Update: I’m having gallbladder surgery, which should address *part* of my fatigue problem

FYI for TMR readers: I wanted to let you know that I do still hope to return to blogging at some point, hopefully this summer and/or before training camp.

At this time, I’ve been advised by my primary care physician that my gallbladder is unhealthy, and needs to be removed. Its issues (gallstones and “sludge”) do not fully explain my fatigue–it’s more likely at this point that my February “flu” was in fact undiagnosed COVID-19, and that I’m suffering from Long Haul COVID issues…

But having the gallbladder out should at least partially address the autoimmune symptoms I’ve been experiencing, and it should relieve other chronic health issues that have hampered my day-to-day health over the past couple of months.

I’m seeing a surgeon on Monday to discuss the procedure, which is laparoscopic in nature these days (i.e. they use a “scope” to remove the gallbladder), and we’re going to go from there.

Regarding the rest of the fatigue issues, I’ve struggled to find a rheumatologist to address the Long Haul COVID issues because there is a shortage of rheumatologists in Michigan at present, but I’m hunting for one that will take my insurance.

That’s where I’m at. I’ve been working as hard as possible to recover, I’ve been consulting with physician as possible, and I’m most likely going to find a new primary care physician after my gallbladder surgery is resolved as my current doctor simply responds to my fatigue issues with, “Oh, George, you’re always fatigued.”

I’m trying my damnedest to get back to work. I miss blogging about hockey, I miss being able to make enough money to help pay the bills, and I miss interacting with my readers on the blog, Twitter and Facebook.

You’ve all been damn good to me–I am typing on a computer that you helped me purchase last fall–so I feel indebted to all of you for helping me live a dream that is currently deferred, but not dead by any means.