i have gotten out of hospital again to travel up and do falls festival in lorne with oscar + martin. yesterday i went back in to visit hosiptal to have my my long line drip re-dressed and re-scheduel my return. the last time i tried to leave general hospital with this device in my arm they said that i might not be able to. that i could use it to shoot up and then they would be liable for enabling my drug use. i told them there was no way that i was going through minor surgery again when i came back in just so they could avoid a lawsuit that i could promise wouldn’t take place as i don’t blame others for my personal choices / i don’t do injectable recreational drugs. then my doctor called up and sorted the whole thing, she is fabulous and always on my side. i have always been able to be honest with her about my drug use as she gets harm reduction.
but when i went back to have it re-dressed this time she was on holiday, i anticipated problems, but still went, hating that because i was ill enough to need this i would have no choice but to risk insult, physical injury and potentially a tussle with security guards for freedom. i was bound to this by the weakness of my body. this is what i thought of on my way.
when i arrived they called my doctor right away, i re-scheduled and despite the fact that i was not an in patient the nursing staff, many of them now friends i have for longer than ten years, found a vacant room, sanitized the area, re-dressed my drip, provided me with more bandages and wished me luck performing. at times like that it is hard to feel critical of the health care system. we can always do better but i was touched by the understanding and care i recieved. and didn’t have to undergo any of the shaming or user hate that i often experience from insurance orientated young doctors.
above are pictures of what i am wearing on stage! shoes - found in trash last year (recycled trashun! yum!) - socks - gift from lover, stolen from myer on boxing day - pants!!!!! made by a dear friend mom, on their fashion label “iamMOM” - shirt - given to me by friend last year, greay tie dye wonder. i am so ready, i am now getting drunk and packing.
