Almost time

[CQ:)]

When I saw the neuropsych I wore a pair of earrings that said "Left Brain" and Right Brain". I deliberately put them in the opposite ears. I don't think she noticed, though...

Congrats CQ on the 18 month anniversary. That's awesome. Sounds like you're doing everything right to take care of your health, including binge proactive about stress. I hope you find a better work environment soon.

Thanks Nak,
:roflmao: @ earrings.

I emailed my neuropsych & epilepsy nurse Yesterday & said to my neuropsych that I meant to show her my shirt & told her what it said. She said she's sorry she missed it. My Neuropsych & I were so caught up talking about my stress at work that I forgot all about the shirt.

I was already through an employment agency before I got this job & still see them. But instead of a employment consultant who was there to help me find a job I now have a training consultant who is there to support me while I am working with anything I need. I had an appt to see my training consultant Today & told her that I was going to start to look for another job & explained why. She is going to help me find another job & I just have to email through to her a copy of my Resume & template application letter (which I have from when I was looking for work).

I have no intentions on telling my boss about how I'm looking for work but I have had a few people suggest to me that I let my boss know that the specialists have said I'm stressed & given me suggestions to reduce the stress (eg - job share, set times for certain tasks).

 

[Nakamova]

Good luck with the job search, and keep us posted...

 

[alivenwell]

Hope all turns out well for you. Stress is definitely a factor. I have to weigh all my options and ask myself if any of the bad stuff in my life is worth a seizure. And, I always come up with a resounding no.
Sometimes a fresh environment, even at work, is a welcomed change. The next question is whether or not to tell anybody at the next job about epilepsy.

 

[CQ:)]

Thanks alivenwell.

Today I spoke to my boss about the possibility of job sharing because I have been under a lot of stress at work. We agreed that it would be better if we do find someone to job share with me. I am currently looking for other work, I do want to hang in where I am until I find something.

Because my seizures are well under control since surgery I don't think I would mention to any future employers about the epilepsy. My current boss has never had an issue with my epilepsy, although he doesn't like drs or medication so I don't think he ever agreed with the way I treated my seizures. But as I see it in the end it is me who has to live with the epilepsy & make the decisions I make to help control the seizures. I have a great team of specialists who have really helped me get to where I am at the moment so I am always going to listen to their advice.

 

[CQ:)]

Hi all,

Earlier this week I spoke to my boss about job sharing my role because I was concerned about the stress I've been under lately. There are some parts of the job that I don't have enough experience with yet & still struggle with. My boss & I agreed that it might be better that he finds someone to job share with me.

My boss has found someone to help him out with the job sharing but it is only going to be temporarily as this person is pregnant & due in November. In the mean time he is going to start looking for someone to job share with me.

Since May I have been working at my job every day but as of next week I will only be doing Tues, Fri & Saturdays (it depends on how busy we are on a Saturday as to if he needs someone).
The shifts I am doing are only 3 hour morning shifts but I am actually quite happy with that because even though I had great friends who were happy picking me up from work, I can do more walking I work in the morning. Plus I'm hoping the reduced hours will help reduce my stress a bit.

In the mean time I will be going back to my volunteer work on Wed & Thu & am looking for another job.

 

[Nakamova]

Sounds like a good plan CQ. I hope your stress levels go down as a result...

 

[CQ:)]

Hi all,

An update on how things are going.
My stress levels have been pretty good since I left my job & apart from the odd times where I might get a funny feeling in my head I'm going pretty well. My specialists at the epilepsy clinic know about the funny feelings I sometimes get in my head & have assured me it's nothing to worry about.

I think I mentioned earlier this year that I was doing an online course which was Cert 3 - Business. I am now finished the course, I completed the final assessment for the final module on Thursday. I am just waiting for my assessor to mark the final assessment & let me know my results.

For a while now I've been wanting to go visit a friend in the city but something would come up which stopped me from visiting her - 1st I didn't have the money then I was working so didn't have the time. Now that I'm not working I have the chance to see my friend so I am going to the city next week to spend a few days with my friend. She also has epilepsy & had the same surgery as me (she had her surgery 4 months after me). I haven't seen her for a while so I'm looking forward to catching up with her again .

 

[Eli]

CQ you linked this thread to another thread which is how I came upon it. Thank you for providing all of the details and updates. My CA neuro and epileptologist told me a year and a half ago that they suggested surgery.

