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So. I have a Patreon.
Now that no one is paying attention, I'll go into some detail.
I have a Patreon to help pay for medical care. The last two years, my health has deteriorated rapidly. I had to quit work. Doctors couldn't give me answers. Things were not good.
Now that no one is paying attention, I'll go into some detail.
I have a Patreon to help pay for medical care. The last two years, my health has deteriorated rapidly. I had to quit work. Doctors couldn't give me answers. Things were not good.
I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, but treating that didn't make most of the symptoms go away. I had all sorts of tests and ultrasounds and scans, everything came back clear.
Then they discovered I had B12 deficiency (among other things) and pernicious anemia.
Then they discovered I had B12 deficiency (among other things) and pernicious anemia.
Which sounds super fun!
It's not. It's called "pernicious" for a reason, because it slowly, subtly kills you. Without B12, your body pretty much stops working. Without proper circulation and etc. all of your body's systems fail to function right.
It's not. It's called "pernicious" for a reason, because it slowly, subtly kills you. Without B12, your body pretty much stops working. Without proper circulation and etc. all of your body's systems fail to function right.
So I was sick (I'm still sick, but anyway...) Headaches. Fatigue. Nausea. Weight loss. Gastro issues. Insomnia. Brain fog. Memory loss. Tremors. Blurred vision. Pins and needles in my hands and feet and head. You name it, and it feels like I had it.
Super fun!
Super fun!
The difficulty being that doctors are really bad about treating vitamin deficiencies. (True story: No one ever checked my vitamin levels (except iron while I was pregnant) over 39 years of living. You would think it would be standard, but you would be wrong.)
Instead, I was told I had anxiety and offered pills. I was told I was going through early menopause and offered pills. I was told I was just tired because -hey! - I have five kids so that's all it is! Eat right and get some sleep. You'll be fine.
And meanwhile I kept feeling worse and worse and worse. Out of desperation, I started a GoFundMe so I could have enough money to visit a functional medicine doctor and a specialist. THEY were the ones who finally tested things like vitamin and mineral levels for the first time.
I took those findings to my doctor (for insurance reasons, so that his care would be covered.) He told me to take some vitamin supplements and I'd be fine. Whoo-hoo!
And I did get a little better. Probably because so many of my levels were low enough that just pills helped.
And I did get a little better. Probably because so many of my levels were low enough that just pills helped.
But then in May, I started to struggle. Again. More tests. Everything came back fine. Except several numbers pointed towards pernicious anemia (which means you can't absorb B12 from food or pills.) You must have injections.
So I had a very short run of injections. Basically what insurance would cover. And then I was told to continue taking pills and have a nice day.
Well.
That, obviously, is not working.
Well.
That, obviously, is not working.
I was shown how to self-inject at home because of COVID, and now I order my own B12 (from Canada or Germany... yeah, I know) and inject.
And it's still rough going. The doctors suspect I've had this for YEARS, which means there is YEARS of nerve damage to repair.
And it's still rough going. The doctors suspect I've had this for YEARS, which means there is YEARS of nerve damage to repair.
And some of it may never be repaired. (Do you know why my character Dorothea Hawes, in The Half Killed, has ringing in her ears? Because I do. And it sucks.)
But what I'd like is to be able to consistently afford to order these supplies.
But what I'd like is to be able to consistently afford to order these supplies.
I'd like to be able to regularly visit a functional medicine doctor. But these things do not fall under insurance and so are a strain for us financially.
Add in the vicious cycle of my not being able to work outside the home to afford to pay for the care that would enable me to-
Add in the vicious cycle of my not being able to work outside the home to afford to pay for the care that would enable me to-
-yeah. Super. Fun.
So my ultimate dream is to be able to pay for all of this through my writing. Which... writing isn't the most profitable of careers but never at any point in this thread have I claimed a high level of intelligence.
So my ultimate dream is to be able to pay for all of this through my writing. Which... writing isn't the most profitable of careers but never at any point in this thread have I claimed a high level of intelligence.
And here's where we get to the final hurrah.
I have a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/quenbyolson
There are short stories! Excerpts! Novellas! Full length novels available nowhere else for only $1!
I have a Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/quenbyolson
There are short stories! Excerpts! Novellas! Full length novels available nowhere else for only $1!
And I have books! That people can buy! You might like them! Or know someone who will! I write fantasy and horror and historical romance and I LET NO ONE GENRE CONFINE ME.
*ahem* https://www.amazon.com/Quenby-Olson/e/B00DBYRCRQ
*ahem* https://www.amazon.com/Quenby-Olson/e/B00DBYRCRQ
Now, I don't expect everyone to run out and throw money at me like I'm a new video game console. If you're interested in what I write? Great! If you're not? Also great! Or if you can't budget anything in and can only manage a like or a retweet? Also also great!
And just a note: I hate doing this sort of thing. My hands are shaking as I type (and not just because it's one of my symptoms.) I feel like I'm asking for a handout even though I'm offering something (BOOKS! STORIES! ROMANCE! DRAGONS!) in return.
So I'm going to take a deep breath, eat some breakfast, change a diaper, and try push through another day. Because most of the time, that's all we can do. (Unless you don't have any diapers to change, in which case, lucky you!)
