Working on a boat is not gonna be an option
Oh, how I love the Pacific ocean. It's blue when the skies are blue, and grey when the skies are grey. It's unpredictable and powerful. The ocean provides food, romance, adventure and death. It is also where I work.
I am a deckhand on a charter boat. I also hold a 100-tonMaster Mariners License. I have been doing this physically-demanding job for 12 years. When I started, the only health problems was the sun cooking me bright red everyday (I am fair-skinned). I slather on SPF 50, 35, and 25...whatever I can grab...it does absolutely no good.
Since my diagnoses of MCTD/Lupus, I have finally found a family doctor that is treating me through a combination of medication, meditation, cognitive therapy, and diet. I was dealing with some hella joint pain in my elbows and feet/ankles. It's been great to get the use of my elbows back with the treatment I've chosen. I won't say I'm no longer in a flare; but, at least I can function again..the pain was so incredible, I could no longer think or concentrate.
I couldn't deckhand last year and only ran as alternate captain on 3-day tuna trips. This was excruciating as I could barely walk - but couldn't let anyone realize how much pain I was in. I did good, too - no one had any idea until the end of the season, when I shared my situation with a fellow deckhand.
When my fishing season started for 2013 in May, I was terrified. I was no longer just dealing with MCTD/Lupus; but also a pinched nerve in my neck that had paralyzed my pinky and ringer fingers; and a blown out left knee that doesn't support weight or 'push' very well. I was so afraid, that I turned out pre-season trips for fear I wouldn't be able to work the 15+ hr days, or lift and bend a thousand times picking up fish off the deck, or being able to hold a knife to fillet 150 seabass. I just wanted to not find out what I could or couldn't do.
Now, it's June 17th. If I were still married, it would be my 24th anniversary (asshole).
I've done bottom fishing trips (seabass and lingcod), halibut, and salmon. I'm holding on okay. But it's not going as it use to before I got sick. The last couple of days were starting to bring me to my knees...literally! I worked 9 days in a row, which is typical for our business. I usually start working June 1st and don't have a day off until Sept 15th. So, last night, I got home from a grueling 15 hr day and crawled out of my car. On hands and knees, moving as slow as a worm, I got into the house.
Dying to get out of fish-stunk clothes, I couldn't get my Xtra Tuffs off for 20 minutes because I had no strength left. My feet throbbed and pulsed with shooting pain around the ankles. The top of my right foot where the bone is felt like a knife had been stabbed there, and the left heel was beginning it's usual "Don't touch me" bullshit. The right foots throbbing was the most intense and I was rhythmically moaning along with the agony.
I did manage to get up and hobbled into the bathroom where I ran the hottest bath my burnt skin could handle. I stripped while sitting on the toilet lid cuz I didn't dare travel too far from my goal.
I am aware of the Basal Cell Carcinoma on my chest is growing. I am aware that the sun is killing me. Every day has been in the 80s and the sun and sea get together and make my boat a floating oven. The sun is taking my almost-under-control flare and twisting it into a hellish nightmare. If I didn't have today off, I doubt I could've gotten dressed.
This will be my last year as a deckhand...no choice in the matter. I think I will give being a captain a try...yes, I live in denial.
I am a deckhand on a charter boat. I also hold a 100-tonMaster Mariners License. I have been doing this physically-demanding job for 12 years. When I started, the only health problems was the sun cooking me bright red everyday (I am fair-skinned). I slather on SPF 50, 35, and 25...whatever I can grab...it does absolutely no good.
Since my diagnoses of MCTD/Lupus, I have finally found a family doctor that is treating me through a combination of medication, meditation, cognitive therapy, and diet. I was dealing with some hella joint pain in my elbows and feet/ankles. It's been great to get the use of my elbows back with the treatment I've chosen. I won't say I'm no longer in a flare; but, at least I can function again..the pain was so incredible, I could no longer think or concentrate.
I couldn't deckhand last year and only ran as alternate captain on 3-day tuna trips. This was excruciating as I could barely walk - but couldn't let anyone realize how much pain I was in. I did good, too - no one had any idea until the end of the season, when I shared my situation with a fellow deckhand.
When my fishing season started for 2013 in May, I was terrified. I was no longer just dealing with MCTD/Lupus; but also a pinched nerve in my neck that had paralyzed my pinky and ringer fingers; and a blown out left knee that doesn't support weight or 'push' very well. I was so afraid, that I turned out pre-season trips for fear I wouldn't be able to work the 15+ hr days, or lift and bend a thousand times picking up fish off the deck, or being able to hold a knife to fillet 150 seabass. I just wanted to not find out what I could or couldn't do.
Now, it's June 17th. If I were still married, it would be my 24th anniversary (asshole).
I've done bottom fishing trips (seabass and lingcod), halibut, and salmon. I'm holding on okay. But it's not going as it use to before I got sick. The last couple of days were starting to bring me to my knees...literally! I worked 9 days in a row, which is typical for our business. I usually start working June 1st and don't have a day off until Sept 15th. So, last night, I got home from a grueling 15 hr day and crawled out of my car. On hands and knees, moving as slow as a worm, I got into the house.
Dying to get out of fish-stunk clothes, I couldn't get my Xtra Tuffs off for 20 minutes because I had no strength left. My feet throbbed and pulsed with shooting pain around the ankles. The top of my right foot where the bone is felt like a knife had been stabbed there, and the left heel was beginning it's usual "Don't touch me" bullshit. The right foots throbbing was the most intense and I was rhythmically moaning along with the agony.
I did manage to get up and hobbled into the bathroom where I ran the hottest bath my burnt skin could handle. I stripped while sitting on the toilet lid cuz I didn't dare travel too far from my goal.
I am aware of the Basal Cell Carcinoma on my chest is growing. I am aware that the sun is killing me. Every day has been in the 80s and the sun and sea get together and make my boat a floating oven. The sun is taking my almost-under-control flare and twisting it into a hellish nightmare. If I didn't have today off, I doubt I could've gotten dressed.
This will be my last year as a deckhand...no choice in the matter. I think I will give being a captain a try...yes, I live in denial.
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