An honoured mefite in trouble

May 21, 2010 6:35 AM

Loquacious is in hospital with a collapsed lung and wanted me to pass this info on. He's been texting from hospital - swedish first hill - and will be in for a few days. He will be coming out from hospital to joblessness and, in short order, homelessness, and with my support and encouragement he is asking mefites for help.

http://www.metafilter.com/user/17349 is loquacious - please forgive my lack of link but I am doing this from an iPhone at work. As you can see he is a pinnacle of this community - supportive, wise, staggeringly brilliant, and funny. He also suffers from severe post traumatic stress disorder. He also suffers from depression and the stress of being a transgender person. While he has recently qualified for health care and is getting some treatment, he has been couch surfing for a very long time and is running out of options. Due to depression he sleeps a lot, and he has been certified unemployable, but he is incredibly earnest in his efforts to heal. He has been loving and supportive to me from a distance as I have gone through incredibly hard times, and he is one of my dearest friends.

Loquacious gets into temporary housing with a friend, pulls his weight, cleans up after himself and minds his own business, but he keeps having to move on from tiny places on floors and couches. He is a good guest but the moves keep setting him back and he really needs the stability of long term social housing - for which there is a long waiting list. He is looking for words of support - [e-mail], memail or here - or any help that could stave off homelessness and enable him to survive until he can get subsidised housing - the hospital visit today will make the situation even worse of course.

He will be online intermittently but he just had an operation and will be in hospital for the next few days.

posted by By The Grace of God to MetaFilter-Related at 6:35 AM (329 comments total)

Jesus Christ. My thoughts are with you, bud.
posted by gman at 6:38 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

I am aware that metatalk shouldn't be too often used for this sort of thing but loq has given us so much - similar to klangklangston - and I am totally willing to use up my community capital to aid a friend in this case.
posted by By The Grace of God at 6:39 AM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

My lung collapsed a little too regularly for a few years and I went through three separate surgeries to fix it. So, loquacious, I know how that goes. While in the hospital bed: keep your spirits up, listen to some music, immerse yourself in television. You'll make it through this.
posted by knile at 6:45 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Does he have a Paypal account for donations? (or could one be made for him?)
posted by Karmakaze at 6:48 AM on May 21, 2010 [7 favorites]

Regarding paypal there is an account I've sent him money at in the past but I'm awaiting confirmation that it will still work. His gmail address won't work for paypal. I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to collect donations for him but if someone would like to offer their account to do so that might be a good idea. I don't know how I can make sure that account holder is trust worthy though. I'm emailing the previous paypal person now, I think, to see if they can receive donations but I think they will be asleep a while as these are west coasters we are talking about :)

God bless you wonderful folks.
posted by By The Grace of God at 6:52 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've tried to work with him on this stuff in the past and am always around if he needs me, tell him to drop me a line when he gets out if he wants to brainstorm on housing or mental health treatment stuff. He knows the system pretty well, though, it's just a matter of the resources not being there. If they were, he would have gotten them by now because he knows how to advocate for himself.
posted by The Straightener at 6:54 AM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

Once paypal is set up, I'll throw a few bucks his way. It's the least I can do after Matt paid for my late wife's ER and ambulance bills last year. *sniff* *tear up*
posted by mrbill at 6:54 AM on May 21, 2010 [6 favorites]

Indeed TS he tries hard. He needs the gap bridged until his name is top of whatever list it is on.
posted by By The Grace of God at 6:57 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Best of luck, loq. We're all pulling for you. I, too, would be happy to chip in once something is set up.
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:01 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh no! I've long enjoyed Loquacious's presence here. My heart goes out to him during this rough time. Thank you By The Grace of God for letting us know. I also would like to make a donation on his behalf. Hang in there Loquacious!
posted by dog food sugar at 7:02 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Best of luck, loquacious.
posted by Phire at 7:09 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've always enjoyed loquacious' comments and activity here, and I'll also contribute a bit if a paypal acount is set up. I don't know loq personally, but I'd like to help.
posted by JMOZ at 7:10 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Good luck loquacious! You're one of the first posters I remembered by name.

Whereabouts is he?
posted by Omnomnom at 7:15 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

WTF. Is there a PayPal link or something besides an email? I hope he feels better soon. I had no idea that he was in such dire straits. If we all chip in a couple of bucks we should be able to secure him a month's rent in his own place somewhere safe and clean to recover from the hospital.
posted by Pastabagel at 7:17 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Count me in.
posted by R. Mutt at 7:19 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Do a good job please loquacious, we are all counting on you and you have responsibilities here.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:23 AM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

Ow. Wow. Hi. I'm seriously glad there's internet going on in this joint.

I called 911 because I thought I was having a heart attack. There's a family history so I decided I better not fuck around. My uncle died at the same age.

I'm doing ok and getting suctioned through a tube. I have a room to myself. I can see the space needle.

Apparently I was a smartass all the way through sedation and tube insertion and then talked the nurse through how to reboot a stuck login on a windows computer while i was still mostly talking gibberish about walruses.

I think the docs are kinda mystified why I was so attached to my netbook before and after but... being able to reach out is pretty much better than pain killers.
posted by loquacious at 7:26 AM on May 21, 2010 [105 favorites]

By The Grace of God has asked me to take the donations in my PayPal account and get it to loquacious. Here's what I'll do. As my contribution to this whole shitty situation, I will make sure he gets exactly what you donate. If you give $10, he'll get $10. I will make up the fees PayPal charges. Not sure about posting my email address in-thread, so I'll put it in my profile. Right on.
posted by gman at 7:26 AM on May 21, 2010 [13 favorites]

Hugs, you bastard. Walruses indeed :)
posted by By The Grace of God at 7:28 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Count me in too.

I've sent a note to the mods, asking them to sidebar this if they're so inclined.
posted by zarq at 7:28 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Good luck loquacious. Glad to hear you are doing OK.
posted by handee at 7:30 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Apparently I was a smartass all the way through sedation and tube insertion and then talked the nurse through how to reboot a stuck login on a windows computer while i was still mostly talking gibberish about walruses.

I think the docs are kinda mystified why I was so attached to my netbook before and after but... being able to reach out is pretty much better than pain killers.

You sir, are a true Mefite.
posted by burnmp3s at 7:35 AM on May 21, 2010 [11 favorites]

I've sent some money to your account, gman.

Loquacious, good luck dealing with this and it is seriously shit that you're having to go through this. All the best.
posted by knapah at 7:37 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fucking lungs! How do they collapse?

Get well loquacious.
posted by Mister_A at 7:38 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Fuck it. To make it easier, my PayPal address is: [e-mail]
posted by gman at 7:40 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

gman, PayPal says there are no fees if one pays via bank account rather than credit card. I'd think most people will (if possible) do that so you're not stuck with lots of fees.
posted by JMOZ at 7:40 AM on May 21, 2010

Get better, loq! I expect to be coming back to Seattle for business and you'd better be well enough to have more drinks.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:42 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Ah, fuckin' hell! Get better.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 7:43 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

gman, also PayPal assesses no fees if the money is sent as a "personal" transaction," like gift or living expenses. However, I think there might be a limit on how much you can take out per month.

Sending. loquacious is someone whose words I look for.
posted by catlet at 7:53 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Yeah, count me in too. A Metafilter without loquacious is like a day without bourbon.
posted by slogger at 7:57 AM on May 21, 2010 [5 favorites]

on non-preview, what JMOZ said. I believe it has to be *both* a "personal" transaction and completely bank-account funded to be fee-free.

Also, walruses rule.
posted by catlet at 7:57 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Man, I fucking love you guys.

I can fill in more but... I'm kinda hitting my wall I think. I'll check in soon. Oh, room #1046.

I don't think I really need anything in here right now. I never managed to unpack my bag last night so I have lunch in there, a nice book, and internet access.

But here's a pic after chest-tubing and coming up: http://imgur.com/tMxwp.jpg

Nothing like somthing you thought was a potential heart attack to drive away lame-o depressive suicidal ideations and show you what's fucking what.
posted by loquacious at 7:59 AM on May 21, 2010 [14 favorites]

Feel better, loquacious.

This has been a heartwrenching week on Metafilter.
posted by Night_owl at 8:02 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh my goodness, loquacious! Please take care of yourself. I rely on your contributions here so much. You are one of the *rocks* of Mefi.

Lungs are tricky things, too. When they mess up, you feel like you can't breathe, kinda like a goldfish in one of those cartoons after its bowl is broken and it is lying on the floor gasping for breath. Thank goodness you have your goldfish bowl back!

Contacting gman about that paypal deal.

Get. Well. Soon!
posted by misha at 8:02 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Hey Loq, you need any books or anything?
posted by klangklangston at 8:04 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well soon, loquacious!
posted by fixedgear at 8:19 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

klang - i have a nice SF anthology, I'm great. Net is on, i'm about to order some food.

i'm actually really relieved it wasn't a heart attack. i'm a bit too young for that.

this is also more or less the first time i've ever been hospitalized so it's all kind of novel except for the part where my ribs and right torso feel like someone whacked them with a baseball bat.
posted by loquacious at 8:20 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh my gods Loquacious do not do this GET WELL DAMMIT!!
posted by The otter lady at 8:23 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Unfortunately, the only place I know of for the housing that'd be a good fit is back in Ann Arbor, and it's a little nuts to be like, Hey, move across the country on the hope you get accepted to this sweet co-op.
posted by klangklangston at 8:30 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Heh, nice pic loq. How do you roll with all that shit on your fingers? (Now's the time!)

Take every opportunity to heal now before pell-melling back into life, ok? Call it, ahem, a breather. You can do it, you're fucking incredible and amazing, pull through and try not to die any time soon ok? For my sake; I miss you.
posted by carsonb at 8:30 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

I've got shit for cash, but a lot of good will to send - so I hope you find a place soon!
posted by The Light Fantastic at 8:34 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

GET WELL FOR ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or anyone else. Just get well soon, okay?
posted by yaymukund at 8:39 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

They say laughter is the best medicine, but I say demerol is way better.
posted by Mister_A at 8:40 AM on May 21, 2010 [12 favorites]

How long are you likely to be in there? And would you like to receive any cards? (And what's the address?)

I'm sure after the success of the Mefi Postcard Swap we could come up with some terribly cheesy get well cards.
posted by handee at 8:45 AM on May 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

Are you up to having visitors?
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 8:48 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

All the best, Loq.
posted by crunchland at 8:48 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hang in there, capn'.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:48 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm so sorry, Loquacious--you add so much to the discussions here. I will be sending $$ when I get home this evening because I got way too clever in changing my Paypal password and now can't remember it but fortunately I anticipated that I would be dumb like that and so wrote the new password down (which, I know, kinda makes the whole "secret password" thing moot) but it is at home.

Please feel better, you are valued by a lot of people.

