Hey all, I know it's been a while. I wanted to make a post kind of highlighting where I am in life, art, and whatnot.

Firstly: Health.
CW: Crohn's Disease, blood, surgery, health things ( kinda duh :P )

The good:
I know it sounds bad at first, but it makes sense...hang in to the end XD. In order to treat my disease, you have to take something called a "biologic". This medication suppresses my immune system from attacking my digestive tract. Eventually, most people become immune to the drug and need to switch biologics. This has happened to me. My medication - infliximab - "broke the barrier" and became un-useful to me. And it had apparently been causing problems for a few years now, granted... I was on that med for about 10 years, so it kinda tracked for me needing to switch things up.

Due to a communication issue between my doctor, me and a few others, I went without any medication for several months. This has caused several rather...nasty...issues to arise ( will mention later ).

Now to the good - Thanks to an awesome suggestion from Kumoshibe, I suggested Stellara and the doctor was in agreement. It seems like it is working really well to manage my disease.

TLDR; Kumo ( https://bsky.app/profile/kumoshibe.bsky.social ) suggested Stellara, it works really quite well.

The bad:
There's damage down there. A little explanation: I developed two fistula. The white blood cells in the body have a flow kind of like blood through veins. The difference between the two is blood does not change, whereas white blood cells are fluid. The paths change, kinda like a river over long periods of time - except in 3d :P

A fistula is like a path in 3d through various tissues. These paths can go through any and all sorts tissues and organs, places they're not supposed to go. In my case, I have one outside and going inward...and one inside going outward, all around my anal region. And in between these two fistula, an abscess had formed. I had to have it sliced open to drain. They typically leave these cuts open to try and heal naturally as opposed to stitching them shut. I had to be on anti-biotics and steroids for a good bit. eventually...it sealed shut.

The problem is - there's a pouch of open space between two areas where contents are not supposed to go. That means blood is pooling in places it shouldn't be, right on the part of my butt where I sit. I managed to take a mirror and see what it looks like down there. It's...not pretty. It looks like someone took a bat and beat the sh\*t out of left buttock. I will be needing a surgery to put something called a seton ( fancy name for a fancy tube ) into these channels to let it continually drain.

TLDR; I've got damage to my left buttock and will be needing surgery.

Outside of disease management, I've been really struggling with my sleep. I am really struggling to get a schedule in place...and I WAS starting to get my art engine going; but the complications have been driving me insane.

I've also been trying to do some weight management. I'm 5'2" and now...260lbs? The medications are really doing a number on me. And the steroids REEEEALLY didn't help. It's been hard to find a diet that helps me lose weight with all of the food restrictions I have. Most garden-grown food items are triggers for me :/ I used to love eating carrots...They do NOT agree with me.

Second: That brings me to my next subject - Art.
I'm in need of income. Like...desperately.

Once my new meds kicked in, it was like...I could finally start to think clearly for a bit ( before the complications kicked in :/ ) I realized I really needed to focus on myself a bit more. My doctor stated I should be walking 30 minutes every day, but...due to the above mentioned issues and physical disabilities...going outside is really difficult for me. I'd really like to get an indoor treadmill, but realistically...no money. I've also bled through all my boxers, ruined multiple articles of clothing, bedsheets, and furniture...not going to be able to replace those. I can clean them, but it's really hard to get blood out of things >.>

Anyway, my point is: I really need to focus on a daily routine. Mentally, I need to put what energy I have in to drawn art and 3d modelling, so I can make SOME sort of income. I've been trying to draw every day. I haven't been 100% successful due to some of the BS going on, but I have gotten some decent work done.

I'm starting to organize my work now too - some of the pieces here on FA have been moved to scraps, others completely removed. I re-vamped my website a little to try and make it easier for people to track what I am doing and to allow people to submit requests for new commissions. Go here to check it out: https://spacerabbitcreations.com/

I've also created an art-specific Blue Sky account for artistic ventures! You can view that here: https://bsky.app/profile/spacerabbitcreations.com

A few people have inquired to me in the past about anything I might need in private and I've seen a couple other people in the community use amazon lists to show things they need or want. Usually for some artists or for birthdays / etc...so I figured I would create one for myself. You can find that here if you're interested: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/U17U3TZ9NXDL

I have a Patreon account, it's been rather stagnant - so I do apologize for that. I really want to change that all up. It's coming, I just need to try and fix some of the more immediate issues. https://www.patreon.com/c/alkoratherabbit if you are interested in that.

I also have a Kofi account here: https://ko-fi.com/spacerabbitcreations

I know if I have a lot of things to fix. I'm really struggling on a daily basis to function...and I really hate asking for help, but I know I need it. If you're interested in getting some funny rounds, check out my website, social media, or just hit me up to chat. If I sound kinda cranky at points, please don't think I am upset at you...I've just been in constant pain for a good while.

And to all of you who have helped me out in the past, who have been REALLY patient with me:
Thank you. Seriously. You have no idea how much I really appreciate it. I know I can sometimes be a PITA sometimes.

I think that's all for now. Apologies for the pretty massive word dump :P

- Alkora