My NON post

When I first began blogging, in March of 2007, a more experienced blogger informed me that I had to publish a post every day in order for my blog to be visible on Google and not be deemed “inactive.” If I stopped writing and publishing, even for ONE day, he added, my blog be more difficult to find on the search engines, meaning that I’d lose my readership. He talked about blogging as though it were a competition.

Well, I didn’t care about competing with other bloggers and/or becoming THE most popular myeloma blogger (!), but I did want to reach and possibly help as many people as possible, so I tried very hard to write and publish a post every day. Not easy, when you have “distractions,” such as a loving hubby, a job, a bunch of cats needing attention and care…and so on and so forth….

At a certain point, though, I decided, ENOUGH. I wanted to enjoy my life outside the blog. I’d done enough research to last almost an entire lifetime and, to be honest, I was sick and tired of reading scientific jargon every single day…

Plus, sometimes I didn’t know what to write about/had writer’s block. Writing became a bit of a struggle, even though I have to acknowledge that it’s only thanks to my blog that I have discovered how much I love writing…

Anyway, back then, in short, I needed a break.

And so I took a break from blogging. Just as I’d been warned, my readership dropped. Day by day, practically. It’s now down to less than a third of what it was in the “golden years.” But I didn’t care. I was outside, breathing fresh air, enjoying life, with plenty of time to spend with my friends…and so on and so forth. 😉

Mind you, I still had, and have!, a lot of readers writing to me with their questions and findings. In fact, many of them have become friends in real life, which is just wonderful. I also still had and have a lot of mail to sort through on a daily basis…often so much (mail) that I cannot reply to everyone, and for that I apologize.

Recently, though, I’ve been coming across some really interesting and/or promising stuff, which I’ve found on my own or thanks to blog readers (you know who you are, THANK YOU), such as:

  • the bone marrow microenvironment studies
  • the EBV-MM connection
  • Dieneke’s case study getting published in the UK (yaaaay)
  • andrographolide
  • the Chinese MM patient’s case study
  • astragalus

There seems to be a lot going on, which is very exciting. Inspiring, in fact. And for a while I almost got back to a post/day… 😉 

But ever since Stefano came down with shingles (he’s better now, btw, but still in quite a lot of pain…hasn’t gone back to work yet), I haven’t felt much like writing. It’s so hard to see the person you love in such pain. His pain has had an effect on me, too.

I haven’t stopped doing research…But these days it’s been mostly on the natural ways to relieve the pain caused by shingles, and in fact the turmeric-based topical applications have really helped him. However, only prescription-strength Tylenol (the Italian equivalent) is able to reach the sort of INTERNAL nerve pain he has been experiencing…My poor sweetie!

BUT, of course, this negative period will soon be over. Stefano is already feeling better, and the awful rash is fading. That means that I’ll soon be back to blogging more. I’m already looking at a couple of studies on my desktop,  hoping they’ll inspire me to write a post…

Okay, it’s time now to go check on my patient. Take care, everyone! CIAO!   🙂 

6 Comments

  1. Margaret:

    I was blessed to find your blog and your discovery of curcumin within a month of being diagnosed with SMM. I was told I would progress to active MM within 24 months. Your research is invaluable. BECAUSE OF YOU, I’m still smoldering after 44 months.

    Please don’t go anywhere. I thank God for you every day!

    I hope Stefano improves quickly.

    Thank you for all you do for so many of us!

  2. I thank you every day for your blog. Without getting to know your research, where would we be. So we remain your loyal friends for life and just take care of yourself and your husband with the shingles. So stop worrying about the number of followers, we are there for you. Take care, Beatrice

  3. I hope the illness passes quickly. I had it over 20 years ago, it seemed endless but treatment is better now. I worked and clothing caused pain. Best wishes to you both.

  4. Dear Margaret,
    I wanted to write you since long time ago, to thank you for all the incredible information you have in your blog concerning myeloma.

    I am a MM patient myself (diagnosed last summer almost at the last moment due to a medical mistake) and I found it very helpful and also reassuring, even if I was force to do a very chemical treatment until now. I like your scientific approach and your sense of humor. Thanks for this!

    I am sorry to hear that Stefano is still suffering from shingles. Have you tried essential oils? You can use Niaouli (two drops direct on the painful zone 4 to 6 times per day). In my book about essential oils there are other mixtures. Tell me if you are interested and I will give you more information.

    I also wanted to share with you a recent article I read about curcumin and its absorption. It mention that black pepper is controversial because while improving curcumin absorption it also allows toxic elements from the diet to get inside the body (since it works on the permeability of the intestines) and he suggest to avoid it. The author talks also about phospholipidic curcumin and how the absorption is 29 times better. The article is in French. You can find the reference here: https://www.julienvenesson.fr/pourquoi-le-curcuma-ne-marche-pas/

    Well anyway, I hope you will find the information useful.

    Best wishes and thanks again for all the inspiration!

    Anna

  5. Hi Margret,

    Just a quick thank you for all that you do and hoping Stefano is all better now! BTW I am a stable smolderer who believes the Curcumin, organic green juice every day, maitake mushroom extract have kept me in good condition for over 4 years since diagnosis! 🙂

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