Take care--I'm sending good thoughts, best wishes, white light, etc. in your direction.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:58 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

If you're going to be in an emergency situation in Seattle, Swedish First Hill is one of the better options, so yay for that.

Glad you called in the professionals right on time. That's awesome.

We're so broke that the sign-hangers pick on us, but I can send loads of mojo.

I'm sharing this thread with some friends who may or may not have ideas on how to get you a better situation when you get out of the hospital. Seattle sucks for those kinds of resources, unfortunately, but maybe they can think of something.

Keep that spirit flying high and may you be all better soon!
posted by batmonkey at 9:22 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

take care of yourself, loq. This place just isn't the same without you, and both of your lungs. I hope you can get things sorted out to a manageable level. I wish I could offer more than good wishes, but it you're ever in Japan, come on over, we've got a space you can crash in.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:29 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I love that we've created a place where people can ask for help and get it. Hell, people don't even need to ask and it's there. I like being a part of this community because it is this major part of my world, operating in a way that gives me hope about the rest of the places I go (offline and not) that don't quite have it dialed yet. You people are an inspiration.

Get better, loq. We need you around, snarky walruses and all.
posted by iamkimiam at 9:30 AM on May 21, 2010 [8 favorites]

To those worried about sticking Gman with fees - be aware that it's possible to pay the fees yourself by checking a box, even if you use a credit/debit card to send the money.

Get well, Loquacious.
posted by aught at 9:42 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Chipped in a little. Consider it a tip for the pleasure that your wonderful essays have brought in the past - like tossing coins in the busker's guitar case - and an investment in future musings and freeform ramblings.

Get well, and let us know how you fare after you get out of the hospital.
posted by Quietgal at 9:59 AM on May 21, 2010

Loq, why don't you see if there's any way the hospital can pull some strings for you on the housing piece, sometimes care managers at med facilities can make things appear that social workers in other parts of the system can't. Bring it up with one of the docs or a nurse that you just had this major fucking physical procedure done and no stable address for them to discharge you to and could you talk to a social worker about housing options?
posted by The Straightener at 10:04 AM on May 21, 2010 [13 favorites]

i'm drowning in schmoopy and it's better than industrial strength pain killers. waaaaah.

well, maybe i'm getting synergistic effects between the schmoopy and pain killers. this is the first moment it's felt kinda normal.

so, the lung is already mostly re-inflated. it was a full collapse of the right side.

food. sleep.
posted by loquacious at 10:09 AM on May 21, 2010

straightner: ironically i had an appointment today at three pm to discuss that with my advocate/behavioral therapist.
posted by loquacious at 10:12 AM on May 21, 2010

I've long liked and admired you, Loq. You're a great person, and you're a big part of what makes MeFi such a great place to hang out. My thoughts have been, and are, with you.
posted by moira at 10:24 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well soon, loquacious.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:25 AM on May 21, 2010

Best wishes, loquacious. I enjoy reading you. Here's an extra helping of schmoopy for when you wake up!
posted by jaruwaan at 10:27 AM on May 21, 2010

Beautiful, push hard on them to produce something for you, homelessness does not produce good long term health outcomes, etc.
posted by The Straightener at 10:29 AM on May 21, 2010

I hope you get better soon, loquacious! You were one of the first posters I recognized by name, and your comments have given me a lot of insight into places and things I wouldn't have known about otherwise, so I'd just like to say, thanks for being here.
posted by StrikeTheViol at 10:29 AM on May 21, 2010

God. Feel better, loquacious! You sound in good spirits, which is always a good way to attack these things.
posted by OmieWise at 10:32 AM on May 21, 2010

Loq, I'm going to go meditate in front of the Bridget Riley painting for you today, my friend. Hang on, be well.
posted by scody at 10:33 AM on May 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

Obligatory Jello shot.
posted by loquacious at 10:34 AM on May 21, 2010 [23 favorites]

Loq, I'm going to go meditate in front of the Bridget Riley painting for you today, my friend. Hang on, be well.

Aww. Go kick cancer's ass into elemental carbon powder, hun. *hug*
posted by loquacious at 10:37 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get better wicked fast. Also: are they feeding you meatballs in the Swedish hospital? Inquiring minds want to know.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:38 AM on May 21, 2010

Get well soon, man. You're one of my favorite people here.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:41 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hang in there loq, and get better soon.
posted by dhruva at 10:42 AM on May 21, 2010

Aww. Go kick cancer's ass into elemental carbon powder, hun. *hug*

yep, off to do a little more kicking in about an hour. I'll make sure my radiation techs turn the dial up to "elemental carbon powder." Hugs right back to you.
posted by scody at 10:45 AM on May 21, 2010

> Obligatory Jello shot.

That is a great picture; you should use it for your profile page. Glad you're sounding like yourself; I join with everyone else in hoping you can get some help with lodging &c. once you're out of there. Meanwhile, soak in the schmoopy!
posted by languagehat at 10:48 AM on May 21, 2010

NO ONE ELSE I CARE ABOUT IS ALLOWED TO HAVE ANYTHING NEGATIVE HAPPEN TO THEM EVER AGAIN.

I have spoken.

/mom

*sniff*
posted by Space Kitty at 10:49 AM on May 21, 2010 [12 favorites]

Your posts make MeFi a better place, man. Get well soon. And enjoy the schmoop -- you deserve it!

(What about lingonberries? Does the Swedish hospital offer those on toast?)
posted by cmyk at 10:50 AM on May 21, 2010

The hospitals near where I live can't discharge anyone into homelessness (one guy got a 6 month stay out of a broken hip, just because it took that long to place him). Talk to your hospital social worker, stat. It's nice to give money, but that's not going to do much for the long haul, particularly if you don't see yourself finding employment soon. Take care.
posted by availablelight at 10:51 AM on May 21, 2010

Got my fingers crossed for you loquacious. I was homeless as a kid, but thankfully my mum and I lived in the UK, so housing and welfare was a lot easier to access. Hopefully something will come through for you (if you lived in San Diego, I would offer you our spare room and some kitties to play with). Sounds like they're taking good care of you where you are, so get well soon dammit. I like your comments/posts and will not be deprived of them.
posted by saturnine at 10:53 AM on May 21, 2010

You're an asset to Metafilter, loquacious. Please keep breathing.
posted by sarahnade at 10:55 AM on May 21, 2010

are they feeding you meatballs in the Swedish hospital?

Is all the furniture from Ikea? Do the nurses have enigmatic names like Barnslig and Flørt?
posted by scody at 10:56 AM on May 21, 2010 [17 favorites]

When are you up for visitors Loq?
posted by ramix at 11:03 AM on May 21, 2010

When a friend got a collapsed lung from a congenital pneumothorax they put a tube into her side and told her "Cough. You need sharp exhalations. It'll hurt but it'll help drain air out of the cavity." Laughter was also recommended. So everyone make loquacious laugh. It'll hurt but it'll help, in more ways than one. (IANAD SO PLS DISREGARD THIS IF I AM WRONG.)
posted by brownpau at 11:03 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

*cries*

no, seriously. i feel like i'm turning a nice page here.

thanks for the company, all. i'm gonna try and drift off for a nap while the combo drug bomb they've got me on holds out. i got tetsu inoue whispering from the netbook.
posted by loquacious at 11:04 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

ramix i may be up for it later this evening/tonight? if not mebbe tommorow. i kinda don't have any pants on.

brownpau yeah.. and i just had my first proper cough. i'll try actually laughing soon.

zzzzzz
posted by loquacious at 11:06 AM on May 21, 2010

You're an asset to Metafilter, loquacious. Please keep breathing.

Whoops, definitely read that as “You’re an ass-hat to Metafilter . . .”

Loq, I don’t think you’re an ass-hat. I am sending good vibes your way, you had better pick up on them.
posted by Think_Long at 11:07 AM on May 21, 2010

Get well soon, loq.
posted by joedan at 11:14 AM on May 21, 2010

Get better Loquacious, and you too, scody. Sending best health and safety and security.
posted by symbioid at 11:14 AM on May 21, 2010

I can't help it... it's a disease.

MetaTalk: . i kinda don't have any pants on.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:16 AM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

The first rule of Metafilter Club is the not wearing of pants.
posted by cmyk at 11:23 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Get well, loquacious. You're one of my favorite people on the internet. I cried some when I read your comment about being a transgender person a while back. I want to be able to come up to Seattle and meet you sometime soon.
posted by Caduceus at 11:29 AM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

I can't help in any material way, but I'm sending along my best wishes to you, loquacious.
posted by amyms at 11:38 AM on May 21, 2010

The first rule of Metafilter Club is the not wearing of pants.

No wonder I get in so much trouble for posting at work.

Sending well wishes your way, Loquacious!
posted by dinty_moore at 11:45 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well Loquacious, sending good thoughts your way.
posted by arcticseal at 11:47 AM on May 21, 2010

Best of luck to you, Loquacious!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 12:11 PM on May 21, 2010

So sorry to hear of your health woes, Loq. Sending you best wishes.
posted by porn in the woods at 12:11 PM on May 21, 2010

LONG LIVE LOQUACIOUS!
posted by puny human at 12:15 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have your skateboard and I'm half tempted to drive up there and smack you with it. I dunno what I hate more, that you're sick or far. Motherfucker.

Also, nice chest pelt. MROWR.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:15 PM on May 21, 2010

loq, you are one of my favorites as well. I'm pretty quiet around here, but sending good mojo :)
posted by Librarygeek at 12:16 PM on May 21, 2010

I always thought it the "l" was an "I", as in ioquacious. I guess something that could be pronounced makes more sense. The more you know.

You can pronounce it yo-kway-shuhs. I'm pretty sure that's what we'll call loq in Philly anyway, yo.
posted by desuetude at 12:17 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I have your skateboard and I'm half tempted to drive up there and smack you with it. I dunno what I hate more, that you're sick or far. Motherfucker.

You could do that. I miss both of you.

If you mail it to me, I promise to contuse something with it. It's kind of inevitable, y'know. It's a skateboard.


wuz just awoken for an x-ray. "3 more of these and I level up to Spiderman!"

back to nap.
posted by loquacious at 12:20 PM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Put the meetup on the sidebar. We'll figure out something other than simply winning the $90 trivia prize....
posted by lattiboy at 12:21 PM on May 21, 2010

As I've said before, loquacious, your courage and candor are an inspiration to me. Though I've never met you, your words have affected me greatly, and the fact that you're here on MeFi, my favorite place on the Internet, warms my heart.

I am unemployed and struggling financially right now, but whenever I have an income again, I will gladly send some funds your way. In the meantime, I will mentally wrap you in a big warm fuzzy blanket of healing thoughts and well-wishes.
posted by velvet winter at 12:25 PM on May 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

sending light thoughts and best wishes to you loquacious. stay dry ;-)
posted by toodleydoodley at 12:36 PM on May 21, 2010

Sorry to hear this news. Hope you're back to health soon Loq.
posted by Elmore at 12:38 PM on May 21, 2010

Get well soon loquacious. You are one of the elders of Metafilter. Sending good thoughts your way.
posted by halonine at 12:42 PM on May 21, 2010

Ok dude, knock it off. Seriously.

