on joining the gypsies . . .

If I run away and join the gypsies, I need to learn how to tie a decent scarf head-covering, right?

Actually, I was working out my tears and frustration in my journal over losing my hair. An eczema scalp-rash plus the trauma the vertigo put my body through the past 3 months is causing my hair to fall out. The dermatologist thinks it will all come back in, but in the meantime I'm pretty upset about it. Drawing some possible temporary solutions helps me deal with it -- an excellent reason to keep an art journal, I've found.

BTW, I have not had any more vertigo or dizziness for the past 3 weeks. Looks like it is gone, thank God.

*  For those interested or simply curious, the rash is called seborrhoeic dermatitis. It can spread other places, including the ear canal --- has me wondering if it is the culprit that started the vertigo, since it began behind and on my outer ear about 3 weeks before the vertigo.

sketching at doctors' appointments

Nothing conclusive was found when I saw an ear doctor about the vertigo . . . but I had several sketching opportunities while waiting in various rooms.

Today, I did some more medical office sketching -- this time while my mom saw her eye doctor. At first I decided to not try sketching her doctor, knowing how he is constantly moving. Then he took a phone call so I did a quick gesture sketch.

He must have eyes in the back of his head because as soon as he hung up and stood up, he turned around and asked to see my sketch.

Tuesday's sketching

Humidity levels have dropped so Ceilidh and I sat out on the porch yesterday. I sketched this chair while sitting in the porch swing Bill made to match the chair.

Later Bill wanted to buy some cookies; I'm avoiding most grains but I treated myself to part of a candy bar --- I've been really good at eating better the last few weeks, in spite of the vertigo. I lost 6 lbs. in three weeks, twice the amount I plan to lose per week.

I've tried eating healthier for quite a while, but without seeing any weight loss. Until my doctor told me to download the "Lose It" app to chart food and exercise each day. Seems to help a lot.

"wait and see"

I was a bit dizzy in the waiting room for my MRI, but sketching seemed to help . . . . as long as I didn't move my head much. So feet seemed a good subject. I wanted to capture the way this lady had her hands gripping her cane, but as I got to the hands, someone handed me paperwork to fill out.

The MRI results showed everything "normal", so I'm to finish the meds I'm on, then wait and see. If they took care of whatever is causing this, fine. If not, I'll be seeing a vertigo specialist in Wichita --- I didn't even know they had specialists for this!

I sketched this with a Tombow pen that is drying up, then added watercolor later at home.

Ceilidh on the job

Having a recent problem with vertigo, I've been spending a lot of boring time laying still in bed. Better than the world spinning around me, I guess. We rigged up a way for my very short Scottie to get up on the bed with me if she wants to by moving an ottoman in from the living room.

 

I also used my journal to record when each attack of vertigo happened as well as the current meds I'm taking to lessen the effects. It will be helpful this morning when I go in for an MRI.