Radio to return fairly soon on a regular schedule, barring setback
In this 3.5 month journey of LPR/anxiety/depression/H.Pylori, I've had a lot of ups and downs.
On August 15, 2018, I felt normal and healthy.
On August 16, 2018, I developed a lump in my throat, and couldn't breathe whenever I'd lie down flat.
On approximately August 21, 2018, I developed a severe and crippling case of anxiety and depression -- conditions I never had before in my life.
During the first horrible month, I eliminated everything which could have possibly been the root of the problem, including gambling and radio. I even considered shutting down this forum.
Since then, here are the facts/conclusions I've reached so far, regarding my condition:
- It wasn't from gambling (unless I caught H.Pylori at the Rio, which wouldn't be surprising).
- It wasn't from radio. This was confirmed by an ENT doctor who specializes in voices. He said that you don't just wake up one day with the inability to do long podcasts, and that he didn't see any noticeable damage to my voice box.
- It wasn't from any stress on the forums, including the Cmoney situation (which, mind you, started a few days AFTER my LPR/anxiety got going).
- The exact cause is unknown, but it seems to be related to some kind of GI condition (perhaps H.Pylori?) which caused a chain reaction and the sudden symptoms in mid-August.
As it stands today:
- I still have LPR, but the worst symptom (inability to fall asleep due to choking) has been somewhat controlled by usage of Biotene Dry Mouth rinse and sleeping on a sloped bed.
- Depression is about 90% gone
- Anxiety is about 75% gone
- H.Pylori, diagnosed November 2, is still there, and getting rid of it will not be easy. However, unless it's behind the LPR/anxiety symptoms, I am not experiencing any symptoms from it, aside from some mild but persistent abdominal pain.
- I was able to do a radio show near 5 hours last time without any noticeable damage or unusual soreness.
- I have taken two short trips to Vegas successfully, without issue.
- I have played a number of poker sessions, both live and online, without issue.
- I attended 3 Dodgers postseason games, including the 18 inning World Series game, without issue.
- Despite having lost 30 pounds in a little more than a month at the beginning of all this, my weight has stabilized and I haven't gained or lost pounds in 2.5 months.
Therefore, while I will still attempt to keep the radio shows shorter, there is no reason I can't return to doing them once per week.
During the first month of these issues, I was a mess and definitely couldn't do radio. I couldn't do anything. I actually left thousands of $ in freeplay on the table in Vegas (not joking) because I was unable to travel anywhere, or even set foot in a casino. The fact that I involuntarily lost 30 pounds in a little more than a month should speak volumes as to how I was feeling.
Today, I am leaps and bounds better than that first month. I am not cured, but I have made huge inroads against my psychiatric symptoms, and even my physical symptoms are much more under control.
I miss doing radio very much, and look forward to returning to it.
I will be announcing the next episode date shortly. It is possible that, once I begin fully treating the H.Pylori (which is coming soon), I will have to take a few weeks off again, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
The freerolls will return, including the $400 I promised to contribute myself from unpaid freeroll prizes over the years.
