Hi friends.
Wanted to put up an update, it's been a little crazy.... so I'm posting the info I had put into an email which I had recently sent to all you family members (and friends who were close enough to feel like family). Just to let you know what's up, as I know you, meaning those few who "visit" me here about as often as I visit you and who have come to feel like friends over the past couple years, wanted some news.
My family Dr. has been testing a lot, trying to figure out why I've been missing pieces of my day, feeling disoriented for hours at a time, etc... referred me to a neurologist... he ordered, finally, an EEG.
Nearly 4 weeks later, after my family Dr. made a follow-up call to get the ball rolling, he (neurol) read the test results.
This is what I've been diagnosed with a few days ago: epileptic absence. See links below for a bit of info... The neurologist is trying a medication on me that he says is commonly used to treat this (Tegretol I think is the brand name), and will monitor to see if any improvement or if I can maybe go back to work after this month. Not that I want to go back... still dizzy a lot and worried how I'll do it.... but I've been on medical leave since July so... would be nice to get things stable again, would be nice to have my paycheck again too. Worried, of course, about financially feeling secure. Just like everyone else in the world. So... still at a crossroads about how that will turn out...
Till we know if this medication works, no driving for me for a while longer. No swimming in the deep end, etc. :) Don't worry, I'm being careful. Not even using my stovetop if I'm home alone, for now at least. I've already boiled my coffee over in the microwave by hitting "333" instead of "33" seconds while my mind had "stepped out", so... being more cautious.
Hopefully this will work. I'll keep you posted if any different news. Thanks for your support as I figure this all out. I welcome any advice from those who have dealt with this before, as it is completely new to me.
I'm also posting a pic of my "sewing studio" (aka one corner of my bedroom reserved for crafting only) since I just sorted out all of my fabrics (ok, I know I don't have a lot... but at least now what I have is color-organized) and I needed to share a bit of cheery news along with this rather grim news. This place is where I sit to sew, and look out my second story window and dream and wonder about the future and if everything will be OK.
And I added a pic of me just because I'm silly. And it's the closest thing I can do, besides having you over for a cup of coffee. :) So... please have a look at my little sewing area and let me know what you think! Thank you for allowing me to share something so personal. I appreciate my blogger friends, I truly do.
Info:
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/seizures/absence.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absence_seizure
Love,
T
8 comments:
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, dear T:-) I do hope you have a wonderful day!
Reading about your symptoms of "missing time" made me remember that's how one of my brothers found out he had epilepsy. He was driving a transport at the time and one day he called me and mentioned that sometimes he would get to a certain spot and didn't remember how he had gotten there!! I told him to go see a doctor straight away...after many tests, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. He was having quite a few seizures a day but that's been under control since he's now taking the stronger pills available. I don't recall him mentioning being dizzy so I'll have to ask him. Keeping you in my prayers and hopefully the pills the doc gave you will be of some help.
Sending big turkey hugs:-) xoxo
My husband has epilepsy - the gran mal kind. He was diagnosed at age 21 and put on medication. Over a decade ago he tried to go off the medication, but within a week had another seizure so he's been back on the pills ever since.
It took him a little while to get used to the medication, but it has done wonders to control his condition... to the point where most of the time he doesn't even think about it (aside from having to remember to take the pills). Hopefully your doctors will get you on the correct dose quickly and get things under control for you!
And your sewing area looks very nice! I love neatly stacked, color coordinated fabrics just waiting to be attacked by the scissors and needle!
My heavens, how scary those symptoms must have been for you, so glad your Dr figured it out, and I hope you have a lot of success with the medication!
Hope you'll be feeling better soon! Sounds pretty scary!
Hope the medication works for you and you start feeling better soon!
I'm pulling for you.
You're in my prayers!
Huh. I swear I posted a reply the other day and it, apparently, has gone *poof*!.
At least you now have a name for it and a place to start treating it, I suppose. Do they know what brought the condition on?
Suffice it to say you're in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there!
<3 PPG/K2
P.S. Lovely sewing area and so beautifully organized!!
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