The Perfect Storm

When I was pregnant with my number two child, Mr. Monk, I suffered Deep Vein Thrombosis (aka blood clot) : my entire left leg was swollen before I realized it was not a muscle strain that’s been causing me excruciating pain, but rather something that could be life-threatening. My Obgyn immediately sent me to the emergency room – yes I drove myself (but I was not having a heart attack so I was not as crazy as this other gal I know…) and they put a filter into my aorta so no broken pieces of the Titanic-sized blood clot would get into my heart and stuff.

It only happened because the stars were lined up just so. A perfect storm so to speak.

Turned out I have a genetic disorder #$^%@%* that makes it easier for blood clot to form if my body has extremely low level of folic acid.

The amount in prenatal vitamins would have been more than adequate to prevent that.

By then I had been throwing up for about four months so no, I was not absorbing my prenatal vitamins properly, and I was severely undernourished, sustaining mostly on Gatorade. (Btw, I bet severe “morning sickness” would have been qualified for disability IF men could get pregnant…)

Your blood turns thicker when you are pregnant due to female hormones.

I was also extremely dehydrated which did not help with the blood thinning department.

 

Long story short: everything worked perfectly and BOOM! I had DVT, blah blah blah.

 

Why am I telling you this now? Because once again, the stars have aligned perfectly:

New job (my company was acquired)

+ New office

+ Two computers to deal with

+ Two systems

+ Two business processes

+ Two to-do lists

+ Longer commute (including my “I am on a fucking boat” moments, yes, I realized that)

+ Longer hours expected

+ Same kids

+ Same husband

= STRESS

STRESS = TEETH CLENCHING (which I did not realize I do all the time until now) = Massive and Rapid Bone Loss in My Teeth = Oral surgery to be expected

It is not like I have been having nightmares about losing all my teeth since I was young…

Head. Meet desk.

Hello, more stress. Nice to see you show up with more of your friends. Just come on in. Move right in. Mi case su casa.

 

So here is what I have… I found this blogger who has quite a few cartoons with cultural/social media commentary that make me:

OMG. ROTFL. DNPMPL. ITA. FML. IYKWIMAITYD.

 

Mr. Dave Walker actually encourages bloggers to embed his cartoons on their blogs. He has been doing this since 2005 and is probably one of the first people online to understand the concept of Sharing is loving...

So I am sharing this because Dear Internet, I love you, and I miss you, but I really need to prioritize the many things on my plate and focus especially on the ones that will help ensure I continue to have good dental insurance…

I am taking cover and waiting for the storm to be over.

 

 

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

 

Source: Cartoons by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

32 thoughts on “The Perfect Storm

  1. Ameena

    Holy. Shit. I had the EXACT same thing happen to me while I was pregnant, except that the blood clot was in my arm/neck. I have the SAME genetic disorder. Factor K or 5 or something (I really should know that, shouldn’t I?). I had to inject blood thinner into my stomach for 3+ months and when I finally delivered I was on coumadin for what seemed like an eternity. What an insane coincidence!

    All I can say is that I have a mouth guard. It was $300 well spent, let me tell you. I hope things get better for you ASAP my friend!!

    PS – I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO GET YOUR UPDATES IN MY GOOGLE READER. As evidenced by the all caps, this is really annoying the living daylights out of me. I don’t have this problem with any other blogs??
    Ameena recently posted…wife dishwasherMy Profile

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  2. MacDougal Street Baby

    I purchased a bite plate about a year ago and I can’t say enough about it. I was a serious grinder and now my oral cavity is a dome of zen. ‘Course my husband gets totally turned off but I also recognize that very often that’s a good thing.

    Hope your load gets lighter soon!

    Reply
  3. Beka

    You are smart to put yourself first right now. So sorry about the new stressors in your life. Sometimes those boxes on your shoulders just keep piling up, don’t they? The Procrastination cartoon is sooo me on a bad day! Hope you are enjoying the moments on the water taxi and giving yourself some mental breaks.
    Beka recently posted…Working Through Mother’s DayMy Profile

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    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      The procrastination also is exactly what I am like. That’s why I decided that I simply need to step away from the Internet when I am so stressed by the long to-do list at work.

      Reply
  4. SisterMerryHellish

    Aw, Honey. I’d hug you if I could! And, lucky for you, if I cuddled with you and Elly (see how I invited myself), I wouldn’t eat ANY of the tiny ice cream sandwiches. Lactose interant-ish.

    See, things are looking up already!
    SisterMerryHellish recently posted…Brush Your Damn Hair!My Profile

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  5. Justine

    Stress – I know that too well. Mine manifests itself in hives – itcy, horrible stuff. Sorry, TMI?

    Thanks for sharing the cartoons – that laundry pile looks strangely familiar to me. I wonder why…

    Hope you’re hanging in there or I hope you still have some teeth left, my friend. Hey, at least you get to be on the water on nice days? Bright side? No? I’m trying. I’m trying.
    Justine recently posted…NestingMy Profile

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  6. Nicole Welkener

    Oh boy do I empathize with you. I, too, clench my teeth and have had numerous oral surgeries to help and now where an highly (un)attractive mouth guard at night. Hang in there. It will get better. And in the mean time, the internets will help keep your spirits up. 🙂
    Nicole Welkener recently posted…Music Monday- Lady GagaMy Profile

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    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      I know I should delight in others’ sufferings but knowing that you have gone through all this makes me feel so much better… Thank you for letting me know! And yes the Internet has been so supportive. I don’t know how I could have survived this past month without you ladies’ Rah Rah with poms poms for me! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Andrea @ Shameless Agitator

    The only thing certain in this world is that everything changes. But… oral surgery? Yikes! I feel for you, literally. This year, I started wearing a guard on my teeth at night when I sleep so I don’t grind them to oblivion. I could tell when I’d been grinding them badly on some nights because my dreams would be about my teeth falling out. Not pleasant.

    I hope you can adjust to the changes and your stress levels go down. Thank you for sharing those wonderful cartoons. I’m off to that site to check them out.
    Andrea @ Shameless Agitator recently posted…Chaos reigns- again…My Profile

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  8. pattypunker

    jesus i had no idea you were going through all of this! wish i was there with you for some decompress and destress rituals. you have too much on your plate! or a million boxes on your back or something. i say you get hire some help. your health is not worth compromising. please let me know when the surgery is.
    pattypunker recently posted…die motherfucker dieMy Profile

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  9. Mepsipax

    So…..uh yeah.
    I’m Dick, nice to meet you. Ya know….all the recent illness and injury in my life has taught me one thing…I wish I could remember what it was.
    I dream about losing my teeth all the time. I have had dental surgery before and it is fine…however the minor oral surgery I had gave me pancreatitis. Good luck.
    Mepsipax recently posted…Where the fuckMy Profile

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  10. Velva

    Change sucks, even if its a good change. You keep spinning those plates in the air. Sending positive and relaxing thoughts your way.

    I have to check out Dave Williams- I think he wants me to borrow ( with proper credit of course) a near future Wordless Wednesday post.

    Velva
    Velva recently posted…Ricotta CheesecakeMy Profile

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