If it makes you feel any better my nethack pet stepped on a polymorph trap and turned into an Arch-lich.

If you need me to bring anything I'm one short bus ride away.
posted by vapidave at 12:45 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sorry to hear this hon. Hope you're up and about soon!
posted by mygothlaundry at 12:58 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hey Loq, I don't know if you remember me, but we met at a PDX meetup a few years ago. I didn't even know you were in Seattle these days. I have some free time tonight so I could come by the hosp if you would like visitors. Memail me if so, and In the mail let me know what name I should ask for.
posted by matildaben at 12:59 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Heal up, loquacious. You are a prolific source of wit, wisdom, and goodwill here, and I want you to be around for a good long time to come.
posted by EvaDestruction at 1:02 PM on May 21, 2010

Is there a direct link to the paypal site? gman's link gives me this -- http://www.oddpost.com/ -- or am I doing it wrong? (I don't have paypal but was hoping it would take credit card)
posted by puny human at 1:09 PM on May 21, 2010

That is a great picture; you should use it for your profile page.

This. And feel better soon! :)
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:10 PM on May 21, 2010

good luck, loquacious. i hope things turn out well for you. i'm sending good thoughts your way.
posted by gursky at 1:14 PM on May 21, 2010

*gets woken up again*

Oh, more pills? Why thank you. Nono, I did not order these pokey needle things ow ok you win.

I just want to say huge, massive thanks for any donations. I literally have a dollar in change at the moment. Next GA payment is on the 1st.

Any donations will be matched by my GA-U stuff going towards the "stable housing" goal.

I'm not currently drinking (except light social, and even then), smoking weed, using illicit drugs of any sort, gambling down at the snail fights, trying to be the next great yacht rock act or saving up for an army of killer robots.

I've been easily and mostly sober for the last month as a preemptive prerequisite and proving to myself and the docs involved I don't have a drug or alcohol problem, I have a depression problem that I'm occasionally self-medicating. I'd rather go stone cold than deal with AA or any random crap like that. Temporary pain from stopping self medication in hopes for escape from longer lasting pain is highly logical. Make it so.

If I manage to quit smoking brown indian devil weed in the midst of this that'll be great.

The place I'm crashing at smokes cigs inside, and I really can't be around that coming out of here. A week in a cheap nonsmoking motel room or something would probably be very wise. Or maybe I splurge on a cheap tent and kick it with some trees and clean air. I don't know yet. Depends on how the healing goes.

On the tobacco quitting tip, this is kind of how I always wanted to be able to quit - stuck in a gurney under medical supervision not allowed outside and doped the hell up. 13+ hours and counting so far. I have patches but haven't reached for them yet.

Yell at me if you ever see me smoking again. Throw bricks. I really need to be done with it.
posted by loquacious at 1:20 PM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

Loquacious - you one of the bestest people I've never met. Take care of yourself.
posted by deborah at 1:21 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fucking hell, loq, you sure do keep things interesting.

Money will be sent, and I'm emailing you my phone number. I live just a few blocks away. Anything you need, buddy.

You better be up and ready for the beverage of your choice next time we all get together.
posted by Errant at 1:27 PM on May 21, 2010

> or saving up for an army of killer robots.

Dammit, people, once we get loq set up with a place to live, let's get him his army of killer robots. We can make this happen.
posted by languagehat at 1:43 PM on May 21, 2010 [12 favorites]

Beaming it out extra fiercely, loq. So glad it wasn't a heart attack. So glad you're safe and posting. Keep taking care, you beautiful extraordinary dude you.

And lh, I'm totally with you on the killer robots.
posted by tangerine at 1:50 PM on May 21, 2010

Sending some money. I really don't have a lot to spare, but every little bit helps, I imagine.
posted by Caduceus at 1:54 PM on May 21, 2010

This whole thing has me thinking- it probably shouldn't take a severe illness for me (or any of us, really) to let people we haven't met know that we like their thoughts and ideas.

I'm making a (slightly-early) midyear resolution to let strangers (e.g. MeFi posters I respect/admire) know that I admire them. I've already started with you, loquacious, and should I find myself in Seattle in the future (which isn't altogether impossible, though I have no specific plans), I'm hoping you might let me buy you coffee or beer or lunch if your schedule permits.

In the mean time, I hope that as a collective, we can get you into a better living situation. I always feel a little bad throwing money at problems, but I'm hoping that my little bit will combine with everyone else's to at least form a temporary solution.
posted by JMOZ at 1:55 PM on May 21, 2010

let's get him his army of killer robots. We can make this happen.

This is bullcrap and you know it.

We can provide the robots, but it's up to him to make them killers. Robot evil is nurture, not nature.
posted by ColdChef at 1:57 PM on May 21, 2010 [23 favorites]

get well soon, loq!
posted by lia at 1:58 PM on May 21, 2010

Man loquacious, sorry to hear. For what it's worth, I don't hate you. Kinda like you, actually, after meeting you in LA. So chin up and all that and get through this.
posted by eyeballkid at 2:00 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I still hate the rest of you
posted by eyeballkid at 2:01 PM on May 21, 2010 [9 favorites]

I am another Seattle local who may be able to help with in-person needs like rides, visits, or bringing comic books. My email is in my profile.

(I do have a seriously packed weekend, but will do what I can if urgent. After Sunday I can help more.)
posted by Faust Gray at 2:08 PM on May 21, 2010

Also: Loquacious, you are a superhero. You have inspired me for years.
posted by Faust Gray at 2:09 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Feel better!
posted by brujita at 2:16 PM on May 21, 2010

Loquacious, you are the radical most badical. Hope you're appropriately inflated as soon as possible. [NOT FETISHIST]

Is there an alternative to paypal? I'm not too sure I can actually use the account I set up years back, but I'd like to get a few bucks in loq's direction. Anything I can send from some helpful online store at short notice?
posted by Dandeson Coates, Sec'y at 2:22 PM on May 21, 2010

If loquacious can find a warm spot in eyeballkid's cold, hating heart, I'm convinced that the matter of him converting his robot army to killers will be trivial.
posted by SpiffyRob at 2:24 PM on May 21, 2010

The definition of loquacious
is being, in conversation, vivacious.
His voracious, ostentatious posts
confirm his boast he's most verbose

We'd be most morose if he gave up the ghost, so we hope he'll be tenacious
In spite of this illness so audacious.
posted by Mike1024 at 2:36 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Good luck, loq. When I think of people on MeFi who are fearless warriors, you're right up there.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 2:41 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hey loquacious,

Been through 4 spontaneous pneumo's myself. The smoking thing, don't let it creep back on ya...but a couple of tips on the recovery:

Looks like they went in the side, this is good. The going in from the front thing sort of sucks. Right now you probably have something I called the fishtank attached to you, it's gurgly, and gross. My recovery time in the hospital generally went at least a week, occasionally up to 3 weeks, depends on when you empty out the potential space. When they let you up, you need to start a bit of walking. Not enough to get you winded, not enough to inhibit recovery, but enough to get your body moving a bit. It will help on the recovery. You will have chest x-rays done a couple of times, make sure you get copies of them. It's important if it happens again that you have reference material for follow ups and the possible future visits to the doc.

Recovery from the straight up pneumo is surprisingly easy...I mean, you basically keep breathing...and that's the recovery, let the lung heal over and take it easy. You're through the worst part of the whole experience right now. If they go for pleurodesis it's actually a good thing long term (but a pain in the ass when it's happening, push for an epidural if they want to do a pleurodesis), on the upside it means your odds of the pnuemo happening again drop off dramatically - I had mine 4-5 years ago and no problems since, where I was collapsing every 6-12 months before.

Good luck dude! Stay off the substances you inhale, and drop the opiate pain killers off as quick as you can too, long term they just mess with ya and you won't need them for more than a week post op.
posted by iamabot at 2:52 PM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

My thought are with you, loq. (And so is a little bit of my money.) Hope it all works out well for you.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:19 PM on May 21, 2010

On the tobacco quitting tip, this is kind of how I always wanted to be able to quit -

Good news! I have quit Every Drug Ever Invented by Man (except for heroin) one after the other, and cigarettes were by far the hardest!

Oops, that's bad news! Seriously, good on you for making a go of that -- It's pretty much smoke or kill the first sumbitch that gets in your way for a couple of weeks -- not being able to do either causes stress. Stress makes you want to smoke more - lovely feedback loop. I'm pullin' for ya, all the way from fucking Texas - don't make me waste my time.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:19 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I initially misunderstood the above comment as "I have quit almost every drug. Still have to kick the heroin habit."
posted by aniola at 3:30 PM on May 21, 2010 [5 favorites]

Have yet to get started on that one, actually. (I love the ambiguousness of English, sometimes)
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:36 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Well, I was thinking about your situation last night, loquacious, what could be done and all this before any of the late breaking medical news and now I come to find that things have developed at warp speed.

By the Grace of God, however, and, literally at that, your situation has vastly improved, and by gman, too, so I say hats off to the both of them for their parts in this post and to Lattiboy as well, for his work in organizing the meetup related. I will chip in there and, in the meantime, I am wishing you the best.
posted by y2karl at 3:41 PM on May 21, 2010

Hi loq, I've been snooping around for awhile on my boyfriend's account and I ran across this post. I work for a non-profit organization that helps people with resources all across Washington state. I wanted to drop you a note because I would like to help.

I'm not sure if you have insurance (I looked, didn't see anything saying you did) but there is a program that JUST opened up for WA state residents called the Washington Health Program. It's not free but it is WAY cheaper than getting private insurance on your own. It's like the Basic Health Plan of Washington, minus the 90k person wait list. If you have any questions about it or need help contacting them, please let me know.

We also have information on temporary housing and rent assistance that I will gladly give you. You can contact me with your zip code and I will email you everything I can find.

I hope you get better and I hope this helps. ;-)
posted by realafterglow at 4:12 PM on May 21, 2010 [15 favorites]

I just finished making a big batch of that amazing tuna salad (good the 1st day, MAGIC the 2nd.) Please get well soon, loquacious!!
posted by tomboko at 4:27 PM on May 21, 2010

Oh god I just saw this and somehow missed it oh god, oh god oh no
posted by The Whelk at 4:48 PM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

It's motherfucking chairty art time is what it is
posted by The Whelk at 4:51 PM on May 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

Also missed the links, where do we send stuff, the paypal what?
posted by The Whelk at 4:53 PM on May 21, 2010

Okay being told from a good hand at getting charity donations and setting up causes

the best way to raise money
is making 1 dedicated page
with a chip-in link
and a paragraph summing it up

So,...yes someone who is better then me at these thing, some kind of simple wordpress with a paypal link, some info, and I'll see if I can get some artists for a twitter auction.
posted by The Whelk at 4:57 PM on May 21, 2010

The original Lute Cat will be up for grabs is what I am saying.
posted by The Whelk at 5:02 PM on May 21, 2010 [3 favorites]

Get better soon, Loq.
posted by lekvar at 5:07 PM on May 21, 2010

How horrible! Speedy recovery loquacious!
posted by gomichild at 5:07 PM on May 21, 2010

I'm just making it to this thread after being obsessed with the Russian mafia down the hall. I hope you're better soon and manage to get back to making tl;dr comments (I keed, I keed).