I haven't wanted to consider it out of fear. Plus we wanted to see if my seizure activity would decrease once I finished my degree/college, we bought the house and I had a normal, calm routine. Those changes haven't made a difference.

Now that I'm established in the VA system (veteran) they're able to offer me their neuro services and I'll start thinking about it again.

I appreciated reading about your experience, ty.

/huggs

 

[qtowngirl]

Now that I'm established in the VA system (veteran) they're able to offer me their neuro services and I'll start thinking about it again.

Eli if you want to chat at all about making this very surreal decision shoot me a message, I just made my mind up this week. Now I'll be waiting for a call with the date. :bigmouth:

 

[Eli]

Eli if you want to chat at all about making this very surreal decision shoot me a message, I just made my mind up this week. Now I'll be waiting for a call with the date. :bigmouth:

Ty, it was your thread that brought the issue to the forefront for me again and led me to this thread.

I do hope you keep us updated!

 

[CQ:)]

CQ you linked this thread to another thread which is how I came upon it. Thank you for providing all of the details and updates. My CA neuro and epileptologist told me a year and a half ago that they suggested surgery.

I haven't wanted to consider it out of fear. Plus we wanted to see if my seizure activity would decrease once I finished my degree/college, we bought the house and I had a normal, calm routine. Those changes haven't made a difference.

Now that I'm established in the VA system (veteran) they're able to offer me their neuro services and I'll start thinking about it again.

I appreciated reading about your experience, ty.

/huggs

Hi Eli,
You're more then welcome . I haven't had much to update lately because nothing exciting or interesting has happened lol.
I'm only 2 1/2 months of reaching my 2 year seizure free goal so my next update will most likely be after the 10th March (my 2 year anniversary).

If you do decide to look into having the surgery or have any questions you can send me a private message.

 

[CQ:)]

Hi all,

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my surgery & I'm happy to say I'm still seizure free :woot:.

I am still setting myself goals of how long I hope to be seizure free & each time I reach that goal I aim higher. Now that I am past the 2 year seizure free mark I am aiming to try for 5 years seizure free.

I go back to the epilepsy clinic on 25th March to see the neurologist & neuropsych. I am hoping that when I see the neurologist he will be happy to reduce the Tegretol some more but I know it's easier to wait until I go to the appt to see what the outcome is lol.

 

[Eli]

Hi all,

Today is the 2 year anniversary of my surgery & I'm happy to say I'm still seizure free :woot:.

Super, duper, huge congrats CQ!!!!! :dancing: :dancing:

Ty so much for sharing! I'm in one of the worst sz runs Ive had in years; I needed some positive news!

/huggs

 

[Chaz1]

2yrs seizure freedom!


Congratulations CQ, huge Congratulations!

 

[Nakamova]

Congrats CQ, hooray! Every milestone counts, but this is a biggie! Champagne all around...

 

[2ndchances]

Congrats on reaching 2 years seizure-free!

 

[qtowngirl]

oh cq that is so great. crying happy tears for you, and hope i can have your success.
what a milestone!! (((HUGS)))

 

[CQ:)]

Thanks everyone,
I hope I can reach my new goal of being 5 years seizure free with no problems & my neuropsych is confident I will be able to do it aswell. I also know that I am lucky to get this far with no seizures & as my epilepsy nurse once said each day without a seizure is a good day .

I have a friend who had the same surgery as me (2 months after I had my surgery) & she still has what she calls nightmare auras (I assume she means simple partials in her sleep) but they are not as regular as they used to be or last as long as they did before her surgery. My friend seems to think that because I haven't had a seizure yet then I won't have one now. She also believes that since the part of our brain which was causing our seizures is no longer there then I won't have any type of seizures again & she will never have a complex partial or TC again.
I have told her that even with the part of our brains which was causing the seizures gone neither of us can say that we will never have a seizure again because no one knows what may happen in the future. All we can do is be happy for each day we are seizure free & my way of doing that is setting myself these little goals of how long I will be seizure free.

 

[CQ:)]

Ty so much for sharing! I'm in one of the worst sz runs Ive had in years; I needed some positive news!/huggs

Hi Eli,
Sorry you are having a rough time with your seizures at the moment.I hope you will be able to get some seizure control soon .

oh cq that is so great. crying happy tears for you, and hope i can have your success.
what a milestone!! (((HUGS)))

Hi Q,
I hope your surgery will be a huge success & it will help control your seizures aswell

 

[qtowngirl]

well i've got you as a great luck 'mentor'... keep goin' free girl!!