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Macro-Health, Micro-Health
Jul. 6th, 2020 09:03 pmI have just concluded an article for the Isocracy Network entitled The COVID-19 Pandemic: The Shape of Things To Come, which refers back to two previous articles I've written on the subject, one three months ago (Coronavirus disease 2019 and a Case for Environmental Socialism, and more recently Pandemic Economics. The tenor of the article is factual, but pessimistic. The scientific and normative evidence is present for some solutions, but the political will among many of the world's leaders are lacking. And millions of people will pay with their lives.
On a micro-health level, I am very saddened to hear that Joanna G. has announced that their breast cancer has returned and this time is not curable. Jo is one of the first people I made contact with when I moved to Melbourne, and whilst they've been on the periphery of my circle of friends for the past twenty-six years, every time I met or corresponded with them was a happy occasion. It is a rather blunt reminder of how the universe is a very impersonal force for if anyone deserves a long and content life, it would be Joanna. Alas, this does not seem that it will be the case.
There is also some news on my own health. Some three months ago I received a poor assessment of my health status, including blood pressure, liver enzymes and low-density lipoproteins and even a question of diabetes. As is my nature, I attacked the problem like an angry bear and engaged in a dietary and exercise regimen. The effects have paid off; not only am I down some 13kgs, all my blood test and blood pressure is now considered within the healthy range. "A fantastic result", remarked my doctor, "whatever your doing, keep doing it".
Alas, all does not go to plan. On Saturday I made a rather delicious Morrocan lemon cake (to go with a Morrocan stew), and shortly afterwards my body went into some utterly agonising stomach cramps for the next three hours, until the buscopan and paracetomal kicked in. There was vomiting, natural and induced, which relieved the symptoms somewhat, but the effects was just awful. I have been exhausted and a bit queasy since, and I am still recovering even now. The worse part of it is that this is the fourth such attack over the past year, and there is no obvious diagnosis which matches all the symptoms. So I'll be off soon to get an ultrasound soon and then and upper endoscopy. I'm hoping it isn't stomach cancer. With a 30% survival rate after five years, I know myself well enough that I am likely just to give up.
On a micro-health level, I am very saddened to hear that Joanna G. has announced that their breast cancer has returned and this time is not curable. Jo is one of the first people I made contact with when I moved to Melbourne, and whilst they've been on the periphery of my circle of friends for the past twenty-six years, every time I met or corresponded with them was a happy occasion. It is a rather blunt reminder of how the universe is a very impersonal force for if anyone deserves a long and content life, it would be Joanna. Alas, this does not seem that it will be the case.
There is also some news on my own health. Some three months ago I received a poor assessment of my health status, including blood pressure, liver enzymes and low-density lipoproteins and even a question of diabetes. As is my nature, I attacked the problem like an angry bear and engaged in a dietary and exercise regimen. The effects have paid off; not only am I down some 13kgs, all my blood test and blood pressure is now considered within the healthy range. "A fantastic result", remarked my doctor, "whatever your doing, keep doing it".
Alas, all does not go to plan. On Saturday I made a rather delicious Morrocan lemon cake (to go with a Morrocan stew), and shortly afterwards my body went into some utterly agonising stomach cramps for the next three hours, until the buscopan and paracetomal kicked in. There was vomiting, natural and induced, which relieved the symptoms somewhat, but the effects was just awful. I have been exhausted and a bit queasy since, and I am still recovering even now. The worse part of it is that this is the fourth such attack over the past year, and there is no obvious diagnosis which matches all the symptoms. So I'll be off soon to get an ultrasound soon and then and upper endoscopy. I'm hoping it isn't stomach cancer. With a 30% survival rate after five years, I know myself well enough that I am likely just to give up.
