Just wondering what health-related challenges people are dealing with this November. I thought this might be a good place to commiserate, share tips, etc. I've got ongoing back issues (had surgery on a ruptured disc a few years ago, and the pain always seems to flare up around this time of year!), and I also have lupus (though, fortunately, that's been in remission for a good long while).
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52,427 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2008 - 09 15
Hi Heather
Oh, there's several of us in the 50's forum! LOL! And I think there are others out there in other forums. I have RA and neuropathic pain (the pain doctor said this is a replacement for the F word (fibromyalgia) because insurance companies don't like that). Well, I guess it fits so I'm good with it.
I had a cervical block on Wednesday and it's pretty much taken the wind out of my sails. Last night was terrible pain. So, pain is a huge challenge this week. I am hoping to be better by next Saturday.
Good luck. If you're looking for a buddy with pain issues, add me and send me a note. I'd be happy to have you riding along on this rollercoaster.
Dixie
----------Dixiegirl
"May you be captured by a dozen ideas that you quickly convert to a good story."
2008:
50,221 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2008 - 21 43
I was in a car accident at the beginning of this year and dislocated one of my vertebrae. Which isn't quite as bad as it sounds, because it was actually turned slightly, but it was enough to hurt horrendously. Even though the doctor was able to manipulate it back, it seems like it may have left a lasting impression, and I occasionally get bad days where I can't sit up for more than an hour at a time before I have to lie down and take the pressure off my back. I'm hoping this won't happen during NaNo, but my back seems to have a mind of its own sometimes.
----------Cthulhu '08. Why vote for the lesser of two evils?
61,642 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2008 - 21 53
This is not a Nano-only thing, but I have ongoing minor kidney issues, and am missing the fingertips on my right hand (infantile blood clot; haven't had a full hand since I was five months old)--I type really quite fast, as I was raised typing/playing piano, and worked as a secretary for a while, but I cannot handwrite beyond scrawling like a hapless kindergartener, which makes note-taking kind of difficult in the absence of a laptop. (Django Reinhardt's deformed hand is a relatively good visual reference if you are curious, since he burned the same fingers on his hand that are most affected by the clot on mine.)
I'm not sure what tips I can give as it's not really a tip-driven issue, but I've found that taking my laptop everywhere means I get writing done. That's a truism, however. Oh well!
----------9,182 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 07 33
I suffer from depression and anxiety, but writing has always helped me with that. I'm also on medication now, so things have been fairly decent lately. Hopefully, I won't have any panic attacks when I start getting close to deadlines!
----------Christina
a.k.a. Rita Margarita
2005: Untitled Project - Young Adult Fiction - Lost
2006: Forbidden - Fantasy/Romance - Won
2007: 2030 - Sci-Fi/Fanfiction - Won
2008: Her Victory - Chick Lit - Hopeful
50,010 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 09 52
I know I'm not the only one with this problem, but I've got this on-going thing with anemia! Which isn't so bad aside from being colder than usual and getting fatigued more easily. I'm supposed to take medicine for it, so really I have only myself to blame...
Similarly, as with last year, I almost ALWAYS get bronchitis as the weather changes. So I look forward to the cough-while-typing strategy! Best of luck to you all!
51,395 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 11 45
This year, I'm hoping to put off shoulder surgery until after November. I apparently have a torn rotator cuff, and will require repair surgery soon. I acquired this injury NOT through the venerable sport of baseball, but through a mishap while in the hospital having a hysterectomy in June. I'm a big woman, and apparently, when they were moving me from the operating room to recovery, my arm was, uh, yanked. Or something.
I've heard that if I have this surgery, it means I get to have my arm lashed to my chest for quite some time. This is not really conducive to good writing, ergo, my wanting to put it off until December.
We'll see.
----------"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." ~E.L. Doctorow
Visit the NanoWriter's group!
