Monday, April 19, 2010

Medical Updates and Word Counts

So, just to keep everyone updated. I had a Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) on Wednesday and yes, it’s just as bad as it sounds-lol. Actually, it wasn’t so bad. Not really painful, but imagine if you will, someone sticking something sharp into your back, you’d want them to stop doing that, right? All of you women who’ve had epidurals know what I’m talking about.

The purpose of the LP was to measure the opening pressure of my spinal fluid. I was told the normal pressure should be between 10 and 20. Mine was 33. So it explains the headaches, dizziness, swollen optic nerves and whooshing in my ears. The doctor took a sample and drained off a little extra. I felt better when I left, aside from the pain in my back. But I felt no headaches, dizziness or whooshing for several hours and then it came back. I’m assuming the fluid replaced itself.

I’m now on the diuretic and let me tell you, I think I might have to move my office into the bathroom! One of the side effects is tingling in the fingers or toes. Well, I knew this beforehand but when my pinky toes started tingling, I thought bugs had simultaneously started attacking them! lol. It only lasts a few minutes, thankfully. Tingling toes aside, I’m feeling so much better. My eyes don’t hurt and my vision is already much, much better! Can’t complain about that.

Anywho, on to better things. I’ve been writing like a madwoman! I love it. I think from Friday, I’ve added 6000 words to my wip. My word count is up to 48k and as I think this story will top out at 65k, I should be finished by the end of the month. Then I’ll let it sit until mid June or maybe July. I can’t wait! I’m so excited to start querying again. As much as it’s hell, I really do love the whole business of it. I know this is going to sound crazy, but when I get an agent, I’m going to miss querying…though, not enough to turn down an offer. I’m not crazy-lol!

So, I’ll be posting an excerpt tomorrow. Oh, and by the way, I’ve lost 10 pounds!!! WooHoo!

6 comments:

Stina said...

Cograts on losing 10 lbs and on the writing progress. :D

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

I love that you found humor in this dark passage you've been journeying through. And, yay, on feeling better and on your writing progress! That is truly awesome.

A.L. Sonnichsen said...

Wow, you amaze me. Going through all this and still adding words to that WiP. Good job! Thanks for the update. I've been thinking about you a lot and wondering how you're doing, so it was great to see this post. Hang in there! And I hope you start feeling permanently better soon!

Amy

Talli Roland said...

Incredible that in the midst of everything going on with you, you can still get loads of writing done. I am so impressed.

Hope you feel better soon!

Karen Denise said...

Thanks guys. Writing is my medicine so I was seriously freaking when I thought my vision was going to mess with that. But all is well for the time being. I still think I have a ways to go to feel 100%, but I'm going to keep taking my meds, eating right and exercising...the last two I should always do anyway, so it's not so much of a task.

Thanks again, you guys make me feel good!

Hannah said...

Yay!! You're feeling better! That's great news!