Monday, May 26, 2008

All things being personal

Hi there. I know I am a day late, but I have been prepping for my NY trip which then leads into my Cincinnati trip. I'll be at the Lori Foster get together so, anyone who is going please look me up! Also, I have a bunch of baskets I put in going out to raffle. Two of them will have Noah's ARC (sounds like Noah's ARK!! ROFL!!!) in them. It's for a whole bunch of good causes, and you know I am a sucker for a good cause! So please take part if you are going to be there!

Now on to all things personal. I figured I would share this with you all since I share everything else, and it's something that can potentially affect my presence here for a while. After RAW in September, I am going to be scheduling gastric bypass surgery for myself. As terrifying as it sounds, that's about how scared I am. But I am more afraid of dying young...and dying without ever having lived my life to the fullest. Food is my curse, one that no one can throw off completely. When I say I have tried EVERYTHING else first, I really do mean it. Those of you who have met me in person must see how I struggle, how frustrating it is for me to live with both morbid obesity and fibromyalgia. The fibromyalgia will most likely never go away, not as severe as it is for me, but carrying around a whole other person most certainly makes it worse, and shedding that other person will most certainly help. In all things.

Before making this choice, I asked myself to give 25 reasons why I would want to do this sort of thing. They rolled off of the top of my mind without hesitation. Some were simple, vain things...but most were about the quality of my life. This is a drastic decision, not to be entered lightly by anyone. But I have chosen a top class surgeon, one who has done this over a thousand times. In all those instances, he has had only one mortality...and that was from an unexpected heart arrhythmia...more likely due to the patient's obesity that the surgery.

I was still hesitant just the same, that fear thing again, plus I don;t like being spoon fed my resources. I turned to someone I knew who had been through it. Angela Knight. I don't think she'll mind me mentioning we've talked, she's very open about it in her blogs and such. It was a good perspective, a real one, and we spoke for hours. I think I am much better prepared for it. But I also know I will be talking to her again and again for a variety of reasons.

Why am I sharing this with you? So that you understand why I am too weak to write to you for months afterward. So that you understand how stressful the progress toward it will be for me. You won;t see it affect my work for at least a year or better, but somewhere down the line there will be a hiccup in the pacing of my releases. Worst case scenario, that is. But the hope is that I will bounce back better than ever, that I will be healthy for my tour of Australia and London. That I will be more comfortable than ever before as I sleep in flat hotel room beds. That I will have the energy to walk and sight see as I haven't done in years. Decades. It's too late for me to repair the damage done to my uterus, which was removed last year, but perhaps I will find the energy and health and well being I need to become a foster mother...or to adopt a child. I have so much to offer now, and so little hope if I don't do something.

I hope you don't mind if I share parts of the journey with you. It will be mostly about needing your support, or a place to vent, or, hopefully, my best resource. You. You've all been by my side for some time now. Making me who and what I am. I know you are the best place to turn because you've proven to be kindhearted, generous and loyal to a fault. I'll be selfish and I'll need you a lot. I just thought I'd warn you!!

Now, I have one other favor to ask. If you have won a prize from me (other than the RIF covers) please email me with the name of the prize as the subject line and you snail mail please. I have a lot of names here and no idea who won which prize. My assistant will be mailing them out while I am away but I need to know how to sign what before then. I don't want you to have to wait til I come back on June 8th. Do this quickly, I leave tomorrow morning and I only have a day stopover in between next week.

Meanwhile, I want to run a new contest :) This one will be bunches of fun. I want to call it the Rumpelstiltskin contest. I have a middle name. Oh yes, and it's a pretty one. I like it. But no one out the knows what it is unless they are my very best of real life friends. So...that means if you want to know what it is, you have to figure out the name. Here are your clues. It has eight letters. It is the title of a song. The name of a winery. And it means "Who is like God".

Everyone who gets it right enters a drawing for a Noah ARC. :) Be careful. You only get one guess!! Send all entries to the usual email: jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com and I will pick a winner when I come back from my NY trip and before I go to Ohio. Good luck!

And don't forget, Damien hits the shelves tomorrow!! (Yes, the date was moved again!!) Go and get him!! The buzz is pretty sweet so far! And I was #69 on B and N the other day!! (Great number huh? Suits me so well!!) Let kick ass!!

Hugs and kitties to all of you!
Jacki

22 comments:

Anna said...

Hey Jacki, I hope you have good time on both your trips. Good Luck with the surgery. My mom's best friend had the surgery and it's like she's a different person. I hope it works out for you too! *HUGS*

Stephanie*magic* said...

