click photo for larger view
(click HERE for more photos)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
between hammer & anvil
To new friends and old friends:
My health is forcing me to change how I communication with you at this time.
My primary battles are against 3 serious tick-borne infectious diseases that have been entrenched for more than three decades: Babesiosis, Bartonella and Lyme. Since 1995, I've survived infectious endocarditis, atrial fibrillation, an electrical change in the rhythm of my heart rhythm that required an invasive procedure to "solder," extreme high-low swings of pulse, similar extreme swings in blood pressure, in addition to bouts of life-threatening infectious diseases.
After 13 months of anti-malarial medications, I seem to have pushed back the Babesias. Babesiosis is similar to malaria, and treated with the same medications, which are "ototoxic--they cause toxic damage in the brain that can cause ringing in the ears, vertigo, hearing loss or deafness.
I wasn't worried about losing my hearing. My body recalls the vibratory memory of Deaf generations united inside Gallaudet University's gymnasium--everyone on their feet, rhythmically stomping the wooden bleachers underfoot, demanding in signed language (ASL) as one: "Deaf president now!" My experiences with Deaf languages, cultures and struggles have enriched my life and understanding, enhanced my visual awareness, and has had an impact on my own self-expression.
The medicines left me with only mild hearing loss. However, the toxic drug damage left me with excruciating pain and high-frequency noise in my ears.
Bartonella treatments also rely on antibiotics which are similar in their damage, and could quickly or gradually increase the pain and noise to even more unbearable heights, removing all quality of life. I'm already the threshold of pain that I can endure, in my ears and my body as a whole. So when I decided not to begin medication for Bartonella, the decision was based on longevity with quality of life.
Recently, however, I'm experiencing cardiac problems again. Both Bartonella and Lyme infections do damage to my heart. So after much consultation with my doctor and Minnie Bruce, I will be beginning treatment for Bartonella in early September with the least damaging antibiotic.
I have a lot of preparatory work to do. And I need to change the way I'm working and communicating right away. I have to leave my language-driven work, including attempts at analytical reading and writing, spoken and written dialogue. That part of my brain is a painful and frustrating workspace that engages my central nervous system and leaves me weight wasting. Instead, I will be continuing to make photographs, develop and print them.
I flickr'd up a new photo I call "point of view" to share with you this morning on my online stream of photographs this morning:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/transgenderwarrior/
I will try to upload a photo each morning in order to communicate with you and to stay connected.
I have also been writing something about information you may never have read before about the Lyme epidemic. I've been working on it over the last year and I am trying to finish it before my Bartonella treatment begins. Look for: "Casualty of an undeclared war."
solidarity in struggle,
Leslie
my flickr photo sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/transgenderwarrior/sets/
My health is forcing me to change how I communication with you at this time.
My primary battles are against 3 serious tick-borne infectious diseases that have been entrenched for more than three decades: Babesiosis, Bartonella and Lyme. Since 1995, I've survived infectious endocarditis, atrial fibrillation, an electrical change in the rhythm of my heart rhythm that required an invasive procedure to "solder," extreme high-low swings of pulse, similar extreme swings in blood pressure, in addition to bouts of life-threatening infectious diseases.
After 13 months of anti-malarial medications, I seem to have pushed back the Babesias. Babesiosis is similar to malaria, and treated with the same medications, which are "ototoxic--they cause toxic damage in the brain that can cause ringing in the ears, vertigo, hearing loss or deafness.
I wasn't worried about losing my hearing. My body recalls the vibratory memory of Deaf generations united inside Gallaudet University's gymnasium--everyone on their feet, rhythmically stomping the wooden bleachers underfoot, demanding in signed language (ASL) as one: "Deaf president now!" My experiences with Deaf languages, cultures and struggles have enriched my life and understanding, enhanced my visual awareness, and has had an impact on my own self-expression.
The medicines left me with only mild hearing loss. However, the toxic drug damage left me with excruciating pain and high-frequency noise in my ears.
Bartonella treatments also rely on antibiotics which are similar in their damage, and could quickly or gradually increase the pain and noise to even more unbearable heights, removing all quality of life. I'm already the threshold of pain that I can endure, in my ears and my body as a whole. So when I decided not to begin medication for Bartonella, the decision was based on longevity with quality of life.
Recently, however, I'm experiencing cardiac problems again. Both Bartonella and Lyme infections do damage to my heart. So after much consultation with my doctor and Minnie Bruce, I will be beginning treatment for Bartonella in early September with the least damaging antibiotic.
I have a lot of preparatory work to do. And I need to change the way I'm working and communicating right away. I have to leave my language-driven work, including attempts at analytical reading and writing, spoken and written dialogue. That part of my brain is a painful and frustrating workspace that engages my central nervous system and leaves me weight wasting. Instead, I will be continuing to make photographs, develop and print them.
