text: Disability, Sickness, Socialization and Isolation – PattysWorld
  No Comments-Posted in Authors They're Only Human, Health World-by Patty Fletcher
  I wrote this yesterday but due to a lot of things going on in my world I didn't manage to get it posted.
  Anyhow, in case I don't get back this way again today, happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate.
  Or as a friend called out to me earlier, "Happy Gratitude Day."
  Personally, I like "Gratitude Day better for it is all inclusive.
  Whatever you call it, make certain to be grateful for all things. For it can surely change your life.
  Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. Here, I'm better than I was but not where I want to be in my healing.
  I went to the doctor Tuesday afternoon and after a thorough examination and discussion with both the resident who did the intake and the main doctor on the case it was determined my symptoms didn't match those of COVID-19 in a way that caused them to feel they needed to test me. I had no fever, and the types of symptoms are such that we believe I may be having gall bladder problems and so on December 6 I shall have an ultrasound to determine if that is indeed it and where we should go from here.
  Honestly, I've been dealing with these symptoms for quite some time, but I kept it to myself. At first, I thought I wasn't eating the right foods. So, I changed what I was eating. While this made me a bit healthier and I've actually been losing weight, the symptoms have only increased in severity and frequency. When they hit, I have little warning. I can be going along one moment doing fine and the next, I find myself doubled over with a painful pressure in my abdomen and then severe nausea.
  There's no pattern to this that we can perceive but the resident who did the main physical suggested I might take note of how I'm feeling when the symptoms first begin.
  Last night when I began to feel slightly nauseous, I thought about what else was going on with me and I noted my eyes were tender and sore and that I had a slight headache. These are signs of high eye pressure which can make you extremely sick to your stomach and in some rare cases it can also cause issues with other parts of your body's systems. So, with that thought in mind while I wait to have my gall bladder looked at, I'm also going to call my eye doctor and have my eyes checked.
  I feel it cannot hurt to check that and either find the problem or rule it out.
  In either case, there are times when I fear leaving the house if I've eaten or going places where I'll be eating. Twice this month I was graciously taken out by friends for my birthday and both times I managed to enjoy dinner with them without experiencing any symptoms.
  I now understand a bit more about how my mother felt as she dealt with the digestive issues she had during her life.
  Mom is gone now but I'm left with the same determination she showed while living with the various illnesses she experienced.
  A day or so ago I wrote of how hard it can be to be the friend or family member of a guide dog user and now I'm dealing with this unknown sickness as well I feel overwhelmed and fearful it will isolate me further from being a part of social activity with family or friends.
  I'm so grateful we've the ACB Community calls happening each day for people such as myself who need the company of others that might not be able to get out as much as they'd like.
  If you're out there somewhere needing someone to congregate with, please write to the ACB Community at: community@acb.org to be put onto the email announcement list for the daily schedule. If you know someone who doesn't have email who might benefit from such virtual gatherings, please urge them to phone: 1-800-424-8666 and follow the prompts to hear the schedule read.
  Today in my faith it is Woden's Day. Within today's daily calendar there are focuses which pertain to what I'm dealing with as well as others which may help you along your way. Before I share this let me encourage you not to get caught up in semantics or belief systems. Instead, think of what is represented here and how it might relate to you and your life.