Reboot!

     Let's try it again, shall we?  Oh, wait, I guess it's just me so very late off the blocks.  Feeling much better this morning, though every little twinge from my back triggers a chain reaction of thoughts: ohheavensno, is that another one?  How bad was that? Izzit on the right side this time?  Upper or lower?  Ow.  Do they happen four inna row?  --Four at a time?  Will it keep happening and happening...? And so on.

     Well, that's life.  We are indeed temporary structures, simultaneously tougher than we expect and more fragile than we might think, a marvelous self-repairing biological mechanism until some invisible internal process throws the wrong switch and we've got gout or RA or, yeah, kidney stones.

     Third paragraph -- right here's a good place to thank all of the people who have been concerned, made caring comments, remembered me in their thoughts and prayers.  You compassion has made it easier to deal with this little surprise.

     My friends and I are a hopeful lot, many with an engineering bent, and so first thoughts are that if only the right grade of bolt, or a fast-enough op-amp or better-written code could be applied, all would be well.  It doesn't work that way and while medicine has indeed become big business, doctoring hasn't quite: listen to me well when I tell you that if an onion half could draw out fevers or an inexpensive suspension of silver did even half as well as sulfa drugs (which themselves aren't as widely or powerfully effective as antibiotics), the smalltime, independent M.D.s would be using them, with a line of patients out the door and SchmidtClineAstoZydecoBeechnut would be working up a branded version quicker than you could say Joe Lister.

     I'm telling you there aren't any "miracle cures," and as for "secrets the doctors don't want you know," bullshit. The only people who say that are people who either a) don't know any doctors and/or b) want to separate you from your money.  Most physicians are overworked, or at least under considerable pressure, much of it from patient's expectations, and even with all their wonderful medicines, imaging devices and surgical advancements, they know they have not really got that much on the practitioner who took care of Julius Ceasar's ingrown eyelashes.  You want doctor's secrets?  Don't smoke.  Don't drink to excess.  Keep your weight down.  Watch your blood pressure, which is affected by salt intake.  And, listen good to this, it takes time to heal; your body does most of the work; pills and surgery just clear the path.  Doctors aren't hurting for patients, not now or ever; few of us -- heck, few enough of them -- take their advice and even those who do are eventually tripped up by time.

     I'm dealin' with the doctors and learning what I need to learn.  Illness isn't amateur hour for anyone but the sufferer. And, whine in public though I do -- and have to face up to it afterwards -- healing it is not really a spectator sport.

      Your good wishes helped a lot.  They are the very best medicine any person who's not a doctor or nurse can share.  Thank you.