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State of New York Mind
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David Gallaher
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Aug 10, 2004 12:57 PDT
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August 10th 2004
3:50 p.m.
PERSONAL STUFF
(Where our author babbles for a few lines)
“Year – a period of three hundred and sixty-five disappoinments.”
- Ambrose Bierce, THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY
While I don’t share the scholar’s gothy-and-gloomy perspective, this
year sure hasn’t been pretty.
Many of you know that I have relocated to New York City in pursuit of
life, liberty, and happiness. I was offered an position as an
advertising manager for a small magazine company.
So, while I’ve been waiting for the job to kick into high-gear, I found
myself hanging out in Brooklyn and having a good ol’ time of things.
During the July 4th weekend, I passed out. It was hot and muggy that
day, and it happens.
The unusual part is that on the evening of July 26th, I passed out again
- in the East Village while walking to the subway - and I had a siezure.
I found myself in the epilespy ward of NYU Medical Center.
I got released last Monday evening with a diagnosis of Dysautonomia.
I'll be returning to the hospital in two weeks for more tests.
In the meantime, for those of you who are curious:
Dysautonomia refers to a disorder of autonomic nervous system (ANS)
function. Most physicians view dysautonomia in terms of failure of the
sympathetic or parasympathetic components of the ANS, but dysautonomia
involving excessive ANS activities also can occur. Dysautonomia can be
local, as in reflex sympathetic dystrophy, or generalized, as in pure
autonomic failure. Dysautonomia can occur as a primary condition or in
association with degenerative neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s
disease. Other diseases with generalized, primary dysautonomia include
multiple system atrophy and familial dysautonomia. Hallmarks of
generalized dysautonomia due to sympathetic failure are impotence (in
men) and a fall in blood pressure during standing (orthostatic
hypotension). Excessive sympathetic activity can present as hypertension
or a rapid pulse rate.
The subset of what I have is called: Neurocardiogenic Syncope
Neurocardiogenic fainting usually occurs while standing. Emotional
stress, stressful condition and pain may trigger an episode, especially
among the young The onset may be abrupt or associated with warning
symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, nausea, sweating, pallor, visual
disturbances, abdominal discomfort, headache, pins-and-needles,
lightheadedness or vertigo.
Presyncopal patients may also complain of palpitations, vomiting,
disorientation, and difficulty speaking clearly or coherently.
Other symptoms that may present before a faint include feeling either
warm or cold, tremors, yawning and having a bluish/purple or red
coloring to the skin.
During the faint "seizure-like" activity may occur.This convulsive
activity is thought to be distinct from a seizure disorder.
Patients are sometimes symptomatic after a faint as well. Patients may
complain of symptoms including nausea, clamminess, lightheadedness,
headache and malaise. Patients may also experience vomiting, abdominal
discomfort, weakness, tremors, cold or warm feelings and confusion.
Patients who experience frequent neurocardiogenic syncope may report
symptoms between faints as well, such as chronic fatigue, headache,
chest pain, exercise intolerance, heart "flip flops" and an inability to
tolerate prolonged standing.
So - I can't drink, drive, fly, swim, watch too much tv, play too many
video games, and have to take a 15 minute break for every hour at the
computer.
If I keep passing out, well ... that's the bad part. If I don't, well -
then that's good.
It sure as heck gives me a whole lot to write about though ...
That being said, I do have some news to announce:
PROFESSIONAL STUFF
(Where our author gets to the good stuff)
ITEM ONE:
The upcoming MOONSTONE MONSTERS TRADE PAPERBACK has a story by yours
truly!
Here’s the solict:
This titanic tome of terrifying tales collects the first five
hair-raisings issues of Moonstone's hit horror anthology, featuring:
Werewolves, Mummies, Vampire Vixens, Ghosts, and Sea Creatures! Also
features three new, never-before-seen stories exclusive to this
collection! Read it under the covers with your favorite flashlight, and
find out what's creeping out the critics!
AVAILABLE FOR OCTOBER SHIPPING!
PLUS COOL QUOTES:
"If you miss the old EC titles, then... Moonstone's Monster line should
please you muchly".
--NeedCoffee.com
"...delivered great horror comics under their ‘Moonstone Monsters’
label."
--BrokenFrontier.com
Here is a sneak peak of the cover:
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/news/images/0406/moonstonemonster.jpg
A .pdf version of the story is available here:
http://www.comicboards.com/indies/moderator/Suicidal%20Tendencies.pdf
*WARNING* The story is NOT for the faint of heart!!!
ITEM TWO:
There have been some updates to DavidGallaher.Com.
If you head over to the PROJECTS section you can now purchase my
projects by clicking on the cover images. It’s fast, safe and easy.
ITEM THREE:
Convention season is here – and given my current state of health it will
be unlikely that I will be at SPX or the BALTIMORE COMIC CON. If
anything changes, you will all be the first to know.
ITEM FOUR:
With Mercury in Retrograde, I’ll be hiding under the bed, if you need
me.
Thanks you for all of your support,
Best regards,
David Gallaher
maste-@davidgallaher.com
http://www.davidgallaher.com
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