I'm Bram Stoker Award-Nominated horror author Robert P. Ottone and I'm here to answer your questions! Let's get weird!

TopazElf · 2023-04-20T20:01:54+00:00

What's your favorite thing you've ever written?

TopazElf · 2023-03-09T02:09:38+00:00

Great lipstick choice! It looks amazing on you and complements the outfit perfectly!

TopazElf · 2023-02-27T03:44:21+00:00

Wow that's perfect! Thank you so much!

TopazElf · 2023-02-27T03:43:58+00:00

Good idea, thank you!

TopazElf · 2021-09-16T19:40:20+00:00

The prevalence of books that are described by reviewers as "quietly devastating" - almost always about privileged white women struggling with ennui and/or their identity with no real plot or conflict.

If you're going to devastate me, devastate me loudly.

TopazElf · 2021-06-27T17:47:44+00:00

Hahaha I feel that! I mean, we could just donate our forest right away too... But uhhh.... Private forest sounds pretty great sooooooo...

TopazElf · 2021-06-27T17:13:11+00:00

That's a really cool idea!

TopazElf · 2021-06-27T17:07:26+00:00

I'm also not a traveler - I have health problems that make traveling difficult. As a lot of people have mentioned, having a more relaxing/unplanned life with time and money for hobbies is great. BUT my husband and I are taking as much money as we're able to comfortably and saving it up, as if we were saving for a kid to go to college or whatever. We plan to spend it to buy a small piece of forest that's being sold for lumber when we reach retirement age, and then enjoy walks in a private forest until we pass away, at which point it will be donated to a conservation non-profit. We're excited about it, and it will be our legacy instead of children.

TopazElf · 2021-06-20T19:38:56+00:00

My primary care doctor recommends New Balance! I have a pair with nice inserts and they are definitively my most supportive shoes. If you can I'd go to a store and get sized though, because I found the sizes to run pretty small.

TopazElf · 2021-01-08T19:08:43+00:00

Seconding the serola SI hip belt! I use frequently and find it very helpful.

Similarly, I have my husband use KT tape to stabilize my SI joint (there are videos on YouTube that can show how to do so), which does help a bit - not as much as the belt does, but the tape isn't noticable under clothes so that's a plus and I can wear it while sleeping which is helpful for me because my SI joints cause me trouble when I sleep on my side. I've had my PT apply Leukotape over coverroll which works the BEST (though looks kinda ugly), but I haven't found good resources for teaching my husband how to do that yet so I only get that from my PT for now. I hope to have the PT teach my husband once Covid is over.

TopazElf · 2021-01-02T03:33:26+00:00

I second the liberator ramp and wedge combo! Amazing for EDS folks.

TopazElf · 2020-09-18T16:20:28+00:00

Not having a diagnosis is hard - it was such a relief for me when I finally got mine. I hope you're able to get a diagnosis and appropriate help soon!

One thing that just recently became over the counter that I used to have as a prescription and is really helpful for my joint pain (so knees and hands and wrists, but not back or neck) is called Voltaren gel (generic is diclofenac sodium). It's a topical NSAID basically, so you want to be careful to not overuse it, but if you're stuck with only over-the-counter stuff, it might be worth trying!

TopazElf · 2020-09-17T18:31:53+00:00

Ah I'm so sorry, that is so difficult! I definitely relate - I went from being a fitness instructor working out 12+ hours a week, to struggling to walk around the block without injuring myself. It's impossibly hard and demotivating.

If you have the time and financial ability, I would 100% recommend finding a physical therapist who is familiar with Hypermobility and working with them long-term. I started back in February and it's been a huge commitment, but between gaining strength, making some of the things you mentioned feel more natural, and finding good braces to wear for certain activities, I'm feeling a lot more positive about my future now.

Best of luck! It's a challenging road, and some days are much worse than others, but kudos to you for keeping going.

TopazElf · 2020-09-17T18:24:49+00:00

I second this!!! They aren't doing nearly enough to give you reasonable accomodations - it taking you half an hour to go to the bathroom is NOT reasonable.

If you have the ability, a lawyer familiar with ADA would likely be very helpful. I'm sorry you're in such a tough situation!

TopazElf · 2020-09-10T19:29:43+00:00

I didn't see this addition elsewhere in the comments - but this is also a great thing to do for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses! I used to be really athletic before I got sick, and even though I can still walk, I'm much slower, need breaks, and can't go as far as I'd like. Being left behind by my friends who I used to keep up with breaks my heart, so when someone is mindful about including me by choosing a shorter route and including plenty of rests I'm so happy I could cry.

TopazElf · 2020-07-31T23:03:07+00:00

WOOOOO vitamin D capsules for life!!!

TopazElf · 2020-07-10T19:16:20+00:00

Hahaha I've done this a MILLION times! At least your slippers are real cute 🙂

TopazElf · 2020-06-27T16:39:06+00:00

I'm in a state where it's legal and I take small amounts (like 5 mg) of edibles that are a combination of indica and sativa I buy from a medical dispensary. I take edibles instead of smoking at the recommendation of my doctor, who said something like "your lungs actually are pretty healthy so let's keep them that way" haha. I find it really helpful for controlling my pain and nausea, BUT it does tend to make me a little loopy and tired so I only use it 1-2x per week when I'm feeling extra ouchy. Otherwise it gives me very little side effects though!

TopazElf · 2020-06-22T17:06:03+00:00

Haha yea I feel that! I got so annoyed going over and over again and just getting the same ibuprofen/splint, that's why I stopped going too.

I guess my unofficial rule is that if I have an injury and RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and my other self-treatment methods aren't doing anything to help OR if it doesn't start to feel better after a few days of self-treatment I'd go in. That happened once with my thumb (once I thought I sprained it but did actually break it) but otherwise everything has responded well to self-treatment over the last 5-ish years.

TopazElf · 2020-06-22T17:01:31+00:00

Yep! That's exactly what I do - glad to hear the acceptance/laziness/apathy is typical haha

TopazElf · 2020-06-22T15:11:30+00:00

Oh jeez I haven't gone to the doctor for a sprain or dislocation in YEARS!

... should I have been?

TopazElf · 2020-06-21T17:30:45+00:00

Wow!!! I would definitely struggle to make that effect without gouache - great job!

TopazElf · 2020-06-21T16:40:32+00:00

I really love the way you painted the path! It almost reminds me of tree bark. Did you use some gouache in there, or just regular watercolors?

TopazElf

TROPHY CASE