unexpecting shit.

[alexandra]

hey people. i'm gonna try to give a short explaination of what i'm going through right now, even tho' it's kind of hard...

i've been coughing for about two years, and since wednesday i've been coughing blood (about three tablespoons per attack of coughing), so i've been to the nearest hospital several times over the past days, and nurses and doctors have taken billions of tests and two x-rays of my lungs, and have now established that i have a polyp here: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/funkymustard/polyp.png, which is apparently a "rare place", and it has to be removed as soon as possible, 'cause it keeps growing all the time (like a tumour, but it's not really a tumour), and produces hormones that give me asthma sympthoms, and will sooner or later obstruct my breathing. no one knows why it's there, but it's got to go. i'm having surgery on tuesday. there's a risk that my whole right lung will be removed, but i don't feel like getting into that... we'll see what happens. tomorrow i'm going with my family to the hostipal again to have a talk with the surgeons, and a few other things. and then i have to spend the night monday-tuesday at the hospital, etc... i could add a lot of shit about this... i might not be around for a while, maybe even months, depending on how the surgery goes.

i knew i'd have some strange shit, but this was very unexpecting... surgery and shit... first time ever...

any thoughts, questions or experience around this?

[ms.peachy]

wow girl, that's pretty heavy! I can't even imagine how nervous you must be about now. Try to take some comfort in the fact that at least now you know what is going on, and your doctors can address it and hopefully treat it in the best way possible. Hang in there; this too shall pass. If we don't hear from you for a while we'll know why but try to come back as soon as you can and let us know how you're doing.

[ToucanSpam]

My advice is don't think about it. Just try to relax as much as you can.

PS- Give us an update as soon as you can, pretty please.

[ericlee]

I for one can imagine what you're going through at such a young age. I lost my grandma due to lung cancer but she never smoked in her life but yet was diagnosed as someone who smokes 5 packs a day.

Me, I smoke. I like my cigars. I've been diagnosed as a person with 54 year old lungs. I'll probably never stop.

I hope your condition has nothing to do with smoking. If it does, stop while you can.

I'm all fun and games here but when it comes to something of this matter, then my heart goes out to you. Hang in there and coach that lung. Tell it, it's been with you from the beginning and it's going to stay with you till the end.

[Freebasser]

I don't know much about you except that you play bass, which puts you in my book of cool beans (y)

Get better soon, kiddo.

[Bob]

i don't have any experience about this kind of thing so i don't really have much to say other than good luck. we'll be thinking of you :)

[jabumbo]

just try and relax since you did all that you could up till now. so just let the doctors do their thing and keep healthy kid

[CJM]

medicine is prety intense now, so you're in good hands. good luck.

[Bob]

medicine is prety intense now, so you're in good hands. good luck.

yeah. there's really never been a better time to get sick. you'll be alright :)

[kaiser soze]

keep positive and get it taken care of soon!

[BangkokB]

You're a Trooper! Rock-n-Roll You can beat this and be back to breakdancing in a couple of weeks

[FloorK]

get well.... I know you can beat this, you rule ;)

[ericlee]

Nice avatar by the way!! Fuck it, guilty of watching Viva la Bam. The shit's just funny, damn right hilarious. Especially Don.

I have a coworker that spends way more time than I do and he told me the show is stupid and that Bam needs to grow up and the shit's not funny. He's like 5 years older than me but yet he just sits behind his computer trying to tell me Bam needs to grow up. Haha..

[Knuckles]

Yikes!

I wish I had some fantastic advice to give you kiddo. :( That is some heavy stuff to be going through.

I'm sending you the patented "Knucks Positive Vibes" and I hope they help out a little. (y)

Take care,

Andy

[paul jones]

I find the best cure for this type of thing is 60 cigarrettes a day



not really

hope it all corrects itself out with those magical Knuckles vibes of the cosmos (y)

[b-grrrlie]

As I've experienced longer convalescenses, lying in bed for months a couple of times, a few tips: Get different kinds of reading matter, videos and games (or crosswords, scetchbook and pencils and handicrafts if you're into that sort of thing) to entertain you near your bed so you don't need to be asking others for new stuff if you get tired of something or other, put some nice pics on the ceiling to look at and of course good music to listen to.
Hope you'll recover quickly from your operation!

[thegoodmrbrodie!]

good luck! being in l'hopital will be an interesting experience at least...different from what you are used to, so i am sure you will be able to gain something from that. and you'll come back strong, i am sure of that also. rock and/or roll little girl! :)

[P of R]

I'm holding my thumbs for you, Alex.

I hope everything turns out ok. (y)


I've had to have a polyp removed as well. Not anyway near as serious though.

