MRI Results

This is the news I have been waiting for... and it's probably the best news I will recieve in a very long while! Enough said. :D

Back to life, Back to reality

Aaaaaaaand I'm back! 

So yes I am back in Wales after going away for over a week to Henley on Thames. I went because I needed some pennies and it was the week of the Henley Royal Regatta. A world famous rowing event. And the place I used to work just so happens to be located overlooking the finishing line. Which means for them that this event is the biggest on the calender which inturn means jobs for us not so rich and famous types! Although the regatta only takes place over five days I went for over a week as Henley is where I spent a lot of time growing up. So I had people to see and places to visit and my goodness did it bring back some memories :)

My waitressing job at Phyllis Court was my first ever 'proper' job. I started when I had just turned 16 literally sitting in a marquee for five days slicing up fruit for the Pimms and clearing tables amongst the thousands of people attending the Regatta. 2005 gosh it seems so long ago! Anyway after I finished my weeks work at the club, a few weeks later I had a phone call asking if I would be interested in further work... and that was that. From then on I worked every hour I could amongst studying at college which quite frankly meant I didn't really have much of a life... but I did have plenty of money which of course meant I could go travelling and and pay for my own driving lessons and car etc. It was the prefect job for that time of my life. With brilliant people :) Anywho it was lovely to go back for the week and see everyone and catch up on life etc and of course there is always the famous after-regatta staff party. All I will say is it was EPIC as usual!

The bad news is I had a big seizure that involved me mashing my elbow and right side into what I'm assuming was my suitcase and some shoes etc that were on the floor. Said elbow and side now have some rather lovely looking scrapes and bruises which infortunately I had to walk around with wearing a short sleeved shirt on some busy shifts of work. Not Fun. But whilst it raised a lot of questioning from people I had last seen a year ago when Epilepsy didn't exist in my life, it was ok to talk about it. It just strengthens the fact that these things happen and no shame of guilt should come from it at all :) So it was just a matter of questions asked, honest answers given, a few interesting discussion and then carry on working. I love that it's ok.There of course where a few things that I couldn't do that I used to. Little things that you wouldn't usually bat and eyelid at like serving tea during the afternoon tea sessions... yeah scalding hot water and seizures DO NOT mix!!! Also where I would have usually worked for 16 hours shifts everyday for the whole thing this time I only did the 8 hour day shifts. There is no way I could have worked the hours I used too energy wise. Plus with working and little sleep... thats just asking for E. related trouble! But I explained my reasons for certain adjustments and all was fine. OHHH and they gave me my usual supervisory role which basically means your incharge of a 'section' looking after a certain number of tables and staff. Usually it's stressful but fine but of course this year I had the added memory problems and I really didnt think I would be able to make a good job of it. But as far as I'm aware everything went smoothly so WOOOO!

So, it was busy, hectic, mad, rushed, hot, heavy, posh, rude and many many more things but at the end of the day everything was a success and we all had a good laugh along the way :D plus of course there's always the pay cheque to look forward too!  

I met up with friends and went for walks, picnics, dinner out, general little catch ups, a day out in Windsor and plenty more :D  It was a nice to spend some time where I spent my teenage years growing up. Strange though to walk around the town knowing I don't and will never live there anymore.....But I know it's always there to visit and so on... So until next time Henley!

Now I'm back home to an empty house for a few months which will take some getting used to. I have my little life savers around and about on the other end of a the phone should anything too drastic happen. What I would do without some people is beyond me!  X

Race For Life 2011 - Completed!

Today on this very sunny Sunday we completed the Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK! It was so so good, thousands of people attended the race in Cwmbran making a a vast sea of pink :D We could not have asked for nicer weather either! So we slapped on the sun cream and off we went...

Cancer Research UK Website 

Brilliant day for a brilliant cause! Definitely up for it again next year... and the year after that!

UWN Graduation Show Opening

University of Wales, Newport photography graduation show opening 2011

Ok so this is a bit delayed as this actually took place on last Friday the 17th. 

The opening night was so lovely and everyone had a proud smile on their face :) There was an incredible atmosphere and brilliant buzz about the place. The standard of work and vast variety of subject matter is incredible and very much worth a view :) Everyone should be very proud and I wish them all the very best for the future!

 

 

EEG Investigation + Giggles

What's an unusual way to start a Wednesday?

Mine today was attached to a computer via electrodes allowing my brain waves to be read. Yep I had an EEG this morning. Here's a link for more info :)... electroencephalogram 

I'll explain how it took place...

I was taken to a little side room in the hospital and sat up on the bed. The nurse measured my head, marked certain areas with a pen and attached what I think she said was 26 electrode pads to my scalp. They do this using abrasive gel. It was kind of like a really thick hair gel. After this the bed is adjusted so you can lie back further and given a pillow. The machines are checked to make sure all electrodes are placed correctly and conducting well. The lights are then switched off, you lay back relaxed keeping still with your eyes closed and the test begins.  Your eyes are closed during the most of the test with the nurse telling you whether to open or close them at various intervals. This particular EEG was to last for 30 minutes and was videoed. During this time the nurse instructs you to do various things. Including opening and shutting you eyes, deep breathing and also be shown a flashing light at various strobing speeds. Once the session is over the nurse will detach all the electrodes and wipe away as much of the gel as possible. The results are then sent off to the neurologist to be examined. The whole appointment takes about an hour. Done.