Celestial Chicken Blog
12,291 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 12 03
I'm currently struggling with Hashimoto's disease, which is a thyroid disease where the thyroid self-destructs. So I've got all the lovely effects of hormonal imbalance - mood swings, appetite changes, sleep schedule changes. I've got it mostly under control with thyroid supplements and lots of vitamins, but like any disease no treatment is fool-proof.
63,764 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 14 08
*raises hand* i'm nanoing while hooked up to a heart montior. I developed an arrythmia about mid-october and had an ekg, echochardiogram and full bloodwork done to diagnose it, while i wait for my results on the 17th of november, i'll be nanoing, trusty heart monitor at my hip and trying to type through the erratic heart beats and chest-pressures. If nano doesn't actually kill me this year, it shall make me stronger.
----------2006- "Beauteous Beast" Nano Winner- Published
2007- "The Beast Undone" (Part I) Nano winner - Pending Publish
2008- "The Beast Undone" (Part 2)
5,726 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 14 27
Well, I guess it's a heath issue but even though it affects every part of my life I usually find ways to get around it and usually I don't even think about it. With NaNoWriMo, I don't know how things will go... I remember my most hectic HS days were torture (I was tired and in pain) but I hope that since I can control everything about NaNo except when it starts and ends and the word count, I might fair better.
I have cerebral palsy and it affects all of my muscles to some degree (some more than others) from eye muscles to my toes. The changing weather also exacerbates this, cold weather is not my friend!
Anyway, it makes it virtually impossible to write by hand without major pain, to sit for more than an hour (without having to move to either laying down or standing) and I've never attempted so many writing days in row before, I just hope my eyes will keep up with me (when I get tired, I lose my ability to focus my eyes and follow text.)
I bought myself an AlphaSmart 3000 so that I'll have a way to write whenever and wherever but my right shoulder is starting to hurt already (I only type with two fingers on my right hand but it every bit helps when you're looking at a task of 50,000 words.) so we'll see.
It's possible that I might come out of this with 50,000 words and 50,000 kinds of pain but it will be worth it :)
And to the poster who mentioned anxiety and deadlines... count me in!! I was on my way to having a panic attack last night because I didn't have a plot yet... I can't imagine what it's going to be like when it's 11:50 pm every night and I haven't reached 1,667! Eek!
52,143 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 15 19
I'm currently dealing with this as well, and still working to get my doses correct. I find that my biggest obstacle is fatigue - there are times when I am just too tired to even hold my head up. Hopefully some of this will begin to improve and won't be too much of a hindrance to my NaNo-ing.
----------(if you ask me where my own home is, the only answer I can give is that it's not a place but words. I live in words and words are where I belong.)
106,888 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 18 48
Um, would a cold count? lol. Actually, I'll be going through NaNo with my Mom for the first time and she has weird kind of chronic foot pain. Not sure what the exact name/diagnosis is, but it'll be an adventure this coming month.
----------___________________________________
Want to know what I write? Go ahead....click....
www.fictionfusion.blogspot.com
61,642 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 19 44
Mich8283: Have you looked into speech-to-text programs? I don't know if that breaks the rules for Nano, but given the situation, I can't imagine that it would. I know Vista comes with a s-2-t program, though I haven't tried it yet. The one that the school where I teach at uses is Dragon: Naturally Speaking (I think is the name; it's close to that anyway)--you may find it helpful.
----------50,515 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2008 - 21 33
Back pain (sciatica, mostly), very active lupus (just had a major flare that made me miserable!), hypothyroidism.
----------17,103 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2008 - 09 32
Wow, I can relate to that! I hope you feel better.
5,726 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2008 - 20 15
Thanks :) I have a Mac or I would probably jump on that bandwagon at this point. I tried other speech recognition software for Macs and it just didn't work out... I think I used a program called iListen. I'm just going to have at it until I run out of steam. As long as my brain keeps thinking of story I'll get there eventually. (I'm ok with not officially finishing as long as I don't quit until I'm done.)
50,106 / 50,000
Nov 9, 2008 - 18 46
For pretty much all of Week One, my sister was sick, and since my mom has CFS and my little brother's not really capable of taking care of everything yet, that left most of the housework to me. Surprisingly, I got through it with flying colors, getting my word count up on the 6th.