Do the doctors there say "BORK BORK BORK"?
posted by desjardins at 5:13 PM on May 21, 2010

Hugs and well wishes, loquacious, from one of your many MeFi spouses. Feel better!

are they feeding you meatballs in the Swedish hospital?
Is all the furniture from Ikea? Do the nurses have enigmatic names like Barnslig and Flørt?
Do the doctors there say "BORK BORK BORK"?

I read Swedish First hospital as Swedish Fish hospital.
posted by contrariwise at 5:17 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well soon loquacious. You're in my thoughts.
posted by IndigoRain at 5:31 PM on May 21, 2010

Get better soon, loq! One day I will be on the West Coast again and I expect to find you to have a beer!
posted by gaspode at 5:34 PM on May 21, 2010

Sent a little bit to help out, Loq! If you charged by the (entertaining, insightful) post, I'd be broke.
posted by memewit at 5:46 PM on May 21, 2010

I'd donate some photography for the art auction, The Whelk.

Get well soon, loquacious! Sending happy vibes your way.
posted by runningwithscissors at 5:49 PM on May 21, 2010

Many hugs, L. you give so many people so much pleasure here. Get well soon!
posted by stagewhisper at 5:54 PM on May 21, 2010

Dude, this is unacceptable! You get your arse out of that hospital and back here just as soon as you're able, you hear?

If good thoughts could really heal, I think you would be back to being newborn by now. Good luck with the tobacco thing, too - I'm with you on that (almost to the hour), but without the benefit of being stuck in a hospital bed. Lucky bastard!
posted by dg at 5:57 PM on May 21, 2010

Ah, damn, loq, I'm so sorry to hear this. Hope your recovery is speedy.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:01 PM on May 21, 2010

Seattle Crisis Resource Directory
posted by Jacqueline at 6:03 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

I read Swedish First hospital as Swedish Fish hospital.

I read it as Swedish First but immediately wondered if that was a declaration of their triage system, or what?

Speedy recovery, loquacious -- you're one of the folks who, day by day, in every way, make MeFi MeFi-er and MeFi-er.
posted by FelliniBlank at 6:05 PM on May 21, 2010

get well soon, loquacious, I'd say so that you can come back here and post more awesome witty thoughtful comments but apparently it hasn't stopped you from doing that... thank you for keeping us updated. take care of yourself.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 6:43 PM on May 21, 2010

I removed gman's email from this thread, but he says it's in his profile feel free to contact him there.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:49 PM on May 21, 2010

Feel better old friend. I want to meet up and drink together someday and this isn't helping.
posted by jonmc at 6:59 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sent a small contribution but the wishes for getting better in every way are huge.
posted by ltracey at 7:20 PM on May 21, 2010

Damn, just saw this and needed to Nth the "loq was one of the first people I remember remembering on Metafilter" comments. I hope you are back on your feet very soon, man. I'm just shy of two weeks off of cigs after smoking for my entire adult life, quitting for six months, relapsing, and quitting again, so I send strength and want you to know that your collapsed lung aftermath pictures are giving me strength as well...
posted by rollbiz at 7:36 PM on May 21, 2010

I been spending most of my time in The Recent Incident Thread. When I saw this, I had a second of selfishness, sighed, started to mentally add up how much I'd Paypaled over in the Russian thread, then I saw gman's picture in his profile, and thought "Fuck it, I'm sending some money."

Get well soon loquacious. I'm getting schmoopy over here, I sincerely wish all Mefites happiness, you folks are a great bunch. Of internet people.
posted by marxchivist at 7:39 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fuck! RUSSIAN Incident Thread. Must have something in my eye, can't see to type...
posted by marxchivist at 7:39 PM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well soon, loq.
posted by ooga_booga at 8:56 PM on May 21, 2010

Be well!!
posted by goshling at 9:14 PM on May 21, 2010

I am getting well hella soon. Lung seems to be reinflating and its looking like I'm going to avoid surgery.

I just stood up for the first time since they hammered that chest tube into me, took a fairly decent shower and dinner is on the way, and some more oxy. Pain is going down.

And as much as I hate to be that guy there are cute nurses here with nice bedside manners.

I still keep randomly thinking "I should be... doing something. Sticking something in my face... chocolate? no... a straw? no... oh, duh, a cigarette. No."

Maybe I should make a pact with myself I'm only allowed to smoke if I shove the lit end in my mouth first.
posted by loquacious at 9:15 PM on May 21, 2010 [5 favorites]

Glad to hear it, Loquacious, hang in there.
posted by Skygazer at 9:23 PM on May 21, 2010

Loq, not too long ago I made a comment, in some thread, in response to a comment of yours, where i said you were an inspiration. You wrote me back some Memail, saying essentially that i should save my praise, cause you're just some guy on the internet, etc. But your comment directly above is, once again, inspiring. So, sorry man, but, I'm gonna say it again: you're an inspiration. Whether you like it or not!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:24 PM on May 21, 2010 [4 favorites]

As for visits? I don't know.

It just seems kinda awkward to me. I know hospital visits are just one of those things that people do, but I have never really been one to do things because they're done.

I'm not afraid or lonely, I'm not dying, and I'm not going anywhere. I'm kind of liking just focusing on resting/healing. I really don't want to be a captive or passive audience or that guy in the bed... "So... how are you?" "I'm great! I have a tube stuck in me and I'm wearing no pants and I'm eating hospital food and I look like hammered shit! Let's go get a beer! Hold my tube! We're going to need that to bungee jump out the window!"

All the supportive messages here, in my memail and email I've received have been super awesome and overwhelmingly great and it's paining me not to be able to reply to each one individually. I feel like the target area of a solar heliostat, energized, empowered and a little warm.

With any luck I might be able to make the meetup on Tues.
posted by loquacious at 9:25 PM on May 21, 2010 [5 favorites]

For the record, what does it feel like (besides "oh fuck yes") to have a lung reinflate? Is it like when you've been rollerskating for hours and you put your feet back in your own shoes? Or is it like when your sinuses are swollen and you roll over in bed and for a few seconds both nasal passages are clear? (not to limit it to those)
posted by vapidave at 9:30 PM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

Dearest loquacious, you are in my thoughts with much love. I'm so sorry to hear you are having to endure ill health.

Links that might be practically helpful to you re housing. You quite likely know all this already but on the off chance there is anything there of help:

List of transgender resources in the Seattle area

Crisis Clinic

Crisis Housing for the homeless

List of places and numbers for crisis housing [pdf]

It seems like the recreational drug use might be turning into wreckreational. Maybe helpful?

When you're feeling better, perhaps Employment for the transgender community

If making calls is overwhelming for you just now, I'm good on the phone and would be happy to make calls, inquiries for you.

Please do the right things, step by step, to work on your recovery process. You CAN do this! Be kind to your precious body. You are brave and true, a good human being. Please hold fast to life. You are loved and appreciated. Big hugs from your MeFite friend who has warm feelings for you.
posted by nickyskye at 9:35 PM on May 21, 2010 [16 favorites]

Doesn't compare to what Nicky wrote, but get rested and be well.
posted by mosk at 10:34 PM on May 21, 2010

Take care Loq, and feel better soon!
posted by batgrlHG at 11:06 PM on May 21, 2010

Thanks, nickyskye. I do have most of those in my bookmarks. The housing situation everywhere is just massively overwhelmed. Last time I actually checked on services there was a hostel available about 25 miles south and it just sounded creepy, especially at 15 a night, and it's not ongoing, stable or permanent.

And to be clear - the pan/transgender part of me isn't in crisis. My ongoing plan is to just be me. After a lot of thought I don't really think I want/need to "transition" or force myself to anyone's binary gender paradigm, and I wouldn't even consider without getting the chronic depression issues well in hand first.

It looks like I may be getting some things for housing opportunities lined up though, and worst case I can still go back to where I'm crashing at now, but I really shouldn't be in cig smoke indoors after this.
posted by loquacious at 11:20 PM on May 21, 2010

I know why they serve jello in hospitals, but why is hospital food about 70-80% trays, plates, dishes and covers by weight and/or volume?

Do you know why do they serve jello in hospitals? The real reason?

It's the only thing on the menu that tastes like it should. Like jello. It's nearly impossible to screw up.
posted by loquacious at 11:27 PM on May 21, 2010 [2 favorites]

For the record, what does it feel like (besides "oh fuck yes") to have a lung reinflate?

A lot like the deflation in reverse, but hopefully with the aid of strong painkillers.

The deflation was very sudden and pronounced pain and difficulty breathing. The reinflation feels like the lungs and ribs are expanding a little, or that ability/capacity to breath is being restored slowly.

I'm pretty sure I felt a few uncrumpling movements at the top of my lung, kind of like a gurgle before you cough, but sort of dry and rustled.

G'night. I just realized I'm totally fading out at the keyboard so I should dim the lights and carpe noctem.
posted by loquacious at 11:33 PM on May 21, 2010

Yell at me if you ever see me smoking again. Throw bricks. I really need to be done with it.

Done.

I quit unwillingly for heath reasons, despite being a stubborn-ass bitch.

Go ahead, prove you're a more stubborn-ass bitch than me by just quitting. I dare you. Heh.
posted by desuetude at 12:07 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Dear loquacious. I never thought the transgender part of you was in crisis. :)

Those links are for transgendered people, who happen to have a crisis in their life, like with housing, addiction issues etc.

Just putting a bunch of ideas out there hoping something might be useful.

Looking at the crisis housing link, I wondered whether a few might be viable like:
SHARE/WHEEL.......................................................206.448.7889
Josephinum, 1902 2nd Ave, Seattle
WALK IN to apply. M Th, 1pm. Tu W F Sa, 6pm. Operates
self-managed shelters in Seattle area. No fees, must participate
in organization chores. Screenings occur most weekdays, call
for more info.


DESC -
Downtown Emergency Service Center...... 206.464.1570 x3033
517 3rd Ave, Seattle
WALK IN for intake. M-F, 7:30am-5pm. Serves men 60+; adults
vulnerable due to mental illness, developmental disabilities,
chemical dependency and/or medical conditions. No fees.

