Collection Postponed

This is the first time I’ve been forced to postpone a collection release. Here’s why its happening:

Many of you know I have a neurological disorder called Chronic Migraine. Specifically, I have about 29 days per month with head pain, and many of those days require medication so that I can keep working. However, in late July, something changed.

My meds stopped working as I was accustomed to.

I would take them and the head pain would come right back, within 4-6 hours. This wasn’t usual at all. They used to work for 24 hours or more. And that’s not the only change that has occurred.

I was noticing that when I stood up or changed position quickly, I was hearing a loud heartbeat-whooshing sound in my ears, and my heart would pound very hard. It felt like I was running a race. Sprinting. But in fact all I was doing was getting off my couch to pour a cup of tea.

Not soon after, I began to experience significant stomach pain and nausea after eating, followed by other unmentionable gastrointestinal symptoms.

All of this has been incredibly destabilizing to my daily life. I feel exhausted from pain and a racing heart and have to sit often to reduce the discomfort. Lying down feels best. The situation is so impactful, I will not be able to go on my yearly backpacking trip. If you are familiar with Tarot, it's a true Tower moment, which coincidentally, I pulled on August 14th.

If you are here, reading this, there is a good chance you know how much time I put into my jewelry making business. It’s a lot. I’ve tracked my hours with an app before and I put in at least 8 hours per day. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly excited about a collection, I’ll put in 10-11 hours.

The long-houred workflow that I use has resulted in my being able to make huge collections of commissioned jewelry. Over and over again for years.

That came to a abrupt halt about two weeks ago when I found myself lying in bed, with a migraine, dizzy, and breathless each time I stood up to use the loo. Which was often because of the stomach problems.

Here is what I know for sure:

• My head pain has increased to a daily occurrence and isn’t responding to medication
• I’ve developed postural orthostatic tachycardia
• My nausea has increased
• Stomach pain has influenced my ability to eat

I have a doctor appointment next week and she is going to run some tests. I also have an appointment with a neurologist in October.

Until then, I have no idea what to expect. Because I just keep getting worse, I have chosen to delay the release of the Amber & Turquoise Collection.

I know many of you are here because you want rings made in your size and just for you. Thank you for coming to me for that. I love making you all happy with silver and stones. But I cannot, in good conscious, take deposits for customs with all of these health challenges going on.

Thank you for understanding and I promise to be back at it as soon as I feel better. For now, I am going to work when able and only make Ready-To-Ship jewelry. This will allow me to work when I feel good and lay down when I don’t. I’ve even set up a cot in my studio so I can rest when I need to.

Reach out with any questions you may have, as I will still be talking with you in Direct Messages and in comments. And I promise to send an email when I’m feeling better and again able to create big, bold pieces of jewelry made just for you.