Tag: health

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Stress Creating

Posted on by debthumanblog

I got an email last week telling me that test results were ready. I clicked, opened, and that’s how I learned I’ve got a lump growing in my right breast. I got a referral from my doctor for a biopsy with ultrasound. So I call central scheduling. You can’t call individual clinics because those numbers are secret. I was told I needed prior authorization from my insurance company. I sent another message to my doctor’s office. They had already checked with my insurance. No prior authorization required. Call central scheduling again. They sent my paperwork off to the clinic and a nurse would call me with the date and time of my biopsy.

Yesterday, I got a letter saying my mammogram showed I’m at a higher risk for breast cancer than the general public. Jolly. The only incidence of breast cancer in my family is my grandmother’s cousin’s daughter. That counts as no family history of breast cancer.

85% of breast cancer patients have no family history of breast cancer. Think about that the next time your doctor tells you to have a mammogram.

I had to pull out the attorney card, threaten to sue the crap out of them when I called central scheduling, but I did find out I have a date and time for my biopsy. Which is exactly the date and time set for an appointment with my doctor. Called my doctor and changed my appointment. I still haven’t received notification of my appointment. Had I not gotten seriously nasty, I would not have known until late the day before my doctor’s appointment that I was getting a biopsy at the same time. Certainly not enough time to change my doctor’s appointment without getting charged for a missed appointment.

I deal with stress by making things. At the moment, I’m having severe stress and I’m making great progress on my stress afghan.

I’ve also got the germ of an idea for a quilt. I need to figure out colors before I can start drafting a pattern. I know what I want to say with the quilt, but I am not sure what I want to say with the colors.

I know I want to use the pink flamingo fabric for the design piece. It’s the background fabric I’m not sure about. I’ll have to leave the fabrics out for a few days until I figure out which fabric I want to use or if I need to go back to auditioning more fabric.

I’ve been getting a number of Spoonflower sales lately. You can find my Spoonflower shop here: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/deb_thuman

You can find my on-line shop, Deb Thuman Art here: https://www.DebThumanArt.com

I’m linking with Nina Marie here: https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com

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Creative Drought

Posted on by debthumanblog

I can either wait, and wait, and wait until this passes, or I can try and draw myself out of the muck. Nothing is rolling around in my brain. No images demanding to be made. No feelings demanding a voice. Nothing.

I sat down with my iPad and started drawing. It didn’t have to be good, just an idea. I’ve often made quilts (and paintings) about my inner turmoil. Maybe it’s time to make a quilt about my foot.

I thought about showing physical pain from peripheral neuropathy. I thought about showing pain from the surgery I had to put my foot back together after I broke it, and the marbles I have to pick up with my toes. The marbles are part of the physical therapy that will strengthen my arch. The foot looks weird because when I broke my foot, the arch collapsed. After the surgery, my food is weird looking.

The brown, oblong things with the holes are the plates attached to my bones. The silver thing is the screw that holds the plates in place. The screw may or may not be removed in a few months. The triangles are like the pain from the neuropathy. Sometimes sharp, sometimes dull. The coral round things are the marbles I need to pick up with my toes.

Surgery left me with a foot that looks like it merged with an erector set. I no longer have pain from the surgery, but I do have pain from the fallen arch of my foot.

I’ve no idea if this drawing is something I want to make into a quilt. I do want to keep playing around with my iPad and try and come up with something.

I will be starting EMDR on Monday. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR has been quite successful treating PTSD and CPTSD. Maybe some of the very hurt, scared and confused child can come out in a quilt.

Meanwhile, I’ve had success selling my fabric designs on Spoonflower https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/deb_thuman

If you are looking for one-of-a-kind jewelry, my online store, Deb Thuman Art, is here: http://www.DebThumanArt.com

I’m linking with Nina Marie here: https://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com