On the re-discovery of my fandom stocking and trying to return to LJ

[anna_luna]

Thanks to tarlanx, I rediscovered my fandom stocking today. (She tagged me when she posted it to the AO3 and I saw the notification).

I had totally forgotten about it and now there it is, full of fanish goodness just for me!

(Slight Trigger Warning for medical information bellow, but nothing too graphic)

I was rather sick in December-February, because my gallbladder decided to grow stones (I MADE STONES) and because I was a PhD Candidate in my last year, I kept getting misdiagnosed as having too much stress.

For those who don't know, I was living in Japan at the time and while I speak Japanese, medical Japanese was quite difficult for me, adding an extra layer of stress (I have never been as nervous as when I was trying to understand what operation they were actually going to perform on me in a foreign language).

Anyway, long story short, I was finally diagnosed, admitted to the hospital, hooked to an IV and did not eat anything for 3 days, then they gave me pass to get out of the hospital for 3 hours (with IV) to do my PhD defense (which I passed, the professors were rather intimidated by the IV, though), and came back to the hospital in the evening to have the operation to remove my gallbladder. ALL IN ONE DAY! YAY!

Now I am Dr. Luna, but I would not recommend having defense+surgery in one day.

Anyway, following cesperanza's example, I am trying to come back to LJ/DW, because Tumblr just doesn't carry the same sense of community, as she said, it feels like "fannish TV".

I am off to look at my stocking now! Thank you so much for all who sent something and sorry for the late reply.

Comments

[monanotlisa]

Woo-hoo! Welcome back, Dr. Luna! ;)

(And ah, emergency surgery: always fun! I had some just before Christmas in 2010...)

[anna_luna]

Hey! Thanks I missed you guys!

I have to say that while surgery was the worst, the staff was so nice and the hospital was great. I was on the 11th floor and on a clear day, I even saw Mount Fuji before my MRI. Silver lining?

[runpunkrun]

Good to see you around here! I'm amazed you had surgery and your defense in the same day; hope you're feeling better and congratulations on passing your defense!

[anna_luna]

Thanks so much! I feel the defense got overshadowed by the surgery and I still can't believe I am a doctor!

[burnishedvictory]

Congratulations Dr. Luna! And I'm glad that you finally got a diagnosis and treatment. Defense + surgery on one day sounds ridiculously stressful, so I'm glad you got through it.

I'm so happy that people are posting on LJ/DW again. I missed everyone. Tumblr's nice, but conversations are too hard to follow there.

[anna_luna]

Thanks so much! It was a bit like ripping the band aid: do you want surgery today after the defense? -Sure, let's get it over with.

Tumblr is very pretty and addictive, but after a year, I can't say I have made any friends or interacted with anyone properly!

[sally_maria]

Good grief, that's a pretty dramatic way to celebrate getting your PhD. Congratulations, and I'm glad to hear that it all worked out for you. :-)

I've still been reading on LJ/DW but I really must post more often - I hope a few more of us manage to stick around.

[anna_luna]

:) I am glad so many people seem to still be around! I was afraid I was shouting into the void.

Also, I really don't recommend celebrating a PhD this way. But at least it was done, and so many people came to visit me in recovery, so that was nice.

[tarlanx]

Many congratulations on your PhD! Plus I am so glad the operation went well and you are back to full health.
Welcome back!

[anna_luna]

Thank you very much! It was quite the ordeal, and I am very happy it is over with.

I miss the LJ Crowd!

[londonsabre.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your illness. But YAY! for getting your PhD!!

[anna_luna]

Thank so much! It was really not a very complex surgery, BUT ON THE SAME DAY OF MY PhD DEFENSE, WHYYYYYYYY?

It was very unnerving.

[melodysparks.livejournal.com]

Congratulation Doctor and glad you are better

[anna_luna]

Thank you so much! It was a stressful day, but at least it is over with and I didn't have time to stress for the operation.

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

A) I am so happy to see you! and

B) So happy that you are posting and

C) That is the MOST BADASS dissertation defense story I have ever heard. Dr. Anna Luna, congrats!! :D

[anna_luna]

Thank you! It was quite the ordeal but thankfully my friends and professors were very supportive.

Now I am that person that whenever someone is stressing over and exam can go "well, at least you won't be having surgery right after!" :P

[psyko-kittie.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your surgery, but yay for them finally figuring out. And double yay for being a Doctor now. I'll get there eventually!

What's your doctorate in, if you don't mind me asking?

[psyko-kittie.livejournal.com]

Oh that sounds cool though. I've never been much a math/science kind of person. My passion seems to lie in history and politics (more specifically European).

[anna_luna]

I just remember I wanted to keep this post public, so I am going to edit the other comment to delete some personal info. Nothing to do with you! :)

[seratonation.livejournal.com]

OMG thats... intense? lol crazy! congratulations on becoming a doctor! and having the stones removed!

also welcome back <3

[anna_luna]

Thank you! I have to say it is strange to realize you can have one of your internal organs removed and everything actually works *better* afterwards!

I have missed the LJ crowd so much!

[fififolle]

Oh hey! Hi! *hug* I remember thinking at the time that you are quite a busy bunny, and I hoped things were well with you - sorry to hear they were not!
That must have been so very stressful, doing your defense with an IV there! Well done, you. Seriously. Congratulations!!!
Whatever you are up to now, take care and best wishes for the next phase :)

[anna_luna]

Thank you! *hugs*

I was quite busy and regularly in extreme pain in my stomach and everyone was, "you are stressed" and I was like "I don't feel that stressed..." but finally we could figure it out

Actually, I should mention I am living in the UK now! I am here for a year on a fellowship.

[fififolle]

Fantastic! I hope you are having a good time over here.

It is surprisingly easy to miss something important going on!

[missyvortexdv.livejournal.com]

Woo on being a Dr! Glad the operation went fine too.

[anna_luna]

Thank you so much, I am glad it is over with!

[anjak-j.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Doctor. =)

Gallstones... UGH!. *shudder* I had to have my gallbladder removed a few years back due to gallstones - about the only time I was ever happy to have surgery because damn, gallstones are painful. (I ended up having emergency surgery to remove mine because one of the pesky little buggers got stuck in my bile duct.) Anyway, hope you are feeling better now.

Oh, and welcome to the UK. =)

[anna_luna]

Thanks, hon! I am so glad both are over with. I was admitted to hospital urgently because the gallbladder was affecting my liver, fortunately, I stabilized and they could operate in peace at a later time.

I am definitely feeling fine now, so all is well and I am loving the UK.