Then Week Two comes, and what happens? I get the cold. I have almost completely ground to a standstill, but I've been making myself tick out some material. That way I won't be quite so far behind when catch-up time comes.
----------59,085 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 02 49
I have hypothyroidism which is poorly controlled as I am one of the few who don't respond to artificial supplements very well. I can't afford Armour, though I was better when I could. I've suffered from depression (probably linked) since I was a child.
I am also awaiting a CT scan as I am in a lot of pain (abdominal) following major surgery three years ago, which led to rampant surgical adhesions, and then major surgery five months ago (to deal with those adhesions and remove my remaining ovary) which went horribly wrong and has left me in quite a state. I can't really work, but I can do this to help me stay sane.
I'd like to think I can make 50K in a month, but quite possibly not. What matters for me is that I have found a way to shut out my fears about what might be wrong with me and how much more surgery I am am going to need.
And believe me, I am truly grateful for that!
Cat x
50,105 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 04 11
I have severe migraines - 8 a month! and also chronic daily headaches. I've been in constant pain for the last five years. I also have Graves disease (overactive thyroid gland), thyroid eye disease and RSI. Still, mustn't grumble. I'm actually not feeling too bad this month and the two days so far when I've had migraines I've still managed to get a few words done. It helps that I get phonophobia rather that photophobia and I'm writing in a notepad rather than on my laptop.
Good luck to everyone else nanoing with complications : )
Have fun - Cyran
50,037 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 04 35
I've got ongoing issues with my joints, still waiting on a proper diagnosis other than "Not-Arthritis" that should be fine provided I remember to keep with regular breaks rather than attempt an all-nighter writing or typing. Anything else is (allergies, sinus issues etc) is stuff I'm usually used to living (and writing) with so none of it should be abother. Although I think I'm coming down with something that might actually be flu, judging by the way my brain feels like wool- but I'm away from writing anyway after today till Thurday for I'm out of town in a play (I know, what a great time to have a sore throat and a thick head!) but hopefully I'll get over the worst quick enough that this won't stop me either. I've attended lectures with the flu, surely I can do a commute and a little play and write a novel whilst similarly sleepy?
50,184 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 04 46
I have ME/CFS - on the plus side it does mean I have way too much time on my hands to write *wry grin*
----------~ Auntie Doris Akela Morag Flootach Zovut Araneliën Guru FYAP~
♪♫ ~ Honorary Cat Status ~ ♪♫
я обиделась
~ שלום ~ ღ ~ سلام ~
80,927 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 07 26
Friday afternoon I got the typical 'brain overload' feeling and headache that I usually get when I've been stressed and busy. Now normally I'd have to go and just sleep for a long while, give my head and body some rest, and then I'm fine.
But nooooo, I felt it was necessary to stay up till half past three at night, writing, reading, doing other stuff. Saturday was bad and I was still stressed and pushed myself to do stuff. I spent the whole Sunday playing Twilight Imperium with friends (because that's a board game that lasts 8-10 hours) and only got home just before midnight.
So now it's Monday, I've written barely anything from Friday till now, and I don't see anything happening today either. I'm glad I'm way ahead of schedule, but I really wanted to try and finish the 50 000 this week or by next weekend. Not gonna happen this way... :(
65,037 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 09 35
This is me as well, although my migraines are unpredictable. I can go without them for months, or I can spend the entire month with one big migraine. I had one near migraine that I managed to chase away by taking a nap but otherwise it's pretty much stayed away so I'm crossing my fingers and being hopeful. However, I do get the daily headaches and I have problems where my vision deteriorates, so I've spent a few days writing with my eyes closed.
50,300 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 09 43
Wow. I feel so bad for some of you guys! I was going to post about my feet - nar the end of October, I got severe blisters on the bottom of my feet, which make walking around quite difficult. I popped them (Which I've never done before, so I must say it was quite fun), but they're starting to hurt again. This only helps me, however, as it gives me more excuse to sit in one place and type for long periods of time. However, when I run our of Chocolate Chips, I can't leave to go get some more.
