Groundhogs, Gourds, and Dr. Liver

First, to answer a few questions. Gourds are related to squash, cucumbers and pumpkins. They aren’t really edible, and their main purpose around these parts is decorative. In Africa I know some of the tribes use gourds as jugs to store and transport water. I also happen to know of a wonderful diarist at DD who decorates gourds with Native American motifs – they are absolutely gorgeous. Gourds ripen at about the same time the fall harvest does, and they’ve traditionally become a symbol of bounty and thanksgiving. As for me, I just like ’em because a lot of them have weird shapes, warts, and strange and wonderful color patterns. Which probably explains why they amuse The Socialist as well. Here’s a picture of the gourds I purchased for him the other day, in my favorite designer bowl.

Groundhogs are also known locally as “whistle pigs” and “woodchucks” I’ve been told that “whistle pig” is the name the German settlers gave them for their shrill alarm cry that sounds a bit like a cross between a flute and a shriek. “Woodchuck” on the other hand, is a corruption of the name the local native American tribe had for them … “Wojak”. I was doing some poking around on the web to try and find out more about groundhogs in the native American culture, but all I turned up on a quick search is that they considered the woodchuck to be their sacred grandfather. In the US February 2nd is “Groundhog’s Day”, which is far too complicated and strange to explain here. If you’re interested, check out A SHORT HISTORY OF GROUNDHOG DAY, which has just about everything I already said on it and a few more interesting tidbits.

As for my visit with Dr. Liver – all went well. I have accumulated enough fluid again that I need to be “tapped”, which will be done on an out-patient basis Thursday. Friday I go for the mammogram that’s required as part of my transplant list pre-screening. Most of these tests are just to prove to the transplant committee that I don’t have any other underlying problems that would exclude me from being a candidate, and I expect this one to be as routine as most of the others have been. Monday I go for my hepatitis A&B booster; Dr. Liver wants to make sure that there’s no chance I’ll come down with hepatitis if exposed, since my liver simply couldn’t survive that final hit. We need my liver to cooperate as best it can for the time being.

I’ve had chronic hiccups and a pesky, nonproductive cough. We’re hoping both of these ease off once we get the fluid out of my abdoment again. There’s so much there now that it’s exerting a lot of pressure on my diaphragm and lungs, and frankly it’s getting pretty damned uncomfortable again. I don’t look forward to being jabbed with the World’s Largest Needle, but I’m getting desparate enough that I’m still going to happily submit to the procedure.

I’ve also had very bad cramps in my hands, feet and legs for the past few weeks. Last night I even got a cramp under my tongue that lasted about half a minute. Very painful. Dr . Liver’s checking my electolytes to see if he can determine what’s causing it. With luck we can get that one fixed pronto too.

Told the Boss that I was hoping to return to work soon. Evidently I’m missed. I’ve begun to worry about job security, so that was nice to hear. My primary doctor warned me against telling my personel office too much of what was going on, as she’s had horror stories from other patients who were “let go” after their employer learned what their medical condition was going to do to the company’s medical insurance policy. I’d prefer not to have my story added to that list.

Even if I can manage to keep on working right up to the transplant, my medical insurance has a $1,000,000 lifetime cap. Incredibly, this will be insufficient to cover the costs, and I have also begun to worry about how I’m going to cope after the surgery with finances. But I’m putting way too many carts before the horse at this point. I have to learn to let that one go for a while until I gather some more information.