Atropa, a friend just had her hip replaced after years of annoying failed attempts to get back/hip pain addressed and she is doing awesome! Obviously, joint replacement is a major operation and the recovery period is no joke but it can be life changing.

I can't fucking wait to get my hip replaced.

Which horror movie?

Obsession.

She had a vasovagal response which is pretty common in teens.

"A vasovagal episode (or vasovagal syncope) is the most common cause of fainting. It occurs when your body overreacts to a trigger, causing a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. This reduces blood flow to your brain, leading to brief, temporary unconsciousness.

Common Triggers
Episodes are typically set off by certain physical or emotional stressors.
Frequent triggers include:

Prolonged standing
Heat exposure or being in a stuffy room
The sight of blood or having blood drawn
Sudden fear, severe pain, or emotional distress
Straining (such as during a bowel movement or coughing)"

She's got four staples in her head now, and she found that process to be upsetting.

Oh, poor noggin'! Yikes on the staples. I wouldn't be pleased either.

I fainted a few times as a teen. I always knew when it was going to happen so mostly just sat down woozy. I only remember 2 clearly. One was on a first date waiting in line for a movie. I told the dude a couple times I needed to sit because I was going to faint, but he didn't believe me. That relationship didn't last. Then I told a gym teacher in no uncertain terms that if she made me do a handstand I would faint, and yeah, they took me out of the gym on a stretcher. Didn't really want to be right, and yet.

Big news... I found out that EQ wants me to write a blog post about the story that will be coming out for the next issue.I'm excited about doing it, even though maybe the old one about the rare book had, you know, a less-expected backstory. Kevin from publishing still hasn't clocked that I'm a disabled person or he wouldn't be all "SO sorry we can't pay again," People tend to think we are like Keebler elves without the hollow tree in general. I could get used to being treated like a pro, but maybe I shouldn't. But my personal blog has maybe one post in reader triple-figures...the readership potential is exciting for me, even if it means I can't end with "Fuck that guy," *quite* so much. And with so many guys to say it of. Not gonna do a *process* post because inspiration struck most recently while I was heaving.(Although part of me thinks that would be like when that couple from "The Corner" turned up in Vows...subversion, if not demystification. I loved that article.)

honey-nut cheerios(just cause they're Omar's fave...I had "no honeynut" as a password for a minute) Don't doubt that getting one's head stapled would be a little upsetting.

I passed out a couple of times as a teen from standing up too fast. No injuries, but my parents laughed at me. (Mom being an ER nurse, she knew it wasn't anything to fret about.)

I also scared myself into a faint in 2016, which gave me that whole summer of medical testing, being over 40 when it happened and all! Good times.

The appointment with the previous doctor, the one who referred me to today's person, was in March. That was a consultation. Today's appointment is another consultation. Look, people, you have all my goddamn MRIs, why can't you give me some sort of treatment *today*?

"Have you tried PT? Oh you have multiple times, and it didn't help? Here, have another prescription for PT. Oh goodness, no, I don't want to give you steroid injections, they could be dangerous, but I'll prescribe a course of oral steroids. Oh, the times you've been on steroids for other issues it didn't help your back pain? Well, try them again. Pain management? Hmmm, just keep taking Tylenol. And a different version of the gabapentin you take for sleep and anxiety. You're on Wegovy? Good, maybe losing weight will help."

I'm pretty sure I'm running into the fat women who claim to be in pain are overreacting bias, because this doctor really didn't want to listen to me. Or to Mr. Loomycakes, who was there as my backup.

Time to do some research into other possible back specialists in the area.

Fuck, Atropa. Wish you could come see my back people. They’ve been all about giving me shots.

Ugh, Atropa!

Huh, apparently FB is down.

I'm sorry you are dealing with this, Atropa. You really need a different provider. My ortho and my PCP are both awesome. You need someone who hears you.