Dear Patrons,
Thank you *so much* for your amazing messages since my last post. I’ll confess I’ve felt quite choked and overwhelmed reading them. Your words of encouragement and support really helped me tough out some raw moments these past weeks. And in recent days it’s felt like things might’ve turned a positive corner. I’m taking it very slow — no intention of running before I can walk, figuratively or literally.
The MRI scans [not for the squeamish]My MRI scans explained everything. They revealed two damaged spinal discs — one slipped, one protruding. These discs were pressing hard on some major nerve systems, causing them to constantly fire. Sudden movements in particular — including coughing or laughing — would momentarily push the discs even harder onto these nerves, sending pain levels through the roof.
Things got a lot worse just after my last post here. Up until then sleep had at least provided some peace. But then sudden involuntary movements in my sleep started jolting me awake in explosive pain. In those first few bleary seconds of consciousness I would imagine I was in some kind of torture chamber. At its worst that was happening 15-20 times a night. But eventually the frequency died down. The last few nights have been completely clear. And the daytime surges of pain have started to recede. I’ve been able to walk and stand for progressively longer periods and started to lower my excessive pain meds.
‘Can I help?’A couple of you kindly asked if there was anything you could do to help at this time. I came up blank trying to think of anything. One person said she’s been making a point of letting the adverts run on my videos to help out with ad revenue. So I guess if you felt similarly inclined whenever you happened to watch a video of mine, that would be a help. Of course, that’s if you can stomach the ads — I’ve commented before on the irony that the majority of ads funding my channel are from proselytising ideological groups.
Easing back into workStarting to familiarise myself with the projects I’d been working on before all this. Two are nearing completion — music is ready and animation/scripts are both around 70% done. As I begin the process of catching up with my correspondence, reading the personal stories people have shared about abusive familial and ideological experiences, I feel my focus returning.
With my thanks and warm wishes to everyone for your support,
Link x