I flickr'd up a new photo I call "point of view" to share with you this morning on my online stream of photographs this morning:
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/transgenderwarrior/
I will try to upload a photo each morning in order to communicate with you and to stay connected.
I have also been writing something about information you may never have read before about the Lyme epidemic. I've been working on it over the last year and I am trying to finish it before my Bartonella treatment begins. Look for: "Casualty of an undeclared war."
solidarity in struggle,
Leslie
my flickr photo sets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/transgenderwarrior/sets/
Friday, May 14, 2010
health update: 'fast forward'
I've been chelating high levels of lead from my body for the last 9 weeks. I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I got to be in much more social interaction. It was glorious--like an extremely painful vacation.
The treatment began with excruciating damage to my ear, resulting from an allergic reaction to the pharmaceutical chelating agent. For the time it lasted, I experienced total loss of quality of life.
As a result, I began a non-pharmaceutical protocol--all of which was healthy for me to ingest. What a relief from fighting infectious disease with pharmaceuticals!
I felt more able to read and write snippets, although analytical reading and writing in English is still a very painful work space in my brain.
Before being treated for lead exposure I had been almost confined to bed from muscle loss during the last antibiotic treatment. So the lead protocol gave me time to heal and try to build my strength for the next round of pharmaceutical treatment.
By the end of the 9 weeks I actually marched 2 miles on May Day in heat and humidity, and even ran a little (well, trotting a little) to get ahead of the march to make images. [* see link to my photos below.]
However, while I was getting stronger from having pushed back the Babesiosis and detoxified from lead, the untreated diseases are worsening, quickly and increasingly dragging down my strength and stamina.
The plan was to treat the Bartonella next--the tick-borne disease that may well account for my endocarditis in 1995 and loss of balance that resulted in falls and one broken wrist.
Clinical experiences advise Lyme patients to try to eradicate Lyme co-infections like Bartonella first, in order to isolate and weaken the spirochetes. But the class of medications used to treat Bartonella (a relative of World War I trench fever) has the potential to cause even more permanent damage to my ears. That danger lasts for up to a couple of months after the antibiotic, as well.
At this point, the level of pain and noise in my ears is a threshold I can't go beyond without complete loss of quality of life. After extensive medical consultation, I am not going to attempt to treat the Bartonella.
Instead, I will be immediately beginning antibiotic treatment for Lyme--maybe as soon as tomorrow. It's not clear how long I will be able to physiologically tolerate these antibiotics. My ability to tolerate any medication, even traditional herbal-based medications is narrowing. That's why I'm in integrative medicine.
In order to focus myself for what is going to be an isolating treatment, during which I need to stay out of sunlight, I will be trying to post one photo online each day the during the first month of treatment.
The last two months were precious and productive for me. Each course of treatment has its trials and tribulations. But treatment is life--I'm ready!
solidarity in struggle,
Leslie
5/14/10
*May Day 2010
Buffalo, New York
through my lens:
http://tiny.cc/3s371
The treatment began with excruciating damage to my ear, resulting from an allergic reaction to the pharmaceutical chelating agent. For the time it lasted, I experienced total loss of quality of life.
As a result, I began a non-pharmaceutical protocol--all of which was healthy for me to ingest. What a relief from fighting infectious disease with pharmaceuticals!
I felt more able to read and write snippets, although analytical reading and writing in English is still a very painful work space in my brain.
Before being treated for lead exposure I had been almost confined to bed from muscle loss during the last antibiotic treatment. So the lead protocol gave me time to heal and try to build my strength for the next round of pharmaceutical treatment.
By the end of the 9 weeks I actually marched 2 miles on May Day in heat and humidity, and even ran a little (well, trotting a little) to get ahead of the march to make images. [* see link to my photos below.]
However, while I was getting stronger from having pushed back the Babesiosis and detoxified from lead, the untreated diseases are worsening, quickly and increasingly dragging down my strength and stamina.
The plan was to treat the Bartonella next--the tick-borne disease that may well account for my endocarditis in 1995 and loss of balance that resulted in falls and one broken wrist.
Clinical experiences advise Lyme patients to try to eradicate Lyme co-infections like Bartonella first, in order to isolate and weaken the spirochetes. But the class of medications used to treat Bartonella (a relative of World War I trench fever) has the potential to cause even more permanent damage to my ears. That danger lasts for up to a couple of months after the antibiotic, as well.
At this point, the level of pain and noise in my ears is a threshold I can't go beyond without complete loss of quality of life. After extensive medical consultation, I am not going to attempt to treat the Bartonella.
Instead, I will be immediately beginning antibiotic treatment for Lyme--maybe as soon as tomorrow. It's not clear how long I will be able to physiologically tolerate these antibiotics. My ability to tolerate any medication, even traditional herbal-based medications is narrowing. That's why I'm in integrative medicine.
