My maternal grandmother was a bold, stubborn, hilarious woman. She loved her family passionately and voiced her opinions loudly; we miss her very much. About 16 years ago, my beloved auntie became very unwell with TB. She was hospitalised and spent months convalescing. I was close to both my nan and my aunt (they lived… Continue reading Being Disabled – Why the D Word Matters
Sometimes when you've been waiting for something for quite a long time, it can come as a shock to the system when all of a sudden, D-day is hurtling towards you at speed. That's certainly how I feel about my second brain surgery. I received a call today from my Neurosurgeon's registrar, offering me a… Continue reading My Next Neurosurgery – Decompression
{This post includes a photo of a stapled surgical incision} When I was preparing myself for my VP (Ventricular Peritoneal) shunt surgery, I had a look via Google for any articles or blog posts that would give me some idea of what to expect. I was able to locate basic information on the surgery itself… Continue reading Brain Surgery: My VP Shunt
Gratitude is, in my opinion, something that can only be genuinely felt when it comes from within. No amount of 'it could be worse' or 'you should be grateful that..' comments from other people will make me feel it. In fact, such comments from people who do not live with chronic daily pain are more… Continue reading Chronic Life: A Moment of Gratitude
{As ever with the Chronic Life series, I must point out that I'm not a doctor or medical expert, just a patient like any other. My thoughts and feelings are just that; medical advice should be sought from your specialist.} Getting new additional diagnoses when you've lived with Migraine for most of your life is… Continue reading What My Migraine Was Hiding
A stay in hospital can be a uniquely stressful and unsettling experience. As is the case with most experiences, how we feel about it and how we cope with it varies widely from person to person; indeed, some people may not find it stressful or unsettling at all! For those of us who are living… Continue reading Migraine and Coping with Hospital Stays
Like many other spoonies around the world, I have attended a vast number of medical appointments in my life so far. But it was only before my first meeting with a particular Neurosurgeon recently (to make a plan re. my Chiari Malformation) that I consciously paused to consider what I needed to do to make… Continue reading Chronic Life: Making Medical Appointments Work for You
