In tonight’s comic adventure: If misery loves company, than Miss Waxie’s forlorn stomach must be quite the sad and lonely little organ. After all, for what other reason would it hold on to breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Sure, the doctor calls it gastroparesis, a condition of delayed stomach emptying, and prescribes medication and a special diet, but Miss Waxie knows better; her poor tummy just needs a friend. Anyone got a working stomach lying around?

Oh well, you know what they say, patients under anesthesia say the darndest things…!

In Tonight’s Comic Adventure: It’s been a long summer, but finally, finally Miss Waxie is eating again with the help of an army of immunosuppressants and steroids. Armed with a some new “we don’t know what it is” cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) stomach problem – or some new autoimmune stomach problem – and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura – Miss Waxie is collecting new medical terminology faster than an an over stressed first year med-student.

On the positive side, the cellcept is working, the pred is coming down, and the ITP is under control enough that she no longer looks like a drug dealer’s girlfriend…she can practically hear her immune system plotting against her for daring to say things might be better.  ….Bring it, immune system!

In tonight’s comic adventure: Miss Waxie returns! After months of good health, Miss Waxie battles stomach upsets, spleen hemangioma tumors, cancer scares, and possible Crohn’s disease only to come out still fighting, well aware that it is both a comic – and chronic – life indeed!

Friends, if you’re still out there, I apologize for my months and months of absence. I moved, I started a new job, I could leave my bed. And well, the comic took a back seat. Or maybe it fell out of the trunk… but no matter…I’m back and not exactly better than ever, but I sure am here if you’ll still have me!

xoxo

Miss Waxie

In Tonight’s Comic Adventure: Miss Waxie learns to love her greatest adversary as being taken seriously by the Cleveland Clinic has provided her a golden ticket into better medical care. Sure they might think she’s in a coma, but what can she say, the Cleveland Clinic kinda grows on you. Not unlike the MRSA they so rampantly spread through Ohio…

(Previously filed under Tales from the Clinic: Out with the Old, In With the Eugenics)

In tonight’s comic adventure: Miss Waxie explains, and apologizes for, yet another prolonged absence. But its with good reason! She’s employed, living back in her fair metropolis, and ready to have a full plate of adventures. If only someone would give her an irony fairy sized fly swatter…think they have any at Duane Reade?

In Tonight’s Comic Adventure: Miss Waxie contemplates breaking up with Ohio, but realize she has to stay in her bad relationship ’till her financial situation gets straightened out. Does she need Dr. Phil or just more Kineret? …Yeah, she’ll go with the Kineret.

In tonight’s comic adventure: Miss Waxie explains her month long absence from her beloved comic, finally sharing that her condition has been changed and a new course of treatment has been implemented. Fact is, at least so it seems now, Miss Waxie doesn’t have lupus or rheumatoid arthritis or CIDP or most of the autoimmune illnesses she’s been treated for. (You may remember the beginning of this story from a month ago.) She has a rare genetic condition, muckle wells (part of the cyropyrin associated periodic syndromes) and with this new diagnosis comes new treatments – both in the form of better fitting drugs and respect from doctors!

More dramatic than comedic? Maybe today. But the story behind living 23 years with a disease that’s been present since birth? Comic for sure.

Worry not dear readers, this comic is back. I hope you come back to read it, too.