This is probably going to read very old-mannishly, but health concerns have been dominating my attention of late and, if I’m going to write anything, it’s going to be about those concerns. So, if you find this subject enthralling, it won’t hurt my feelings if you skip this post.
My skin problems have settling into a slightly different orbit. I’m still itchy, still prone to infection, and still very, very sensitive to any stimulus. It’s not as bad as it was before I started getting steroid shots and I learned that I was allergic to most textiles. I haven’t had any shots in almost six months now, so its encouraging that my condition is improved, but there’s still a long way to go. The first allergist I contacted never returned my call (and I never pursued it), so I’ve made another attempt today. The dermatologist says that there’s no sign of anything other than extreme eczema and allergies. Goodness knows I’ve been tested for essentially everything else.
This is my first chronic condition and, while I think I’m taking it well, it is starting to wear me down.
Of even greater concern is my father’s condition. He’s not one to complain even when he ought to do so, but he’s starting to feel the weight of his ailments and he’s starting to run out of options. There are certain treatments which only work for a finite length of time and he’s out of the warranty period on them, so to speak. I don’t know how other people count such things, but I work in orders of units when thinking about mortality. Do we have decades, or years, or months, or days? I’ve had to adjust my estimate down one level and it’s a very frightening thing to consider. Parents are, of course, supposed to be immortal and when they appear otherwise… I’d prefer not to think of it, but at this time, I can’t not think of it.
So, that’s where I am right now. See you tomorrow.
RK