Jacki!
I'm so glad your gonna do this for your health! I really hope all goes wonderful and without problems.
As you know,i'm always here if you need me.
Wishing you all the best!!
I hope you have a great time on your trips!!
Be safe hon!
*hugs*

Pattie said...

Hi Jacki.. You will do well and will be well. I am considering the lap band so I'll be rooting (I hope that doesn't mean planting) anyway you know what I mean :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Jacki, good luck with your upcoming surgery, I'm sure that all will be well for you. And I think I speak for most of us when I say...YES keep us posted! Share, vent, whatever you want to do, we got nothin but love for ya woman!! MUAH!

Anonymous said...

Hi Jacki...have a gr8 time on ur trips.
Good Luck w/ ur upcoming surgery...u go girl...u can do it! U'll b just fine...u'll c.
I 2nd Rena...plse keep us posted.
Ada:)

Unknown said...

Have fun Jacki! I hope the surgery goes well too. The tot and I send you lots and lots of hugs. Perhaps when you've recovered you can come out to SoCal and we'll party like rockstars lol. MUAH.
P.S. Boy were my cheeks red, I fixed it though. I guess I should stop writing while distracted lol...

Jacquelyn Frank said...

Thanks ladies. I know you all are here for me :)

Carpathian Queen said...

Jacki, good luck with the surgery!!! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! And of course we'll all be here for you, what did you expect!!??

And London... Can you tell me more?? Or is that in a very far future ;-))

Indie_Chick said...

Good luck with your surgery Jacki! just so you know I'll be praying for you. Don't worry about it just take a deep breath go in and remember that when its all over all of your Loyal Lunatics will be here waiting for you ^_^... I'm going to buy my book today!!!!




Love

P.S : to take your mind off the surgery I would suggest checking out all Hot Docs. trust me it works!!

Lynn said...

Hi, Jacki

I hope you have fun on your trips.

Best of luck with the surgery when the time comes. I know quite a few people who've had the same surgeries and look wonderful.

Keep us up to date!

DIANNE said...

Hello Jacki..I wish u all the best in ur up coming surgery..if ever u need to vent..just vent away..that is what friends are for.
Hugs

Peachez said...

Hey, Jac Girl,
I am proud of your courage in facing what had to be a major decision for a serious life change and choice and you will survive this and any other obstacles that life will throw at you because of your faith and knowing he will always be there so will I, I am a firm believer in FOOTPRINTS" so girl enjoy your trip and success on the new and future releases I am on my out to pick up mine!
hugs to you
Peachez

Unknown said...

Hi Jacki.

I wish you all the best with your surgery and have a speedy and wonderful recovery.

Have fun coming to New York. Where will you be visiting? If its the city, I would love to have lunch with you :)

*huggies*

Anonymous said...

I hope you have fun on your NY trip. About your fibromyalgia, here's helpful information for you and for all fibromyalgia sufferers.

Fibromyalgia is a condition where you feel chronic pain in certain parts of your body; it is a muscular pain especially around the joints. There can also be centralized pain felt in the spinal chord, brain, neck shoulders etc. People with fibromyalgia generally complain of pain in the joints, but it actually is the muscles and the tendons around it that cause the pain, it can be excruciating sometimes and can be a continuous throbbing pain. People suffering from Fibromyalgia also show symptoms of depression, sleeplessness, irritable bowel syndrome, stress and many others, which are caused due to the pain.

Rid Fibromyalgia provides a simple process to helps you eliminate all your symptoms of fibromyalgia and enjoy living your life again. This will provides us the best and most effective solutions on how to rid ourselves from pain.

The Rid Fibromyalgia provides an eBook entitled “Heal the Body” that will teach you the best diet that will allow you to eat your way to wellness, it will also document which vitamins and supplements will target and reverse the illness, how to achieve pain relief through acupuncture, what exercises are safe and will work, and what type of medications may make you sicker, and what will work. This eBook takes a step by step approach in showing you how to rid yourself of the pain naturally so that you can take back your life.

We must know the symptoms of this illness. For us to know what would be the approach we will going to apply. Here's Signs and Symptoms of Fibromyalgia and steps to treat it naturally.

We must also be responsible and aware to the things to gain and cope up with this kind of illness. Eating nutritious food with regular exercise would be result to a better life. Here's Basic Tips in Coping Fibromyalgia.

If we say Fibromyalgia Diet, there is no specific recommended diet for fibromyalgia. But a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals can certainly help in coping with the illness. Magnesium rich vegetables are recommended for patient's suffering from fibromyalgia. Here's some information for you to help in Fibromyalgia Diet.

