A FAMOUS POET SPEAKS TO ME

Over half a century ago in an English literature course at Antioch College we were given an exam in which, among other things, we were asked to write an essay on a line from Alfred Lord Tennyson's epic poem "The Lady of Shalott."    

Based on an Arthurian legend, this poem recites the saga of a young noblewoman consigned to spend her days locked in a tower where, using a mirror in the window of her lonely cell, she would sadly watch young lovers embracing in the shadows below.  

In the very center of the poem you will find this verse: 

But in her web she still delights 

To weave the mirror's magic sights, 

For often thro' the silent nights 

A funeral, with plumes and lights 

       And music, came from Camelot: 

Or when the moon was overhead 

Came two young lovers lately wed; 

'I am half sick of shadows,' said 

       The Lady of Shalott. 

The line we were asked to discuss in our final exam was the last one: "I am half sick of shadows said the Lady of Shalott."  

Today as I watch the world go by through my window or sadly decline outings with family and friends because the pain resulting from the administrative ineptitude of University of Chicago Medicine (as well as COVID-19), this poem comes to mind.  

These days, my primary daily contact with the outside world is via television.  And what is television but shadows?  

I am, indeed, half sick of shadows!

The Lady of Shallot
                        

Read more about this poem and its history here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lady_of_Shalott

When done with this link, use "back" button (<) to return to this page.

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A GUILTY MOMENT OF SCHADENFREUDE

scha·den·freu·de

/ˈSHädənˌfroidə  noun.

Pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune. 

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Having spent the past two years unable to enjoy many pleasures of late middle age (or early old age, if you will) such as vacation travel, outdoor walks, movies, theatre, concerts, restaurant meals with family and friends, etc., because of the pain from multiple vertebral fractures associated with the medical mismanagement of the osteoporosis drug Prolia, I now find much of the world is in the same situation as I am -- trapped at home because of the emergency of the highly contagious and even lethal Corona Virus, COVID-19.  

Does this make me feel better? Not really.  

Does any of this take away the pain?   Of course not! 

Do I feel sorry for so many in all walks of life whose activities and livelihoods are so terribly disrupted now? 

Certainly I do!  And maybe I can empathize more than most, having lived through two years of this myself!

Do I wish any of this on the doctors and staff at University of Chicago whose mismanagement (described elsewhere in this blog) left me with unrelenting pain and disability?   

I'll need to think about this. Maybe there could be a bit of schadenfreude here.     I'm not all THAT saintly 

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ARE BISPHOSPHONATE DRUGS OR PROLIA ASSOCIATED WITH MACULAR DEGENERATION?

I'm dealing with macular degeneration (which I now have in both eyes) and learning more about possible links between osteoporosis and this condition and possibly the role of some of the osteoporosis drugs, particularly Prolia (denosumab).  But this may be true of the oral bisphosphonate drugs as well.   Obviously age is a common factor but retinal specialists treating me have suggested this and I have seen literature to support this.  More on this as I learn more!  

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May 8, 2021  Adding this article:

https://www.ehealthme.com/ds/prolia/macular-degeneration/#:~:text=Macular%20degeneration%20is%20found%20among%20people%20who%20take,Prolia%20from%20the%20FDA%2C%20and%20is%20updated%20regularly.

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REPURPOSING AN OLDER POEM FOR A NEWER DRUG

Many years ago the FDA approved three drugs for male erectile dysfunction.   It turned out that they had side effects that could adversely affect vision.

This also turns out to be the case with Amgen's Prolia, which already appears to be associated with macular degeneration -- as of May, 2021 dry in my left eye, wet in my right eye.  

(This association with Prolia was confirmed by the retinal specialist now treating me for macular degeneration!)

So here is a poem I wrote over fifteen years ago.  

I need to write another poem for Prolia.  But here is the original.  

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A “Dear Doctor” letter: 

 

Dear Doctor, as you toil at daily grind, 

Consider him, in lusty state of mind,

Who trembles at love’s doorstep, yet can’t cope.

For him Three Muses gently lift his hope! 

Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are their names,

And justly they have earned their worldwide fames!

Lately sprung from Pfizer, Bayer and Lilly,

They’ve made a lot of swains act downright silly!

But a darker side to pharmaceutic passion,

Should surely place your scrip on stricter ration.

Cupid’s arrows can be a sweet surprise,

But never when they strike you in the eyes.

So please accept these gentle protestations:

Love may be blind, but please, Doc, not your patients! 

 

Joan Levin -- 2005

 

 

JUVENT? MARODYNE?

Juvent and Marodyne are two devices that jiggle you around and purport to help with osteoporosis by stimulating bone growth.

I'm working with both of them.  

bright and JoansBones for inspire.com  for name Rawchi

maybe JoansBones there too?

HOW MY BROKEN BACK MAY BE PROTECTING MY LIFE

(Note: This is written tongue in cheek!  I do not recommend this to anyone!  But it's what's happening for me right now!)

While I endure the pain I am experiencing due to multiple vertebral fractures resulting from the totally avoidable clerical errors made by the University of Chicago, and while I am sad for all I have missed over the past few years on this account, and especially on the recent holidays -- days (at least pre-COVID-19) for gathering with family and friends -- I must also consider that the restrictions now occasioned by this pain may also be reducing my risk of contracting COVID-19.   (https://joanscovid19blog.blogspot.com)

I have not been able to join family or friends at the beach, picnics, movies or concerts or other enjoyable summertime events.  The pain is just too severe if I am sitting up or standing for more than an hour or so. 

But this year, these activities would also pose risks for me -- especially at my age -- of contracting COVID-19.    So right now my only activities beyond the walls of my apartment (where I live alone without visitors or household help) are occasional walks around the block and medical appointments.  

A painfully broken back is not something I'd recommend as a prophylactic approach to COVID-19, but since it was bestowed upon me by my University of Chicago doctors, I might as well treat it as a gift -- even when it hurts!    

So thanks, University of Chicago -- even with the pain I deal with every single day of my life, your monumental clerical screwup may turn out to be providential!  

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A RETIREMENT

Ding Dong he's gone!  He retired September 1, 2020.

 Had this retirement been a few years earlier I would not be living in pain every day of my life!

https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisRetina/posts/happy-retirement-dr-flood-on-this-next-chapter-of-your-life-we-celebrate-and-con/3288637167857727/

How such a careless person ever got to practice any sort of medicine is still a mystery to me as I live every moment of my life with the resulting from his careless words! 

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DING DONG HE IS GONE -- OR AT LEAST RETIRED!

Dr. Timothy Flood retired at the end of August, 2020 

https://www.illinoisretina.com/retina-specialists/dr-flood#:~:text=Flood%20holds%20memberships%20in%20several,the%20end%20of%20August%2C%202020.

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