Could calling 211 and speaking to a person there be of help? I called 311 in NYC to help another friend recently and was amazed how helpful the person was, solid, practical help on the spot.

Maybe because you're in a medical crisis: Our Disability Specialist is able to help callers who have a more complex situation or who may need extra assistance in getting connected to a service provider.

206.461.3200
800.621.4636 Toll Free
206.461-3610 TDD/TTY

In the 211 list of housing resources for the Seattle area there is this: Medical Respite Facilities/Beds for Homeless People (requires Bible study) or (better) Transitional Housing/Shelter

Long-Term Transitional Housing Programs
Offers transitional housing programs for men and women, and for those in recovery; stays between 6 months and 2 years; ROSA PARKS HOUSE REQUIRES SHELTER REFERRAL, THE OTHER 4 DO NOT.

Website: http:/ / www. compasscenter. org
Address:
210 Alaskan Way S Client Services Office, Seattle, WA, 98104
Phone:
[phone]
Hours:
M-F, 8:30am-5pm.

--------------------
Craigslist: $300 a month trailer.

$400 a month and up

$100 Clean, Conscious, Healthy Home,Trade for house keeping (North of Woodinville)
----------------------

Please send me a memail and let me know if I can make calls for you and what you'd like.

Sweet dreams.
posted by nickyskye at 12:10 AM on May 22, 2010

I've stayed at the Green Tortoise hostel in Seattle, and it is cheap but not creepy. In fact, the people I met who work there were really great. They also have pretty regular free dinners for guests (I forget the frequency, but it's really often) and a work-trade program, so you can put in a couple hours work instead of paying. It would probably get old after a while, but it might be a nice place to stay while finding another place to stay, especially if you like meeting new people.
posted by kaibutsu at 1:29 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

I would like to say thanks to everyone in this thread and on Metafilter who has reached out with love to loquacious, and through this, to me, and to each other. This thread is one of the most meaningful and wonderful experiences I have had in recent memory.

The Whelk, memailing you about website thing.
posted by By The Grace of God at 2:32 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Fucking-ay, Item, I'd forgotten about that. Damn alcohol-fueled fits of hippy-love. I'm glad you pulled through. *hugs* Aw shit! *shivs self in the kidneys*

Can I print this thread out and just replace my resume with it?

Aww, yeah, grilled cheese in bed at 2:30 in the morning.
posted by loquacious at 2:54 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

A grilled cheese sandwich in a hospital bed? That sounds like the medico version of the mile high club. Enjoy & get better soon!
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:04 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

By the way if anybody has emailed me that damn address isn't working cause I can't find the password, so please memail me instead.
posted by By The Grace of God at 3:10 AM on May 22, 2010

That sounds like the medico version of the mile high club.

LOL. Maybe that's why the nurse earlier asked if I wanted some "lotion". Seemed to be kind of a subtextual thing going on there.
posted by loquacious at 3:32 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Nurse Lotion.

dibs
posted by vapidave at 4:08 AM on May 22, 2010

"Nurse Lotion" would be a great drag name. Or Sister Lotion for Sisters of perpetual indulgence.
posted by loquacious at 4:18 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Next time you should lie there silently incapacitated in a broadly affirmative manner, awaiting the application of nurse lotion.
posted by blasdelf at 4:36 AM on May 22, 2010

im happy to donate a print for any auction - get well soon loc
posted by sgt.serenity at 4:56 AM on May 22, 2010

Why does Nurse Lotion remind me of The Singing Detective? (the BBC version, naturally)
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:59 AM on May 22, 2010

Somehow this has brought me about to Never Say Never.
posted by vapidave at 5:48 AM on May 22, 2010

Oh geez, i'm so sorry to hear about this. Please get well soon.
posted by treepour at 6:07 AM on May 22, 2010

Take care, loq.
posted by box at 6:38 AM on May 22, 2010

I hope that everything gets better.
posted by XMLicious at 6:43 AM on May 22, 2010

hey! swedish hospital stole my uterus back in '98! (well, okay, in their defense, it had gone feral)

more seriously, best of luck, Loquacious, with your recovery.

$ inbound.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:48 AM on May 22, 2010 [4 favorites]

Hope you get better and get the necessaries sorted soon, loquacious. You're definitely one of my favorite mad bastards of the internet, and I mean that as highest praise.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:52 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Get well, bud. Also...

I'm not currently...trying to be the next great yacht rock act....

Let's not be hasty here. Everything old is new again, after all.
posted by jquinby at 7:23 AM on May 22, 2010

...by which I mean that Yacht Rock is due for an enormous comeback very soon. I have a sense for these things, you know.
posted by jquinby at 7:25 AM on May 22, 2010

For the purposes of convince, all discussions of the proposed Art For Loquacious charity site should go to [e-mail] and we'll all talk there.
posted by The Whelk at 7:55 AM on May 22, 2010

Like, for example ...how the hell do I get a paypal button in a wordpress post?
posted by The Whelk at 8:15 AM on May 22, 2010

I don't know shit about shit, but how about this?
posted by gman at 8:22 AM on May 22, 2010

Get well soon Loq - like others have said, your posts were some of the first I noticed when I came here. Your presence has made MeFi a much better place.
posted by NoraCharles at 8:46 AM on May 22, 2010

Okay so this

http://artforloq.wordpress.com/

Is the page for donations and for news about upcoming art deals, offers, raffles, etc.
posted by The Whelk at 8:58 AM on May 22, 2010 [9 favorites]

Can we please get this sidebarred already, especially The Whelk's link?


Good thoughts to you, loq.
posted by Wuggie Norple at 9:12 AM on May 22, 2010

Sidebarred.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:15 AM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

"hello, this is Loq's mom, I just want to thank you all..."

i have been so touched by the support, it has brought me to tears, and i have wanted to thank everyone, but didn't want to weird out anyone.

Aww, man, y'all you made my mom cry! :)
posted by loquacious at 9:40 AM on May 22, 2010 [8 favorites]

Art for auction and special deals will be coming up by monday - so look to then!
posted by The Whelk at 9:55 AM on May 22, 2010

Also if you have an ETSY store or something like that and want to offer a "for this week every blank I sell or 10% of all sales will go toward Loq, that is also an idea.
posted by The Whelk at 10:02 AM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

loquacious, send your mom a hug for me!
posted by By The Grace of God at 10:41 AM on May 22, 2010

Art for auction and special deals will be coming up by monday - so look to then!

The site mentions "act auctions" - good to see that performance art is being embraced. Or was that just a typo for cat auctions?
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:54 AM on May 22, 2010

Eep! Get better, loquacious!
posted by Pronoiac at 11:25 AM on May 22, 2010

Chiming in here to say hope you feel better real quick, Loquacious! And asking if and when there's a snailmail address, for someone to give me a holla.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 11:55 AM on May 22, 2010

love luv lub
posted by Ouisch at 12:03 PM on May 22, 2010

Librarina and I can contribute some homegrown turkeys and chickens to the auction (Seattle area only, some complications apply as per our inspector), though gratification will not be immediate. They will be in a cookable state unless, for some reason, you want a live turkey. They are fun to have around.

It's the only thing on the menu that tastes like it should. Like jello. It's nearly impossible to screw up.

Who here knows how to sneak an aspic into Swedish?
posted by stet at 1:59 PM on May 22, 2010

Procure an aspic and walk into Swedish with it? I don't think they have a contraband on foods.

Doesn't mean I'm gonna eat that crazy topsy turvy jelly-meat salad, though!
posted by loquacious at 2:19 PM on May 22, 2010

Hospital status update:

I'm standing up and roaming around as far as my hoses allow and going a little stir-crazy.

Granted I have three huge lidocaine topical patches around the muscles freaking out around my chest-tube site, but it's a start.

I may be released as early as tomorrow evening or Monday, but we'll see. Looks like I avoided real surgery. Tube may come out today or tomorrow, but they're worried about the lung not filling as much as it should, so I'm doing my breathing exercises.

My day nurse came in and said "Soooo, anything interesting on the internet?" and boy did she get an earful. "Oh, yes, very! There's this site and all of these great people I've been talking to for years and I've met lots and lots of them and most are my friends and I write and they're passing a really big hat around for me because my life has sucked and I'm trying to make it not suck by getting help for chronic depression and holy hot damn there's something interesting on the internet this is why I don't have any like dumb paper cards on my table and why I'm writing so much because sweet zombie jiminy christmas there's like two-three-hundred people I wanna hug yeah, you're looking at me like I'm crazy but lady you have no idea, I've got a posse..."
posted by loquacious at 2:30 PM on May 22, 2010 [30 favorites]

MetaFilter: lady, you have no idea, I've got a posse.

Yay for moving around. Next step, detachment from the Matrix.
posted by catlet at 2:33 PM on May 22, 2010 [6 favorites]

Have you told her about the Russians yet?
posted by stet at 2:48 PM on May 22, 2010 [5 favorites]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the breathing exercises, oh man, you'll have to do those for like...ever, and there's a test before they let you out!
posted by iamabot at 3:09 PM on May 22, 2010

If they don't treat you well, let us know, because we have cameras.
posted by netbros at 3:29 PM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the breathing exercises, oh man, you'll have to do those for like...ever, and there's a test before they let you out!

I've been given one of those breath exercisers that measures flow rate and capacity and I just impressed the hell out of all the nurses in the ward.

Apparently they've never seen someone max out the capacity before with both lungs, much less one and a half lungs. She said she's never seen someone even clear 2000-3000 of whatever the units are which is like 1/4th max.

I already told them I used to be a surfer and used to practice how long I could hold my breath for before smoking. (My record when I was about 17 was 5 minutes, 40 seconds doing a deadman's float in a near body-temp pool.)

(pasted from a private msg to save keystrokes)
posted by loquacious at 3:37 PM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

fuq told me about this. Hang in there, loquacious.

You too. Take it easy and keep things simple. Hopefully the PayPal jankiness will be solved.

Hopefully someday someone will replace PayPal with something that isn't fucking ass, too.
posted by loquacious at 3:39 PM on May 22, 2010

Hi loq - late to the party, but keeping you in my thoughts & heart. You're an inspiration.
posted by yoga at 3:42 PM on May 22, 2010

I could contribute a scarf and some other hand-made fripperies to the auction. What's the best way to get all this stuff posted in one place? (Obviously, I'd mail it directly to the buyer, but I think if we all posted stuff in our personal Etsy stores/web sites/etc, it would be too scattered and inconvenient to get any good auction action.)

Loquacious, glad to hear you're up and about, even if you're still tethered. No bungee jumping, no matter how nutso you're going - that tygon tubing has no spring to it.

Whelk, you need to get some new business cards: Thaddeus Q. Whelk, Artist & Philanthropist. Has a nice ring, don't you think?
posted by Quietgal at 3:56 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Tygon, take me away!!!
posted by loquacious at 4:03 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Had a thought: although it wouldn't be an auction, maybe we could set up an Etsy shop for this kind of fundraising. I'd be willing to administer this, assuming Etsy lets me have another shop under my name.

