYI-ing, like my old doctor did. And we agreed on more exercise to bring up my low blood pressure, as well as some physical therapy for my neck, because apparently neck stiffness can cause dizziness too.

Considering that I work in front of a computer all day long, there may be something to that.

Now the reason I'm writing this is not to beg for sympathy or anything. The world sucks right now for a lot of people and all things considered, I'm doing fine. Things could be better, I really wish I could have more energy for commissions and other projects like My Dear Dragon and just random OC art... But I just don't have that these days.

So this more of an explanation for my lower and slower output as well as a thanks. A big thanks to you all for helping me pay the bills every month 💚

It really does mean a lot to me that you let me have an income that is at least stable enough that I'm not going in the red every month. I really just wish I could do more, but for the moment the most important thing I can do is try to deal with my health issues to the best of my abilities.

So less HRT (sadly), more exercise (logically), physical therapy and an upcoming colonoscopy. And if you have them to spare, some good vibes please 💚💚💚

Thanks for reading 💚