[jlkmcacy]

THIS IS NOT A FAN LETTER. THIS IS A CALL TO YOU GREAT MUSICIANS TO BRING YOUR INSPIRING MUSIC TO A CITY THAT IS READY TO FIND WHAT IT HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR!



Who are we?

Displaced by that bitch Katrina, we grew up in New Orleans. In high school, a musician and garage band groupie, we spent our young adulthood in venues like House Of Blues, dancing bare foot with Jack Daniels to Ween and others. Jeff even played at Tipitina’s and Howlin’ Wolf with the band Testeverde. Now we live outside of Knoxville, Tennessee.

What do we see?

A city yearning, dying for some culture, surrounded by some of the most breath taking views in the country - Smoky and Cumberland Mountains. They have opened an arts district called the Old City and clubs like Blue Cats, just waiting for innovative bands like yours to grace the stage with your presence. We have met many kids here. They have great musical tastes, interests and talents. They have done there best to fill the stages and clubs, but when we tell them of the great shows we have experienced in New Orleans, at places like the House of Blues, they are upset at the fact that they have been passed over.

So what do we want?

We asked ourselves, have these clubs contacted you? Have they begged for you to come here and give this town the experience they are so desperately craving?

If they have not, we are now, down on our knees. Come here. Play Blue Cats or the Pilot Lounge, etc. Once these kids see you on the bill, it will sell out!! As New Orleans natives, we have been spoiled with constant shows of talented groups like yourselves. We have been waiting for you to come to Knoxville, so far no one has. So when we want something, what is the best way to get it? Go after it!

Contact us! (or if you feel more comfortable : Blue Cats 865-544-4300). Definitely call us if you want to talk about all the things this city is ready to offer: why we fell in love with it and why you will, too. Help turn Knoxville into the happening, on the Map, multi-cultural center it has primed itself to be!


Sincerely,

Lauren & Jeff McAcy
865-986-9980
865-582-5789
865-789-6382

jlkmcacy@bellsouth.net


**THIS IS 100% HEART FELT AND NO JOKE. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO GAIN ANYTHING HERE BUT GREAT MUSIC AND CULTURAL EXPANSION IN OUR NEW CITY.*

[P of R]

^ Geeez. Have some respect, spamming wanker!

[medler]

i suggest you get one of those bumper books of puzzles

they're wicked and they stop you from being bored and feeling like your mind is rotting away, plus when people come to visit they can give you a hand.

seriously bumper puzzle books make time fly (y)

[alexandra]

here's a little update:

i was at the hospital earlier today with my family and met one of "my" surgeons. i can tell he has a lot of professional ex (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/funkymustard/190206_3.jpg)perience. he knows what he's doing. this will be like a routine for him (even tho' he doesn't exactly remove polyps from windpipes everyday). he declared freely how the surgery's gonna be, also risks and everything. no bullshit, just straight talking with respec (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/funkymustard/190206_4.jpg)t. and he answered all our questions, so i feel calm and prepared. and since i'm young and healthy otherwise, i'll recover well, with or without my right lung. i'm leaving tomorrow at noon, and the surgery will be tuesday morning. my sister will come look after me when the surgery's done, since she's practising at the hospital in another ward.

i really want to thank you all for your kind words, advices, et cetera. i'll be thinking of y'all as well (except when i'm anesthetiz (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/funkymustard/190206_5.jpg)ed and shit). take care and i'll catch'all later with an update. peace + love, /Alex


p.s; that song "Tripping" by Robbie Williams is fucking splendid. seriously. the music, the lyrics, the video, everything. okay now, buhbye (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v247/funkymustard/190206_6.jpg).

[Chicka B]

Oh my God that scared the fuck out of me! Well I'm glad you're calm and stuff, hope everything comes out alright. You know we all love you here, so post as soon as possible! Peace.

Nice pictures by the way. :D

[ms.peachy]

I am sure you will be fine. Take care, get plenty of rest and be well soon. (http://www.tuamflorists.com/Final.1.jpg)

[P of R]

Pictures. (y)

[Leonie]

Ooh shit this is bad :(

get back and better soon!!

[Rancid_Beasties]

I hope everything goes well alexandra, so you can come back on here asap and restore the awesomeness.

In the meantime I will ensure everyone picks up the slack around here.

[mp-seventythree]

So sorry to hear about this Alexandra.....good luck, you'll be back rockin before you know it (y)

On another note, I had a general anaesthetic on Friday and they're pretty trippy, that and the oxygen they gave me afterwards...

[camo]

I just heard from alex, she was just leaving to go to the hospital.

She seems quite chirpy :D

I let you all know when I hear from her

[guerillaGardner]

To cast a brighter light on this, I've seen people who've had lungs removed and they've been up and looking fine in a matter of days, looking like nothing happened.

Not trying to underestimate it but you'd be surprised how healthy people can look just after such a major experience.