Obviously, donors would keep the physical goods in their own homes and just send me pictures of the items for sale, then they would mail the stuff to buyers directly. We'd have to work out the details of who covers the cost of postage and some other stuff, but if anybody thinks this is a good idea let's discuss it.
posted by Quietgal at 4:05 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh holy shit. I have fond memories of loquacious from e2 (!) and I'm fucking heartbroken to learn about this situation. Jesus Christ, what a raw deal.

I need most of the pennies I have, but I put a knitting pattern on the internet recently and can pledge a dollar from each sale 'til the end of May for the keep-loq-in-food-and-shelter fund. This one here, looks like this.

Hope you're feeling better soon, loq! Yay for good drugs in the meantime!
posted by bewilderbeast at 4:27 PM on May 22, 2010 [3 favorites]

As I long time loquacious reader, I sent over a little something you can put towards your next SF anthology. Get well.
posted by slidell at 4:42 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Funds sent. loquacious, I'm a big fan! Get better soon!
posted by limeonaire at 4:52 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Oh, loquacious, you are one of my favorite MeFites... to hear you've had the same kind of past few years with medical, housing, and PTSD struggles as I have had breaks my heart. I was the lucky recipient of a lot of people's help last fall when I hit a medical crisis. You will, of course, be receiving whatever financial help I can provide (not much as I'd like as I'm in a similar situation as you, I'm afraid.)
posted by _paegan_ at 5:15 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

an Etsy shop might be good for the smaller hand made items of Oh I made an X and if you buy X, pefit goes to loq but I don't know how that world work, right now all art stuff is going through GMan to Ebay aucation )wehich we will SOOOO announce) starting Monday and so.
posted by The Whelk at 5:29 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

hang in there, dude. You should totally ask to trade up that jello for a lime in the coconut.
posted by honest knave at 5:32 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Your fundraiser already has a built-in theme song. How'd you manage to go back in time and get Townes Van Zandt to write it?

Lungs
posted by MsMolly at 5:49 PM on May 22, 2010 [3 favorites]

OK, gman handles donations for this auction. Don't worry, dude, we won't flood your living room with handcrafted knick-knacks, we'll just send jpgs.

*gman heaves huge sigh of relief*

Standing by for further instructions on donating to auction ... (and the Etsy shop offer still stands, if anybody wants to go that route too)
posted by Quietgal at 6:04 PM on May 22, 2010 [2 favorites]

Tygon, take me away!!!

I used R-1000, which is actually for peristaltic pumps; what have they got you on?
posted by Tube at 6:16 PM on May 22, 2010 [3 favorites]

Sorry, late to the party. That other thread, and general life stuff all happening at once...

Loq, I hope you're feeling better. Take care.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 6:39 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Another member of the loquacious fan club here. I mostly lurk, but have to pipe up to say how much I admire you for dealing with what you're dealing with and still being such a tremendous part of the community here. I signed up for Paypal specifically to send you this weekend's pizza money (we ate pancakes instead - it seemed like the thing to do). I think your posse might be larger than you realize.

Also I would love to donate a couple of handknit extra-warm fleece-lined hats if someone else can handle eBay or Etsy or whatever. Just tell me what to do.
posted by beandip at 8:08 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

we'll just send jpgs.

I misread that as "we'll just send pigs," and thought that Quietgal was taking that live turkey thing just a tad too far. Then I realized she'd actually written jpgs. So I started thinking about jpgs of pigs, and went and looked at some for a while, and now here I am regretting that I don't make any objects that can be auctioned off.

Cheering for those lungs.
posted by tangerine at 8:39 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

hugbucket from behind the great firewall which is about all i'm able to do. he memailed me support.
posted by infini at 10:35 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm willing to send a few bucks, and I'd like it to do the most good by using my bank account, instead of a credit card as suggested upthread, but I'm really crappy at this kind of thing. I don't see that option on the donation page, and I don't have a PayPal account. Do I need to join this PayPal dealy to make this work? Also, how much is saved for Loquacious' use by doing this? If it's just a few percent, maybe I'll just use the magic plastic, and be done with it.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 11:17 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sent a small donation. "We're all in this together," as the old tagline goes.

We're all rootin' for you, loq.
posted by Ljubljana at 11:57 PM on May 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

PareidoliaticBoy:

I think gman is covering any paypal transfer fees that he can, so I get 100% of it. Please don't put yourself out if it's any trouble, though.
posted by loquacious at 1:01 AM on May 23, 2010

Update:

Still don't know when I'm getting discharged. May be tomorrow or Monday, may be later. I'm not in any hurry to go anywhere 'cause it all still hurts like fuck and better living through chemistry is great.

My chest-tube accidentally uncoupled and failed earlier this evening, so there's a chance some air leaked back into the cavity, but I won't know until the radiologist checks out the post-fix X-rays.

Otherwise everything was looking good for a no invasive surgery fix. Hell, getting this tube stuck between my ribs is the closest I've ever been to real surgery and that was plenty.

In general, pain is going down, breathing is returning, I'm practicing with my "Jedi force trainer" breathing toy.
posted by loquacious at 1:06 AM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Thanks, more thanks, and even more thanks:

I owe everyone here more thanks than I can articulate. The company and kind words from so many people are priceless. Besides being a massive, much needed and healthy ego boost, it's really, really nice to be appreciated as a human being. I've been really hating on myself lately and just generally wishing I was dead, and irrationally convincing myself that the world and my friends and family would be better off without me.

I know this is irrational and a symptom of severe depression, that it's unhealthy, that this stress is probably part of the reason why my lung collapsed - but I can't really help it yet. Yeah, it's fucking stupid. But the kind words and language here, in my inbox and mail have been incredibly enlightening and heartening and have clearly shown me otherwise. It's priceless.


For everyone who has donated - you've all been so generous. A huge weight and stress has been lifted from my shoulders and shared among many. I don't even have any idea who donated what yet, or what messages have been sent with donations. This will be rectified when I get out of this crazy robot-bed thing. More than a few have asked to remain anonymous and it sounds like gman is going to parse the list of donations so I have no way of knowing who you are. Whoever you are: Thank you.

What this is all accomplishing is giving me the space and time to focus on treatment. I don't have to keep panicking and stressing on the very basic need of where I'm going to sleep and how. I can focus entirely on (and pay for) therapy sessions that aren't covered by Medicaid. I don't have to struggle to find bits of work here and there just to cover the basics while I've been so ruthlessly depressed I can barely find the energy to wash my socks.

Between the overwhelming message of "thanks for the kind words and writing" from so many of you to the material support... so many of the problems that were holding me back just a few days ago are vanishing.

The current post-hospital plan looks like something like this:

I have an opportunity that gingerbeer introduced me to where I may be able to house/catsit somewhere peaceful and non-smoking for about 4 weeks. If this works out, I can take a breath, finish healing and do some mental and physical inventory work and spend most of that time looking for stable, longer term housing. Not just looking for... but selecting and being discerning or picky about finding something that's both affordable and optimal.

I can keep engaging my treatment appointments and start setting up new ones while I'm looking for housing.

For housing I'm very pragmatic. I'm looking for maximum value - IE cheap, but good - so I can stretch donations as far as possible. A little studio somewhere quiet and near the facilities here in central Seattle would be ideal and luxurious to me.

The concept is frankly... mindblowing. I haven't ever lived just by myself in my entire adult life. The idea of having a key to even so much as a walk in closet where I can just focus on solving my own problems is totally foreign to me. I have a bad habit of ending up in scenarios where I'm working as a caretaker for someone else and putting my own tasks on the back burner in exchange for rent and mere survival instead of progressing.

This means so, so much to me. Thank you.
posted by loquacious at 1:37 AM on May 23, 2010 [42 favorites]

Let the healing commence loquacious, we're rooting for you.
posted by freya_lamb at 1:47 AM on May 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Lastly, for the Seattle peoples: Visiting.

Assuming I'm not discharged tomorrow I think I'm ok and ready with the idea of people visiting if you would like to. I'm approaching day three of not even leaving this room. Errant is probably visiting tomorrow.

So, watch this thread to see if I've been discharged or scheduled for discharge, first.

I have no idea what the visiting hours and policies are, where the parking is or even what address I'm actually at, but I'm in room 1046. You should probably message me for my full name, 'cause I don't want to post it here in googlespace.

Then feel free to just show up whenever, I suppose. Worst case scenario I'm asleep in my robot bed without any pants on, or they've pulled me aside to get more imaging done. Feel free to shoot me an email to check in.

I probably don't even have to say this, but just to be safe - please don't bring cards or balloons or any of that kind of stuff. I don't care for killing trees for sentimental frippery in the best of scenarios, and I frankly value the table surface space for food and computer much more, and I don't have any place to store mementos, except online or on my HDD.

Your company is great, though. Just keep it mellow.

There is wireless here, so feel free to bring your WiFi enabled anything. Bring whatever lunch or snacks you'd like to bring for yourself. There's a DVD player and a TV if you want to watch a movie or something. There aren't any chairs but that could probably be fixed. The room isn't utterly tiny, it's about the size of a small studio apartment. There are at least four power outlets unused in plain view.

I'm going to try and crash and sleep in. This damn robot bed keeps waking me up with it's automagical pressure-reducing self-adjustments and I'm about ready to reprogram it's brain with a my foot.

Actually, I did just think of something I would love to have - a proper cup of Seattle coffee. Black. Drip or pressed. Not Starbucks! ;)
posted by loquacious at 2:01 AM on May 23, 2010

Looks like I may be getting discharged today! Wooooot!
posted by loquacious at 8:41 AM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Chest tube pic. (Warning: mildly graphic, no blood, just tube and skin.)

Re-dressing, drinking coffee, get me out of here.
posted by loquacious at 9:41 AM on May 23, 2010

Hooray for loquacious' discharge!!

Wait, that sounds icky.
posted by The otter lady at 10:05 AM on May 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

No it doesn't. They can't ejaculate me from this ward fast enough.
posted by loquacious at 10:19 AM on May 23, 2010 [4 favorites]

sooooo stir crazy. i've been tethered by a 12 foot hose hooked to a vacuum port on a wall for three days. *must... open... window... go outside... something... yargh*
posted by loquacious at 10:30 AM on May 23, 2010

Hi loquacious. I know you don't know me, and I don't know you, but I have a couple things to say to you.

First off, let me say Thank You. I've always kind of been weirdly resentful towards you, because I have a similar mental health issue, but much less severe, and yet I am unable to be even a fraction of how articulate, thoughtful, funny, and productive as you are on this site. After reading your story for the first time a few months ago I was struck with a sense of privilege (I know I am privileged for sure, but frequent reminders are a good thing) and a sense of...I don't know, selfishness. Like, this guys has what I has but a million times worse, and yet look at these words he writes....

