tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post8589385712252707410..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Working through illness - Elizabeth KayKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-77894607801235731902013-08-17T17:22:41.484+01:002013-08-17T17:22:41.484+01:00hello Elizabeth, I hope your tinnitus goes, if it&...hello Elizabeth, I hope your tinnitus goes, if it's a side effect it should eventually. Chronic health problems do make writing difficult, although it's a job which you can keep doing through all sorts of misadventure more effectively than many other jobs. My physical disability does make a difference though I still travel a lot - as a poet, and even now as a novelist, I find you do have to get out and about, do readings and signings, performances, etc. (and I like doing them!) Illness too is very disabling especially if you have deadlines to beat. I seem to recall once the winner of the booker prize was a disabled person who could only physically write one sentence a day. I've just started Epsom salts baths, another old remedy scorned out of fashion as it makes no money for drug companies, it's supposed to be good for skin conditions though it's chronic three-day migraines I'm trying it for. I find you have to do all your own research and treatment for most conditions, otherwise you get told rubbish, given stuff that makes you ill, or gives you tinnitus! I hope your fingers improve as well, so frustrating. Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-44494375250181612642013-08-17T15:13:19.240+01:002013-08-17T15:13:19.240+01:00Liz, as with everyone else I add commiserations fo...Liz, as with everyone else I add commiserations for your current 'state of play.' Interesting juxtaposition to Dan's post yesterday as well! <br />Tinnitus sounds particularly horrific. Things that interfere with the thought processes are always so much worse than the mere physical ones. Like you, I got some inspiration from Dennis Potter, he had not just psorisis but psoriatic arthritis (which is like having it inside and out). My inspiration came when I was hospitalised and, never having understood 'The Singing Detective' I suddenly was confronted by morphine and fever induced hallucinations after which 'it all made sense'<br /><br />If I can offer any kind of 'happy' view to all this, its simply to offer personal experience. Illness and chronic conditions are a bit different to my mind. Illness is 'temporary' and a pain (no pun intended) but can be lived through. When one is dealing with chronic conditions you have to take a different tack, I think. People are always 'amazed' by how much 'energy' and work I put in. The secret is that having a chronic condition which can put me in bed for a month at a time unable to do anything (except rush to the toilet) I make sure that in 'the good times' I do as much as I possibly can. And I keep as stress free as possible to keep the good times as good as possible as long as possible. Of course 'stress' management is a unique thing to each person because what stresses one doesn't stress another - and this, I think, means people taking a long hard look at their lives (and lifestyle choices for them wot can afford such things) and committing to live their own life the best way they can for them. For me, this sadly meant giving up drama work and most 'real' work in the 'real' world but that has given me more opportunity to do 'virtual' work. And that folks, is why I'm so committed to it and so 'organised' because I can't afford to leave things till the last minute since at any minute I may be plunged into 'illness' when all goes pear shaped and creativity or even normal functioning is impossible. Am I just saying - find the good times and live for them? Maybe. But I'm also saying - empathy in the extreme and I hope you get into a more settled phase soon. <br />CallyPhillipshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481379296340077102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-64864374892764559582013-08-17T15:03:48.021+01:002013-08-17T15:03:48.021+01:00Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. So...Thank you all so much for your lovely comments. Sometimes you just have to laugh when it all piles up - I broke my toe last Sunday! But at least I don't type with my feet...<br />Elizabeth Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16773078844943829786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-24429112466956078312013-08-17T11:38:10.279+01:002013-08-17T11:38:10.279+01:00Agree with Kathleen and Sue - full of admiration f...Agree with Kathleen and Sue - full of admiration for your courage and persistence. Thanks for this impressive post. Real writing committment<br /><br /> julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-90225595522384352922013-08-17T11:14:38.400+01:002013-08-17T11:14:38.400+01:00Reading your post, Liz, reminds me of how much I t...Reading your post, Liz, reminds me of how much I take things for granted. I'm so sorry these things have piled up for you and can only say I hope they ease and disappear very soon.Bill Kirtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16345949773423764808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-81017661885973804032013-08-17T10:58:08.377+01:002013-08-17T10:58:08.377+01:00Ladies, your courage and persistence makes me feel...Ladies, your courage and persistence makes me feel humble. I will try not to complain too much about my few aches and pains.<br />Liz, I was hoping that things had improved a bit. Sorry to hear they haven't. It's a - something I can't say on a family-friendly blog!Susan Pricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738737493756183909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-28672099791037006882013-08-17T10:38:21.105+01:002013-08-17T10:38:21.105+01:00I can only admire your courage Elizabeth in the fa...I can only admire your courage Elizabeth in the face of such trials. Thinking of you - but sympathy isn't of much use, is it. Made my RSI (the writers' curse) seem very trivial by comparison. Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-56324509832959099242013-08-17T09:25:34.413+01:002013-08-17T09:25:34.413+01:00I feel for you. I get broken and hacked finger tip...I feel for you. I get broken and hacked finger tips in the winter with recurring eczema between my fingers (so itchy), and the problems with plasters on the fingertips is insurmountable. I've tried painting on new skin sometimes, it nips like fury, but it can be better than plasters. However, with all the other things combined with it you are really suffering. I'll be thinking of you.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-36762040630676619492013-08-17T08:28:44.117+01:002013-08-17T08:28:44.117+01:00Sorry you feel so poorly - I do hope the tinnitus ...Sorry you feel so poorly - I do hope the tinnitus eases soon and your hands get more comfortable. Writing with a broken leg is one thing - but these are making you miserable and that, in my experience, is the greatest obstacle to getting the words down.<br /><br />And please don't apologise for lack of pictures - surely we are wordsmiths.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.com