We must also think that vitamins are important for Fibromyalgia sufferers. This will give us additional energy and strength to kept a healthy living. But of course, you must be aware that not all vitamins are effective or directly gives you a good result. Find the best vitamins that would easily give a good response if your taking it. The best thing is your healed and keep your body healthy as possible. Here's The Benefit of Vitamins for us to know why vitamins are important for fibromyalgia sufferers.

Also feel free to view this video Fibromyalgia Help. It really gives good information for those who have Fibromyalgia and encourage not to give up because in every pain your getting through has a good solution in the end.

Here's Rid Fibromyalgia, For free info and helpful articles on fighting fibromyalgia.

Take care...

LynTaylor said...

Wishing you all the best for your upcoming surgery.((((hugs))))

Jade3591 said...

Dear Jacki,
Fun on your trips even though you will be working :-).
I think one of the most important things about your surgery is to remember YOUR attitude will affect how well you recover. Yours seems to me to be very positive. I think your research will hold you in good stead as well as having a surgeon you are comfortable with. Also remember - there are NO WRONG questions when dealing with major surgery. The MOST important thing to remember: ALL the medical staff you encounter are YOUR employees. If they say or do anything you do not understand or agree with you have the RIGHT to let your opinion be known.
If you have had surgery before then I imagine you know the "3 day feel bad" thing? For me day 3 after surgery is the day I feel the absolute worst. Others I've talked to said they had experienced the same "day 3" thing. Not sure why other than most of the anesthesia has finally left most of your body and you really feel the affects of the surgery itself. Even with the cushion of pain medication, this "day 3" thing may come as a surprise. I sincerely hope your "day 3" will be an easy day for you. Oh yes, I've had lots of surgery so consider myself somewhat of an expert. Oh wait - think that's hubris - ick :-). Good luck and may your recovery be as easy on you as is possible.

Ren (blndmschf1969) said...

we'll all be there for you. i wish i'd be able to get there physically and help you out, but i have no vacation until next year. but the phone lines are always open.

as for the contest...i know that middle name...but i won't tell!

good luck all. she gave good clues.

kribby101 said...

Hey! Best of luck with your surgery!

I stole (well borrowed-- nah, let me be honest STOLE) a copy of Jacob from my sister the last time I visited.

The cover was just so lovely I had to see what it was about.

I found your blog via amazon.com Jacob comments.

I really must applaud you for being NICE. You calmly and sweetly explained to the person in the customer discussions about *What is this book about* (this link if you are like... what is this crazy person talking about) http://www.amazon.com/gp/forum/cd/discussion.html/ref=cm_cd_dp_tft_tp?ie=UTF8&cdForum=Fx3QK15IR0DG20H&cdPage=1&s=books&Mx3UP2OU21KYJRLHelpfulDiscussionBoards2.s=SUCCESS&Mx3UP2OU21KYJRLHelpfulDiscussionBoards2.v=1&asin=0821780654&store=books&voteError=0&cdThread=Tx2LEZTCK33TY0S

You would be surprised how many authors chime in on amazon.com customer discussions about their books and start flinging insults when someone has a question or doesn't rate the book 4 or 5 stars in their review. Who'd want to buy a book from a grump-bucket?

Anyway, I really wish you luck with your surgery and I would like to applaud your first novel. Jacob has been a great read, so far. I say so far because I am only on p. 40.

I have really got into paranormal fiction and I have to say the world you're creating is very interesting.

DBlackburn said...

Ms. Frank,

Congratulations on a very brave decision. Good for you! Proceed with the conviction that every step will be a success :-)

Have fun with Lori and friends! I surely envy the fact that you'll be there and I won't! Ha!

I'm sorry I've not seen your blog before and just read everydangblog you've written...LOL. Whatta wonderful woman!

Now I not only love your stories (and my friends the Nightwalkers) but now I stand in awe of you and all that you are. Bravo!

Deb Fender

AuthorIsland.com said...

Hugs Jacki!!!

I know several people who have gone through a bypass and believe me, you'll be so happy when it's over and done with! It'll quite literally will give you your life back - I know it's scary, but just look how many people are pulling for you! Me included!

It was a pleasure meeting you at Lori's get together and I hope to help you as much as I can through the months ahead - I'm so looking forward to welcoming you to AuthorIsland.com and I promise to take good care of you!

Have a wonderful day,
DeNita
AuthorIsland.com

CrystalGB said...

I wish you all the best with your upcoming surgery.
My sister-in-law's sister has lost over 100 pounds since she had her surgery.

joyroett said...

Wishing you all the best with the surgery!

Joy

 

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