Health update; the good, the bad and the ugly

How to Be a Serial Killer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I promised to post updates on my health situation so here is the next one.Before I get to that, a note to my friends and family:  Some of what you read here may seem scary and it is but there is no reason to worry because I am really fine.

The good:  I haven’t had any more grand mal seizures since the last one I wrote about here.  The bad:  I have had a number of much smaller seizures — they are super short and I remain conscious.  The ugly:  why does the media insist on continuing to give Donald Trump a platform?  No, he has nothing to do with my medical issues but he really annoys me.

My real problem, however, is from the time the seizures hit until later in the day it becomes really hard for me to speak.  Now, I can still understand everything and know what I want to say, I just can’t say it.  It wears off eventually but if you see me and I am super quiet, you know why.

The universe really wants me to be quiet.    Since last year, I have lost my voice to laryngitis more times than I can count.  And mean lost it completely.  When that gets bad, I sound like a sick dolphin.  I have even written comedy about it — one night when this was happening, my mother called and said, “I just hope you don’t have to call 911.”  Oh, thanks, she knows one of my biggest fears in the world is being killed (and probably tortured) by a serial killer.  That night I had friends text me every few hours to make sure I was still alive. (Side note: I knew someone in high school who was killed by a serial killer.  I hate to admit this but when her brother told me my second thought after I am so sorry for your loss, can I do anything, call me anytime was if I know someone killed by a serial killer, the odds are greatly reduced that I will be.)

For some reason these posts about what I am dealing with now are much harder to write than when they are about past events.  That brings me to why I do it; the support I have received here has been really helpful.  It also means I don’t have to explain everything to everyone who asks.  I am truly ok but my reality is a little different and it is taking some getting used to.

And now I have a favor to ask of you.  As much as I appreciate the support everyone has given, the concern I hear in people’s voices when they call is a little overwhelming.  I have great doctors and everything is being done to get the situation under control. This may seem odd as I have told you all everything here but I cannot talk about my health all the time.

Thanks for reading, being there and helping me deal with this.  Once again, I promise, I am really, really, really ok.

More thoughts on abortion

More thoughts on abortion…

 

FYI:  Whenever I write about, or mention, abortion I get emails asking why I enjoy killing babies so much.  No one enjoys killing babies.  My sarcastic side, commonly referred to as ‘me,’ wants desperately to add the words more than me but there are a lot of people who cannot understand sarcasm and would probably think I was serious.  Actually, there are probably people out there who a, really like abortion and b, really like killing babies but I would argue they are probably insane and hopefully there aren’t many of them.

 

My view is the same as the Clintons' view. Abortion should be safe, legal (available) and rare.  The recent killing of Dr. George Tiller (http://remembertiller.com/) has brought the issue back front and center, though next month’s Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotamoyor would have done the same thing, only with less violence.  What troubles me, other than the obvious pang one has when one reads about senseless violence, is that this tactic worked.  Dr. Tiller’s family will not reopen their clinic.

 

While this may seem like a hollow victory for anti-abortion groups, they have said they are glad the clinic will close but worried about the legal ramifications this will have, really the end result may be more chilling.  Abortion may be legal in the United States but legal does not equal available.  As we debate Roe v. Wade, I have to wonder about its relevance today.  I do not want to see it overturned but would like to see access expanded, funding restored and better sex education promoted.

 

Dr. Tiller’s clinic was one of three in the country that performed late term abortions on fetuses with horrific abnormalities.  (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tiller10-2009jun10,0,6032915.story)  Clinics that provide reproductive services all over the country are beefing up their security in the wake of this tragedy.  This can only limit people’s access to care, not just abortions but health care.  (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j0m25jqgrTdVNnZHlJuXK3DbHG1AD98JE1A80)

 

Low income restrictions

It is already more difficult than most people realize for women to get abortions.  For low income women it can be almost impossible. This map shows states that restrict access for poor women to abortion.  There are 33 states plus the District of Columbia – seen here in red.  The blue states (no, the political parallel is incidental) provide them with access, there are 17 of them. 

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in_your_state/who-decides/maps-and-charts/map.jsp?mapID=4

 

 

Bans after 12 weeks

Currently, 23 states have laws banning abortion at 12 weeks or after (red) but these laws are considered to be unconstitutional and unenforceable.  Five states (blue) have enforceable laws against abortions at 12 weeks and after.

 

 

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in_your_state/who-decides/maps-and-charts/map.jsp?mapID=27

 

 

Spousal consent

Five states require women to get written permission from their spouse before getting an abortion. (last map)

 

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in_your_state/who-decides/maps-and-charts/map.jsp?mapID=29

 

This study has data for both side; http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/4000608.pdf. One alarming number from it is that 86 percent of US counties do not have any abortion providers at all.   One could argue that the decline in abortions, which began in 1991 following an all time high in 1990, accelerated under President George W. Bush.  But I would point to the fact that the high point was under the first President Bush and that 2000 saw the introduction of mifeprisone (RU-486) and cases in which this was used may not be counted in the full abortion count.

 

All this just makes me more grateful that Barack Obama was elected president.   Not only because he will pick judges who are less inclined, or not inclined, to overturn Roe but his Justice Department will take seriously the threats clinics face.  That’s good for women and medical professionals in every state.

 

 

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