In order to focus myself for what is going to be an isolating treatment, during which I need to stay out of sunlight, I will be trying to post one photo online each day the during the first month of treatment.
The last two months were precious and productive for me. Each course of treatment has its trials and tribulations. But treatment is life--I'm ready!
solidarity in struggle,
Leslie
5/14/10
*May Day 2010
Buffalo, New York
through my lens:
http://tiny.cc/3s371
Monday, April 26, 2010
All out to defend our immigrant co-workers, neighbors!
(double-click photo to see more of my flickr photostream)It's a lie that immigrants "take jobs" from workers born in the U.S. There's no fixed number of jobs in society: In addition to creating wealth through their labor, each worker also creates the need for more jobs, goods and services. But in this economic crisis of over-production--abundance--bosses are trying to blame immigrants for the widespread suffering caused by capitalist production for profit
... so ...
Minnie Bruce and I are already making our plans to travel to Buffalo on May 1, from 2-5 pm, gathering at Main and Goodell, marching to MLK Park
There we'll raise our voices with others to vow: "No human being is illegal! There are no borders in the workers struggle! Workers united will never be defeated!
Where will you be on May 1?
Boycott Arizona tourism!
Divest from the apartheid state of Arizona!
BUFFALO, NY:
May 1
2:00pm - 5:00pm
gather at Main and Goodell, march to MLK Park
NEW YORK CITY:
May 1
noon
gather at Union Square rally
march to Wall Street!
Monday, April 19, 2010
SU students vs. bank
[Please help spread the word]
Here is a link to an album of photographs I just flicker'd up, SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera):
[click here]
These are photographs from an April 16 rally organized by Syracuse University students. They are angered that the SU administration has invited top banker from JPMorgan Chase to deliver the 2010 graduation address.
SU students are leading the protest: "against using the 2010 commencement to restore the public image of the banking industry and validate the anti-environmental and anti-humanitarian interests of JP Morgan Chase."
No matter where you live, PLEASE take a moment
to sign this student-led petition:
www.petitiononline.com/SUGRADUA/petition.html
Here is a link to an album of photographs I just flicker'd up, SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera):
[click here]
These are photographs from an April 16 rally organized by Syracuse University students. They are angered that the SU administration has invited top banker from JPMorgan Chase to deliver the 2010 graduation address.
SU students are leading the protest: "against using the 2010 commencement to restore the public image of the banking industry and validate the anti-environmental and anti-humanitarian interests of JP Morgan Chase."
No matter where you live, PLEASE take a moment
to sign this student-led petition:
www.petitiononline.com/SUGRADUA/petition.html
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Buffalo, N.Y.: anti-fascist protest
click URL below for more information about this struggle on April 12, 2010:http://www.flickr.com/photos/transgenderwarrior/sets/72157623845622396/
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Say "NO" to "Tea Party" neo-fascism
Minnie Bruce and I will be traveling to Buffalo, New York (northeast U.S.) for this important protest. Please join us!
From the Buffalo International Action Center:
"The Tea Party will rally in Buffalo this Monday, April 12, at 11am at the foot of Pearl St and Scott with the racist millionaire developer Carl Paladino as their speaker.
IT'S ABOUT TIME WE STAND UP TO THESE EXTREME RIGHTWING RACIST, ANTI-IMMIGRANT, ANTI-WOMEN, HOMOPHOBIC NEO-FASCISTS!
It's time we let everyone know they don't speak for us! We're going to be there. Bring your own signs, or pick up one of ours."
Friday, April 09, 2010
After reading this article by Minnie Bruce:
Students organize against bank ‘takeover’ of commencement
please take a moment to sign the student-led petition and please help spread the word:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?SUGRADUA&1
Students organize against bank ‘takeover’ of commencement
please take a moment to sign the student-led petition and please help spread the word:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/s
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Protest top banker as SU commencement speaker (please sign & help spread the word)
Syracuse University bosses approved head banker of JP Morgan Chase to deliver the 2010 commencement address. Please take a moment to click here to sign the protest petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/SUGRADUA/petition.html
Today we're being told that the cupboards are bare, as millions lose work in a jobless recovery and the banks have foreclosed on miles of former neighborhoods.
But the money is there, as Pete Seeger sings (click on YouTube link below). Six decades after he sang these words--brave to speak or sing in those McCarthyite days of anti-communist witch hunt in the U.S.-- the working class has changed in this country. The historical images that accompany this recording today need more labor of workers of color, immigrants, women, youth and elder--and more pronouns are needed in these lyrics, too.
The living struggle will refresh the lyrics of demands through chant and song and lift up more music from the international working class and oppressed, as well. But the truth in this song still resonates as we struggle today.
click here for: Pete Seeger singing "Banks of Marble" / YouTube
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