So when my own health started deteriorating a few months ago from a combination of 10 years of despression, chronic anxiety, and a heart condition, I sort of took it as a wake up call. Reading your story again and again, I decided to try out medication again for the first time in 6 years.

So I started Lexapro and some new heart medication, and while I'm nowhere close to being out of the woods yet, I'm on a path to get there, and it's in large part thanks to you.

So thank you for changing my life, even though you didn't know it or me. I hope you get better very soon, and if you ever need a place to crash for a week or a month or six in Asheville, North Carolina, you have one.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:32 AM on May 23, 2010 [25 favorites]

ZOMG, ok...just put 2 and 2 together here.... have you ever heard of the Emma Goldman Finishing School up in Beacon Hill? It's an urban intentional community (group house, in prole-speak) and I've known folks who've circulated in and around there. Good folks. They are actively seeking new members, and lest I appear boldly presumptuous, I daresay you might find it to your liking. I'd love to hear if you end up there, that would be so neat. That is all. Rest up and all that, xox.
posted by wowbobwow at 12:12 PM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

The Emma Goldman Finishing School.

Is that located near the Che Guevara Academy for Boys?

(Or am I getting that mixed up with the Fidal Castro Technical School of Refrigeration Repair)?
posted by Skygazer at 1:15 PM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Is that located near the Che Guevara Academy for Boys?

(Or am I getting that mixed up with the Fidal Castro Technical School of Refrigeration Repair)?

Close. It's just a piece away from the Mikhail Bakunin Institute of Millinery and Pyrotechnics. Those other two consolidated into the Foundation for the Appreciation of Cuban Revolutionary Stick-to-itiveness. Etc. I can see how that might be confusing. Newsletter?
posted by wowbobwow at 1:30 PM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yes, please subscribe.
posted by Skygazer at 1:39 PM on May 23, 2010

Close. It's just a piece away from the Mikhail Bakunin Institute of Millinery and Pyrotechnics.

Oh, I know that place! It's just next door to the Sacco and Vanzetti College of Bartending.
posted by Skygazer at 1:45 PM on May 23, 2010 [2 favorites]

Please tell Nurse Lotion au revoir for me.
posted by vapidave at 1:54 PM on May 23, 2010

Oh, loquacious! Sorry to hear about the lung but glad things are looking up for you now.

You designed a logo for me several years ago (yes, I paid him!) and I don't use it anymore but you did a fabulous job.

I want to share my favorite loquacious story, which isn't on mefi so people might not know about it: Sleeps with Coyotes. I am going to go read it again and enjoy it once more.

I for one would like to see some more links to some more of his memorable writings, so I think it would be spiffy if people would post some links to them in this thread. I'm gonna go dig through his history to see if I can find some juicy ones I might have missed...
posted by marble at 3:49 PM on May 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

I'm down with this. Loq, pick an image from my gallery and I'll add a moderately sized print to the auction. I like the "personal touch" idea.
posted by seanmpuckett at 4:38 PM on May 23, 2010 [3 favorites]

Wow Sam! That's a truly exceptional gallery. I'm in for a bid on whatever!
posted by lattiboy at 5:47 PM on May 23, 2010

Sean, I mean
posted by lattiboy at 5:48 PM on May 23, 2010

I'm getting held at least another night. I have a very strong opinion that there have been a couple of fuckups regarding the chest tube and being taken off of suction and then left for too long, but I'm dealing with it.

I'm behind on communication on a few fronts, sorry, but don't be surprised if I'm AWOL for a bit... I need a nap. I'm a little grar about getting held for at least another night.

Errant did stop by today and kept me company for a good long spell, which was super great.

Slarty Bartfast also works in this complex so he stopped by this morning, but I was napping and super groggy and didn't recognize him as MeFite right away and just assumed he was one of the docs on the floor. It took me a few sentences to figure that one out. Hi Slarty!

Grar, another xray.
posted by loquacious at 6:15 PM on May 23, 2010

Look for some exciting art auctions soon!
posted by The Whelk at 6:30 PM on May 23, 2010

oh yay, even with the grar and all, sounds like things are looking up. looking forward to the art, save a piece for me when i'm back out from behind the great firewall
posted by infini at 6:59 PM on May 23, 2010

My experience is that chest tubes always take longer than you think, I was surprised someone gave you hope for discharge today. Wish you could get outside though. I'll bring by some fresh air in a jar tomorrow.

What's that? Lost is on? Fuck! Sure wish I could get someone to deliver me a Swedish Hospital peanut butter smoothie and some french fries...
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 7:33 PM on May 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

I would second Slarty, they take way longer than you think, and they may partially heal up a bit, then you move around, it tears open a bit more, and it's back on the suction.
posted by iamabot at 8:51 PM on May 23, 2010

They haven't put me back on suction yet, just keeping me on waterseal. The whole thing is rather bewildering and strange in that it's not something you can, like, suture shut or just give a pill for or some antibiotics and bedrest or something.

I'll bring by some fresh air in a jar tomorrow.

Can you go stand next to a smoker and get 'em to exhale into the jar or something? Hey! Make 'em blow up balloons! You could totally smuggle those in!

What're my chances they'll actually refuse treatment if I sneak off the floor and sneak back? waaaaah.
posted by loquacious at 9:00 PM on May 23, 2010

Yikes, Loq. Ask for some Nicotine gum or a patch. They work fairly well.
posted by Skygazer at 10:02 PM on May 23, 2010

I'm down with this. Loq, pick an image from my gallery and I'll add a moderately sized print to the auction. I like the "personal touch" idea.

I thought this would be much harder, but it wasn't.

From the Mandala Elemental series, "Mandala Terra" Image # BG09.

That's totally my style. There you go.

Yikes, Loq. Ask for some Nicotine gum or a patch. They work fairly well.

I asked them for some gum but it took 'em about an hour to get 1 piece of gum from the pharmacy. You think in a respiratory ward they'd have anti-smoking aids raining freely from the sky. They had a few more pieces of gum lined up 15-30 minutes after that, but by then Errant went to the Rite Aid and back to get me my own box because otherwise there was the potential for genocide.

I have my own patches here, but patches are kinda sucky in that they get you all high and keep you keyed up for hours, when I really just need to sleep, heal and take it easy.
posted by loquacious at 10:54 PM on May 23, 2010

Whoo, so did they fit you with a heimlich (sp) valve ?
posted by iamabot at 11:10 PM on May 23, 2010

get better soon!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:36 PM on May 23, 2010

Whoo, so did they fit you with a heimlich (sp) valve ?
posted by loquacious at 12:12 AM on May 24, 2010

Doh, wrong button.

I have no idea what that is so probably not? I have a chest tube and a suction/waterseal box and an IV site for saline and such.
posted by loquacious at 12:14 AM on May 24, 2010

Hi, you. Sending more hugs. Going stir crazy is a good sign!
posted by By The Grace of God at 12:25 AM on May 24, 2010

Hugs, loq. Get better soon. Please let them keep you as long as they see fit. They're trying to get you well without surgery. Trust me, recovery from any surgery is worse.

(Been trying to keep up with this thread while my mom was staying over for the weekend and my daughter had the finale of her musical on Friday with clean-up and afterparty today. Gah!)

Happy healing thoughts!
posted by lilywing13 at 12:34 AM on May 24, 2010

Also, sorry to everyone I haven't been able to reply to yet. I'm a little overwhelmed doped up on a small zoo of drugs.

There have been a lot of generous, sweet, thoughtful, helpful, kind and caring messages offering great advice, warrm wishes and so much more. It's paining me to not be able to respond fast enough, so please hang in there or don't take it personally. My general inbox of life is under avalanche watch. Thank you.

*attempts to slip off to sleep again*
posted by loquacious at 12:34 AM on May 24, 2010

Get well! Never met or talked, but I've always been inspired by your posts, and I'm once again (twice in a week!) inspired by the community here.

Hang in there, loq!
posted by mmoncur at 2:36 AM on May 24, 2010

I don't know you, but I love most of your contributions to this site. As someone who periodically suffers from intense bouts of depression (and chronic social anxiety) I hope you find a decent and affordable therapist. It's not magic, but it helps.
posted by Dumsnill at 5:34 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Loquacious picked this print: Mandala Terra. Details in the auction TBA.

On topic: Get better, man. You're needed.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:00 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

WARNING: HIGH RISK OF SMARTASS IN THE ROOM
posted by loquacious at 6:18 AM on May 24, 2010 [9 favorites]

Just to remind people that if you're auctioning arts or handicrafts, please contact gman who is setting up the ebay stuff.

If you are like Zarq and have goodies from your high-end ladies productions job and are in the NYC area, contact me for the raffle.
posted by The Whelk at 6:34 AM on May 24, 2010

keep ridin' that sarcastihorse man.
posted by The Whelk at 6:34 AM on May 24, 2010

i need a copy of Cortexexexes' "HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SIGN" sign.
posted by loquacious at 6:43 AM on May 24, 2010

My goodness, what a cute and sad photo. Best of luck from an internet-stranger. I am sorry I live too far away to be actual help!
posted by theredpen at 6:46 AM on May 24, 2010

Oh and I meant the bandages photo. The grilled cheese is just kickass, not sad.
posted by theredpen at 6:47 AM on May 24, 2010

which photo? the one where I'm throwin' devilhorns?
posted by loquacious at 7:01 AM on May 24, 2010

I'm in a "spray the whole darn thread with a humongous old hugbucket" kinda mood


*spplllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttssssssssss*


must be teh shanghainese sauna ;p
posted by infini at 8:19 AM on May 24, 2010

something wonderful is about to happen
posted by The Whelk at 8:38 AM on May 24, 2010

Yes, I do have a thing for devil horns. And Scottish accents, in case anyone has one of those lying around.
posted by theredpen at 8:54 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

eh laddy'?
posted by The Whelk at 8:57 AM on May 24, 2010

CHEST TUBE IS OUT. FINALLY. FUCKIN' AY. OOOOOOHHH YEAAAAAHHHH!!! I FEEL GREEEEEAT! BABIES EVERYWHERE!

Working on actual discharge in the next four-five hours or so.

Anyone have any suggestions for a very cheap but not completely scary motel/hotel room around Seattle? Figure pioneer square to capitol hill. Weekly rate a bonus.

I'm also looking for a studio/efficiency/bedsit type housing (or SANE roommates) for the longer term haul, which is all thanks to so many of you being so fucking awesome I'm gonna cry.
posted by loquacious at 11:06 AM on May 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

New Meta thread
posted by gman at 11:19 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Couldn't decide whether to go Old MeTa or new MeTA. Decided on Old MeTa--'cuz in no way did this deserve to be the first post in the new thread.