I hope you all do well on NaNoWriMo, even with all your troubles! My pain feel insignificant now. Good luck!
----------||Thinking is free - do more of it.||
50,113 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 10 51
Some of my old health issues have flared up again. I've had to deal with Repetitive Strain in both my wrists. It hasn't flared up for a while, but NaNo is making it worse. So far it hasn't prevented any writing, but it usually happens right after I finish up for the night. I'm trying to keep an eye on it, as it is ridiculously had to type with a wrist brace on.
Other chronic issues include depression, anxiety, bronchitis and an ear infection that is refusing to go away.
So yeah, it's mostly just a bunch of minor things all stacked on top of each other. Such fun. >_<
----------"She blinded me with mad science!... no, seriously, bitch stole my eyes."
50,358 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 11 35
Similarly, as with last year, I almost ALWAYS get bronchitis as the weather changes. So I look forward to the cough-while-typing strategy! Best of luck to you all!
Another anemic! I have to take iron supplements and eat red meet a lot. I don't like my supplements because they hurt my tummy. So I counter the fatigue with coffee which is fun. My left deltoid I want to say (the muscle that attatches to my shoulder to neck) gets soooo sore from sitting at the computer, love my alphasmart though.
Oh! And while I can't top anyone with this it's pretty dang awesome: I just moved to WA and am freezing. So I was wearing my fingerless wool gloves,wool socks, and my wool jacket. Noticed my hands were getting itchy and bloated, and chocked it up to PMS (because it's a nice way to kick off nano right?). For 2 days my hands and feet were itchy and swelling and so sore I could barely type. I was freaking thinking I had severe arthitis at 27 years old. Noticed my thighs covered in hives. I found out I'm now allergic to wool and felt. That's awesome! Especially because I love knitting with wool and my whole closet if filled with balls of wool yarn.
54,354 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 11 57
...I have mono.
And am in college. :(
The End.
LOL.
----------89,166 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 14 03
Mine is nothing serious, just annoying.
I have a fever and it has been here for three days! I really want to get to 100k :-(
----------==========================================================
You are born to die, but not before fulfilling your destiny.
It's not who you are, but what you do that defines you.
Blood Forsaken ISBN: 1434898962 at www.stardavies.com
Divica Press: www.divicapress.com
56,924 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 14 41
Since I was six I've had a tumor on my spine intertwined with my nerves which causes scoliosis and recently my back pain has been flaring up. I also have the normal headaches/migraines and such. I have a TENS unit (transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator), which sends electric charge into the muscles to help relax them. It's not that expensive to buy - up to $100 - and it gives me temporary relief. Ibuprofin works, but with the medicine I'm on now I'm only allowed to take tylenol. So recently I've been using my mom's laptop and sitting in bed to write or taking breaks between writing.
----------"Are you ready to enter the darkness?"
HOWL - Book One, into a script.
27,759 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 14 54
I have bipolar disorder and unfortunately this month has caught me in a bit of a depression. So my creativity is not exactly at its best :( In fact it's downright nonexistent. I'm trying to fight through the brain mud though.
6,626 / 50,000
Nov 10, 2008 - 15 00
About two years ago (almost to the day at this point) I slipped on some ice going down the stairs off my porch and slammed on my right side near my rear pretty hard. I ended up pinching the sciatic nerve really badly and have had leg problems ever since (I think walking the entire day would be the only way for me not to experience some sort of discomfort from it, but then my back probably wouldn't be very happy). So sitting and typing is something close to torture for me, I really wish I had a laptop so I could learn how to type while laying down, since I'm a little more comfortable that way.
Funny thing is, my grandmother has a problem with her sciatic too, now all we need to do is wait for something to happen to my mother so we can all be a family of ninnies that can't sit for more than thirty minutes at a time without complaining.