So today has been an odd day, but really, are any of us having many days that aren’t odd, at the moment? This Covid Pandemic is the oddest thing most of us have ever been through, at least in part, and even though some of the time, things seem fine, further thought will show that isn’t the case.
Things are dangerous, some people are dying, and others may be damaged in ways the experts are just beginnings to understand … And of course others are perfectl fine, no problems at all, except, if they think about it, things are changed, and they’re not sure they like the changes.
I’m more or less fine, staying at home more, missing out on hugs with friends, not sure about what’s going to happen next, and hoping things for those I love are going to go well. But there’s no way of knowing that, is there? Being OK now, doesn’t mean you’ll be OK tonight, or tomorrow, or next week.
But life goes on, as close to normal as possible. And the things that tend to go wrong, will continue to go wrong, just like always. And while some people have more ready money, others have less money, and they have to deal with that. And health related things – the big ticket item health-wise is Covid-19, but there are still other health things we need to think about, worry about, deal with.
I have two main health things, at the moment. one is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that has brought disability to my attention, and even though I’m going quite well right now, there’s no way of telling how long that will continue. I just have to play things by ear. The other thing, which may or may not be realted to MS is skin cancer. Skin cancer is a thing that may be related to the medication I take to help with my MS. That medication, Gilenya, while perhaps dealing with my immune system, and stopping it from attacking my body, may actually be allowing my body to not fight skin cancers.
I don’t know about this, whether the medication , while ehlping me in some ways is also hurting me in other ways. I’m going to keep on seeing my GP and having my unwanted lumps and bumps looked at and disposed of, whether by Cryo treatement of being frozen off, or by excision, being sliced off and stictched up again.
When I was young, I had many bad sunburn times, blisters on my shoulders, and so on, but I never knew back then, the sunburn had done lasting damage. I’m certainly paying the price for it now.
This is from my most recent skin cancer ‘adventure’ an incision, rather that the more usual Cryo treatment. Cryo is much easier, Go to doctor, get skin blasted by freeze burning gas, perhaps causing a blister, then blister heals up, all gone, more or less. Stitches though, they need a pain killing injection, which (ironically) hurts, OUCH! Then have circle put around area of skin to be cut open and scooped out, and once skin is numb, the doctor and team stitch it all back up, and BINGO, I have a bandages on my skin, and have to keep it all dry for a couple of days, then, if the bandaging comes off, you have Spider Leg stitches there, for all to see!
If I’d known this might be the end result, would I have stayed out of the sun? Well, I was just a kid, fifty years ago, so who knows. I know I’m much more careful these days than I was back then, and I never get as severly sunburnt as I did back in the sixties and seventies. But I don’t cover my skin with sunburn cream every time I go out in the sun, so perhaps I should take a good look at myself and do better. Who knows.
What I do know is that I will keep on seeing my GP, and discussing any suspicious lumps and bumps, with a view to having them dealt with as appropriate, Cryo for perference or excision if needed. In the meantime here is a poem I wrote today, about the Spider I have on my hand!
Scars From The Past
It’s not a spider on my hand -
I’ve seen the doctor about it, and
he readied me, and his team too
to prepare them for what they had to do.
It’s not really a spider on my hand,
but doesn’t look good, I’m not a fan -
It looks a bit yuck and it feels worse,
all because of an Australian curse.
See, my hand there had a little lump,
if I’d left it there, I’d be a chump …
But I hadn’t considered the implications
or possible pain, or even frustrations
of this procedure, and the aftermath -
Not being able to have a bath,
but that aspect’s allowed now, bathing is fine ...
Under the ‘spider’ is a little line
showing where the scalpel cut skin -
And that ‘spider’ is stitches my doc put in -
Black stitches looking like spider legs -
as fashions go, this is the dregs!
But in a week or so, stitches come out
Hooray, hoorah, I’ll inwardly shout -
Skin cancer’s a thing I’ve too often got -
and I’ll know if the lump was one or not …
Yes an Aussie curse, caused by the sun
that we love being in, when having fun,
but sunshine, though fine in moderation
has damaged many of my generation -
Sixties and seventies, causal and free,
baking our skin by pool or the sea,
working to get the best tan we could,
not caring whether we shouldn’t or should.
But the damage is done, results are clear
that’s why I have this ‘spider’ here -
Sun damaged skin, cancers growing
Frozen or cut off, scars all showing ...
(c) Carolyn Cordon 2021
So I had some painful times as a youngster, horrible and painful blisters on my shoulders, that meant even putting on my t-shirt was painful. I'm so glad I've far more careful about this, these days. But the damage done all those years ago is still a thing I'm having to deal with now. Ah well, it could be worse, I guess. If you have any stories about sunburn and this Aussie curse of always wanting a tan for summer, even though we know it's dangerous, I'd love ot read about it, and commiserate with you!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 