As a (many years past) lung-fuck-up sufferer, I feel for you, loq. As an 18-year quit smoker, the best advice I can give is that you can't try to quit, you can only quit or not quit. I regret that smoking stunted my growth and I stopped growing at 1.99 meters.

MeFites helped rescue my boy klang's robotic ass, and so I have also thrown a few shekels toward the loquacious one. May your wheels be greased, not your skids.
posted by beelzbubba at 11:31 AM on May 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

Well, damn it, I am super-late to this particular, uh, party, but holy crap, stay on the mend, loquacious, and congrats on your imminent discharge. You're in good hands with MeFi.
posted by mykescipark at 11:52 AM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

you can't try to quit, you can only quit or not quit.

I read this in Yoda's voice. :)
posted by sveskemus at 2:23 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Take care, Loq!
posted by spinifex23 at 5:01 PM on May 24, 2010

Hey so I told a bunch of people that you got your chest tube out and they were pretty excited.

New thread you say? I may just head over there why not?
posted by Dandeson Coates, Sec'y at 5:52 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hopefully I am not speaking out of turn to deliver a brief update: loquacious is out of the hospital and currently shacked up in a surprisingly-nice motel given the low nightly rate, where he is most likely sleeping until something seismic dares to awaken him. Then, lo, the earth itself may feel that wrath.
posted by Errant at 9:48 PM on May 24, 2010 [4 favorites]

Hey there. Sorry I'm a little late on the update, but I wanted to wait until plans were more concrete.

First off, I'd like to thank everybody for their incredible generosity. Whether you donated goods, dropped a supportive email, posted an in-thread comment, bid on an eBay auction, or sent cold hard cash, we appreciate every last bit.

Thanks to all your support, loquacious has some awesome new opportunities available to him. As of Monday, he will have the keys to his first very own place. Your generosity has afforded loquacious the following:

a) almost three weeks of temporary accommodation
b) a phone connection to friends and family
c) and this is the big one, nearly one year of rent in his new apartment
d) some basic housewares and a futon to sleep on
e) set-up/deposit on his utilities

So loquacious is on the mend, and his heartfelt thanks goes out to each of you.

Fuckin' right people!
posted by gman at 2:29 PM on June 4, 2010 [17 favorites]

I think I have something in my eye. Stupid allergies. *sniff* that's so awesome
posted by catlet at 2:33 PM on June 4, 2010

Hooray! We're Do-Gooders!
posted by The Whelk at 2:35 PM on June 4, 2010

Fuck yes this news is most excellent.
posted by carsonb at 6:19 PM on June 4, 2010

I've been meaning to post an update but I've been stage-shy, overwhelmed and wtf along with trying to heal the sutures in my chest tube hole. I've been going stir crazy and just wish they'd heal already so I could move around like I normally do or toss and turn in my sleep without suddenly waking up and worrying I busted a stitch.

I've more or less never had my own place ever. This is huge. Yeah, it's an affordable studio but the walk in closet alone is more personal space than I've had in 4-5 years or more. It's kind of hard to tell. I've been living out of a backpack and suitcase on couches, in garages and closets for a long, long time, usually on top of other people's clutter and drama.

I'm also a bit nervous because this now means I now need to - get to - go to work on treatment. Much of which is probably going to suck and hurt a lot, but needs to get done. My primary therapist/advocate and primary physician (who knows Slarty Bartfast, go figure) are all on board, supportive and super happy for me because they know I've been trying to find stable longer term housing within the system and it's simply not there. There's 2+ year waiting lists everywhere I've applied, and I've never been able to stay still long enough to wait them out.

The studio also dovetails with my GA-U and insurance. If I qualify for housing stipends the non-profit housing agency accepts them. Since your aggregated donations are being handled by a third party as a gift for the express purposes of housing, it's not going to mess with the insurance and aid, either.

Yeah, this is super huge for me. I'm a bit flummoxed and in awe. I've tried writing this comment a dozen odd times, and this'll have to do. Thank you. Wish me luck, and best wishes to you and yours. You're all awesome.

Also, I probably don't need to say this... but there is a chance that you may lose a writer and contributor if this all ends well. I've only had so much time and motivation and write so much, so often with so much hanging out because my shit is all fucked up. It's not balanced behavior. But if all ends well it means I have found better mental health, a job, more balance in my life and a little of the normalcy I never thought I could have.
posted by loquacious at 11:04 PM on June 4, 2010 [21 favorites]

*sniff* I feel like a mama bird watching the flapping wings of the cheeping chick on the side of the nest
posted by infini at 11:49 PM on June 4, 2010

wait, that came out all wrong

whatever, *hugs* Loq... go forth and prosper
posted by infini at 11:49 PM on June 4, 2010

Good luck, man. I've never met you, but I love you.

And if it's going to stand you on solider happier ground if I don't read another word from you here for months or years or ever even, then by Satan's salty tattooed ballsack, so let it be, is what I say, at least. Get right, get healthy, get better, push your energies into a virtuous cycle, and see if that continues to include typing up amusing hyperlexical screeds for people you've never met. We hope so, but it's OK if it doesn't. It is OK.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 5:54 AM on June 5, 2010 [3 favorites]

This is so fucking cool. Big daft happy grins on the faces of the two mefi-readers in this flat. Yay loq and yay mefi!
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 6:58 AM on June 5, 2010

Metafilter: trying to heal the sutures in my chest tube hole
posted by The Whelk at 7:38 AM on June 5, 2010

Metafilter: trying to heal the sutures in my chest tube hole

Damnit, they itch. I just wanna stick my grubby fingers in there and scratch, y'know? But, no, can't do that. Grargh.
posted by loquacious at 1:32 PM on June 5, 2010

MetaFilter: I've never met you, but I love you

or, a tale of how I just wanna stick my grubby fingers in there and scratch.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:09 PM on June 5, 2010

Damnit, they itch. I just wanna stick my grubby fingers in there and scratch, y'know? But, no, can't do that. Grargh.
Like I said at the start of the thread, uh, I TOTALLY know how this goes. It occurs to me now that this is the sort of thing you can ask a doctor about! Is it okay if you apply topical cream or lotion, like hydrocortisone? Could something as simple as a benadryl or ibuprofen improve the immune or pain system responses?

Now my chest feels all itchy.
posted by knile at 3:17 PM on June 5, 2010

SO glad to hear this!! HURRAH for Loq and for Metafilter!!
posted by The otter lady at 9:05 PM on June 5, 2010

Satan's salty tattooed ballsack

Now there's a mental image.

Am truly thrilled to hear you're doing better and that your situation is improving, loq. :)
posted by zarq at 12:38 AM on June 6, 2010

metafilter: telempathic across the airwaves
posted by infini at 12:40 AM on June 6, 2010

Hey Loq, wanted to say I am absolutely thrilled that we have guaranteed a home for you for the next year, getting yourself better must seem like a much easier prospect. Look after yourself.
posted by ellieBOA at 1:04 PM on June 6, 2010

loquacious, *hugs*
(I would post more but it would just dilute the message.)
posted by yaymukund at 5:48 PM on June 6, 2010

One down. One million, four-hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-nine to go.
posted by crunchland at 7:04 PM on June 6, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hey Loq, wanted to say I am absolutely thrilled that we have guaranteed a home for you for the next year

It's actually six months on a twelve month lease - during which time I either need to get a job (possibly ending my insurance/benefits) or get actual housing assistance, but it's 6 months more of a guaranteed anything at all then I've had in a long time, so I'm deeply thankful and will work with what I have.

Also, I keep getting annoyed at being in a hotel this long but I have to keep reminding myself that there's no way I could have recovered this much from the hospital stay sleeping on the floor on a camping pad in a cluttered, smokey room in a tense, stressful situation - or worse, on the streets.

I have developed a much deeper appreciation for beds, sheets and other domestic wonders. I've spent far too long in sleeping bags and shitty beds.
posted by loquacious at 7:04 PM on June 6, 2010

Correction: There are more donations left after all of this for an additional 3-4 months rent and additional costs.

Gman (and crew) are doing an excellent job of making sure the money goes to what it needs to go to. I'm really bad at money so this is good. He's spending a lot of time and his own dime covering transfer fees and making sure Errant can help receive the donations and getting me the money orders I need for rent/deposit and all of that. I'm thankful that he's handling this because banks are foreign to me and I'm terrible with money.

Sorry for any confusion. It's being handled very well.
posted by loquacious at 9:47 PM on June 6, 2010

gman or loq: Is it possible to let us know if the money starts running too low? I strongly doubt I'm the only person who would be happy to help a little more if it takes longer to get loq on his feet.

Also, I want to nominate gman for MeFi Saint Status for his efforts.
posted by JMOZ at 5:42 AM on June 7, 2010 [2 favorites]

Seconding the sainthood nomination for gman, and also The Whelk.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:51 AM on June 7, 2010

Indeed. Yay for real people!
posted by By The Grace of God at 8:41 AM on June 7, 2010

There is still the question of the raffle meet-up, which is a bit awkward cause I have other events going on the 11th and 12t and will be in Iceland of all places until the 30th. I've got an amazing load of prizes to raffle off, from pjern to Greg-Nog to super-super fancy ladies things - and I want to make sure the most amount of people get there and are able to attend.

So Howdowedothat?
posted by The Whelk at 9:18 AM on June 7, 2010

Well, it sounds as if the need for immediate urgency has passed . Do folks object to waiting until July to hold the raffle?
posted by zarq at 9:28 AM on June 7, 2010

Nthing the sainthood noms, too. :)
posted by zarq at 9:28 AM on June 7, 2010

*St. Whelk*


stands back to squint up at halo
posted by infini at 9:32 AM on June 7, 2010

Please please please, I prefer the term "Baron"
posted by The Whelk at 9:53 AM on June 7, 2010

Baron Cyr St. Whelk de la sur la table de ma tante
posted by infini at 10:03 AM on June 7, 2010

I believe that is both a fine wine and a deadly poison in the most select and underground eateries of Luxembourg.
posted by The Whelk at 10:28 AM on June 7, 2010 [1 favorite]

Glad to hear what we've done so far is making so much of a difference =)
posted by nomisxid at 10:55 AM on June 7, 2010

Lease is signed. I'm going to try and go do the walkthrough and get keys ASAP.

Thank you, everyone. (I still have no idea who to properly thank but I have some ideas.)

I'm going to update more when I can.
posted by loquacious at 2:22 PM on June 7, 2010

Yay! This is so exciting. Take pics of the new place for us.
posted by misha at 2:24 PM on June 7, 2010

I just took some but I will have to wait a bit to post because I'm exhausted BUT I HAVE KEYS AND I JUST PLUGGED IN A FRIDGE.

But for tonight - back to the hotel because I have no bed here yet and my stuff is there and I don't have to check out until tomorrow morning.
posted by loquacious at 4:53 PM on June 7, 2010 [7 favorites]