Health Watch!
by Elizabeth ~ April 21st, 2010. Filed under: General.Well, it’s been a rough six months! But, at long last, I have a proper diagnosis for what’s been ailing me. It turns out that the menace who has been silently and slyly attacking my liver is no less than my own body, my immune system, to be exact.
I have what is called an auto-immune disease: primary biliary cirrhosis. It apparently has been with me for a long time now (who knew?), and is the cause of all kinds of problems—loss of balance, bloating, osteoporosis, and fatigue.
It’s not as bad as it sounds, and I have excellent care from all my caregivers (medics, etc.) and three excellent specialists who seem to know what they’re doing. My husband is my primary caregiver on all official forms. What that means is that he is chief chauffeur, cook, bottle washer, etc. In short, I’m getting the best of care.
I’m blogging on this because I find I can’t respond to everyone who has written to me, either by e-mail or card or phone. I’m doing okay.
Some advice: if you’re a female, ask your doctor to test your liver function at your next annual check-up and every year thereafter. It’s not a blood test that’s done automatically for females in Canada.
Meantime, I’m looking forward to my next book, A Bewitching Bride, due out in November from Berkley, and my head is filled with ideas for the book after that.
May 7th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Hello, Writer-of-compelling-stories. Not as bad as it sounds? If ’twere I, I’d probably be bed-ridden (or chair-ridden) 23 hours a day. Just two out of the four, loss of balance and fatigue, would be enough to do me in. I do hope medication and care are giving you back your good health.
Come to think of it, being chair-ridden wouldn’t be so bad — that way I could read your books virtually uninterrupted. And there’s more on this subject but I don’t suppose this is the place to go into that. I tried an address that, being at least 15 years old, I was almost positive would no longer be in use — and I was correct. My e-mail was returned. I have searched the web for another address but came up with nothing except this one. so, Elizabeth Thornton, is there another address to which to send an e-mail, or do I have your permission to use this one again?
I know you said you can’t write to everyone and if that includes me, I’ll understand. In the meantime, please get your sense of balance and energy back!
Louetta
May 8th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I hope you’re feeling better since your last blog entry. Now that you have a proper diagnosis, your doctors can start to treat the different side-effects of your illness. It must have been frustrating not to know exactly what was wrong with you for all those months. Don’t try to do too much too soon. Take care of yourself.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Thank you for your comments, Louetta, they cheered me up no end. Much appreciated.
I am now into my next book and am happy with the way the story is shaping up. Focussing on that, instead of sitting around contemplating my health is so much more energizing.
July 17th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Rest in peace Mary. I love her books and I am sending a prayer for her and family.