OK so serious part aside... despite being rather nervous about the whole thing it was surprisingly funny.  I mean come on check out the photo...The nurse was really lovely and chatty which was nice plus I was able to take a friend in with me as well which of course made the whole thing a little less stressful. 

Now I don't know what it is but when I get nervous I just cannot stop giggling... which made for a very funny laughing session between the three of us. It was so hard to try and control it and lie there doing as I was told that's for sure! Better to have smiles than tears though :)

There were a few things I had to do during the test including 3 minutes of deep breathing. This was a very strange thing to do while your lying on the bed in front of your friend and a nurse... and as a a result was beyond funny! My lips where tingling by the end of it which I'm assuming was due to the lack of oxygen. OHHH and then there was the strobe light. I didn't like this bit AT ALL. Now being into photography I'm used to flashes and I've been blinded a fair few times in the studios but this was just horrible. It was so bright and very close to my eyes... by the time the flashing was over my eyes were aching and trying to see straight was a bit of an issue... I can't remember how long this bit of the test lasted but its seemed to go on forever :/ but hey no seizures that I'm aware of during that so woo!

And the whole thing was being recorded on camera...nice!

So as much as lying in a strange room on a bed in front of two people watching you, with your brain attached to machines TRYING not to laugh was very surreal, all in all there really wasn't that much to be nervous about. And apart from leaving with a headache and hair like I hadn't brushed or washed it for weeks it was one of the least painful tests to be had :)

Now I've just got to wait to hear from my neurologist (yay..) I'm due an appointment very soon anyhow so hopefully it won't be too much of a wait.

Monday's Crash.

I well and truly crashed on Monday. Energy wise rather than seizure wise thankfully. All though I think it was pretty close.

The day did start fine. I got up nice and early to a lovely sunny day. Went for a walk down the road to the shop to pick up a few bits of food. After spending the morning on the phone to various people for a few different things for my job and trying to organise my stuff in my own life. I started feeling really tired and fuzzy. By this time I was upstairs in my room. I'd eaten a couple of hours before so thought maybe I just needed a quick snack and a cup of tea. But as I stood up my balance was completely off. There was no one in so I thought it best to not try and get down stairs and just lie down instead. And that was that. 3/4 hours later I woke up on my bed still feeling very very tired and with a little headache. The rest of the day I had very little energy so just bumbled around my room fixing little things or just lying on my bed staring at the ceiling. Plus watching some cheesey TV... not the most exciting way to spend most of a day.

I'm going to put it down to over doing it over the past week or so. I know I need as much sleep as I can get or at least rest but I well and truly abused that fact. Although to be fair most of it was with good reason... I've also had a weird throat/chesty thing going on along with a cough. I haven't been feeling 'ill' with it as such just every time I go to lie down to sleep at night I start coughing and my throat gets sore and in turn I can't fall asleep easily and even once I do it's very disturbed because I end up waking myself up coughing. Now it carries on into the day as well. I'm hoping it will just go away soon. Definitely giving my chest and stomach muscles a good work out.

The weather did cloud over and rain for the rest of the day though which strangely made me feel better... No reason to be jealous of people enjoying the sun that way! Typical British summer for you though :/ More sleep is in order now though :) 

On a side note... I have an EEG investigation on Wednesday. I'm a little nervous but strangely more intrigued. I doubt I'll be saying the same thing just before I go in...

Home again

I've been staying in Cardiff for a week (apart from one night) this was for many a reason. From hospital stuff, to training courses to having a good bit of fun! It was hectic but good to be out and about. Today I'm back at home this was my day to catch up on the usual things like tidying, sorting through photo's, emails, oh and SLEEP. Trust me after all this running around the word tired doesn't even come close to my current state... I succeeded in crossing off almost everything that needed to be done today though woop. My house mate's parents were up for her graduation show this weekend and with it being Father's Day today we had a rather delicious roast dinner for the occasion. Yum!

Here's a few of the mini adventures that took place...

How beautiful is this lake? It's in Roath park in Cardiff. The sun came out so we went and hired an rowing boat out to have a nice trip out on the lake. It was such a nice way to spend some of the afternoon :)

 This is a photo I took when we went along to what I'm told is the University of Cardiff's MedSoc raft race which has become and annual tradition :D How awesome is that?? The people I was staying with all took part in there rubber rings :) There were some pretty amazing and colourful rafts... funny stuff. It must have been freezing. I opted for the "I'll stay on the bank, take photo's and well and truly stay dry" option! Brilliant to watch though...

Ohh we also went to see the Hangover 2 at the cinema... it was HILARIOUS! A very silly film well worth a watch if you fancy a giggle :)

Friday and Saturday were the Wheelchair Sports Spectacular I was volunteering as a photographer at. Amazing event! 

It was a good week and after my day off from life today tomorrow it all kicks off again starting with finalising all the details of my new job woop! Plus I now have another list of things to get through tomorrow from people to ring, emails to send more life things to sort and a busy calender for the rest of the week including more hospital stuff.... No rest for the wicked eh? X