All posts by Jo

Nothingness and everything.

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This is a hard blog but it had to be done. If you feel like this know you are not alone… I am there too. 
Xxx



“I don’t want to see anyone. I lie in the bedroom with the curtains drawn and nothingness washing over me like a sluggish wave. Whatever is happening to me is my own fault. have done something wrong, something so huge,  I can’t even see it, something that’s drowning me. I am inadequate and stupid, without worth. I might as well be dead.” 

― Margaret Atwood, Cat’s Eye




This pretty much sums it up at the moment. In the last week I have been through so many emotions. Happiness at living life and enjoying things on Monday to totally down and in trouble for the rest of the week. Yesterday I felt I was on the up again and today Im even further down than I’ve been all week. This time i feel I’m not mentally strong enough I’m loosing control of myself, my body, my worth I’m sitting here feeling like my heart and soul for life is not strong enough to battle this beast. I’ve felt this way before… Many years ago. I promised myself I wouldn’t go there again but it may be a promise I can’t keep. Even my promises to myself are empty. 

It’s harder because I thought I was crawling out of this ditch yesterday…. It was a “good as can be day”. I was happy… I went out in the car and it was lovely. Exhausting but lovely.
Today I am in the depts of depression because the beast is starting to leave its marks on me. Never did I think my seizures would impact on me like this… Ive been tough, strong, a tigger that always bounces back…. not at the moment. The beast is making marks.Maybe not so people can see when I put my mask of happiness on but to me the marks are like hard heavy dirty footprints in soft mud. 

* Medication has weakened my teeth and bones.
* Seizures have damaged muscles and ligaments.
* Headaches from seizures and the amount of seizures mean I’m taking more and more medication. 
* Seizures cause bruising, scrapes, cuts and scars. 
* Bad seizures that make my jaw tense and clench hard have broken teeth. 


Im loosing more and more confidence of my own body every day…. Wondering when and where it will let me down next. Always looking for somewhere to run and hide if I need to. The world being split in two… one that is the lovely world where I am normal and my mask protects me from everything and then the real world… where my mask is just a face I put on and sometimes this will fail like today.

I see mum struggle with things. She has her own problems with things but she struggles with me and the beast too. It’s impacting on her which I hate to see. It’s not fair on her. Would it be better if I want here? It’s got it’s grip into me, the beast of epilepsy will not let go at the moment. I want  to live life not be stuck in limbo where I feel at the mo. Mum struggles with grumpy being just that.. grumpy. Just last night there were problems – not to be discussed here but just that he acts as he does and makes life difficult for others. 

I am made to feel that this is something I have done wrong, something that I am making happen. Its not –  I know but sometimes it feels like I’m brainwashed by the end of the day to believe that the beast is here for a reason, I have done something bad and I am being punished with having epilepsy. I get minutes where I think Its not my fault but then he will say something and Its my fault again, and I believe it.
 I am “ruining the family” (his words not mine). I have “split the family – made his life bad and he doesnt have a life” ? 

Well I know in reality that this is not true.. He definitely has a better life than I do… at least grumpy has had 67 years of good health, friends, travel, two marriages – three children. Not that he has made right decisions or valued any of the above but he has had the chance to do this. 

I am 26  – had two serious partners one ended quite abusive and was apparently my fault again because of epilepsy and the other just couldn’t cope with me not being able to do things all the time because Id had a seizure that morning and couldn’t walk round the city that afternoon. I probably will never have children due to the pure amount of medication Ive been on since age 4. One Dr even sat me down and severely told me not to get pregnant. 
As for travel and just life well I had plans, they got eaten by epilepsy. Career? I had one…. That got eaten too. Friends? well I have some awesome friends but many have left because Im probably not the friend that they want – I cant go nightclubbing, drinking till pissed and all that stuff…. In fact Ive not been in a nightclub. 

So as for not having a life… maybe he should think again because from where I am right now I would love that life. Not only has he had one but he is now waited on hand and foot by a wife who despite all the shit she gets from him with nothing in return – not even just a civil conversation or thank you. 

Im not going crazy but I do feel depressed. Depression hurts, Its a pain deep inside the body, heart and stomach. It affects everything – I will stay strong. 


So here I am writing this depressing blog which no-one probably reads but at least if you are someone searching the web feeling like I do or have in the past… you may stumble upon me and this blog and realise you are NOT alone. This may be a depressing blog but life is not all smiles and sunshine. There are clouds too. Im in the dark black clouds trying to fight my way out. Hopefully I will. I am getting dragged to a place I don’t want to go again. 

Remember I love you all and appreciate everything.




I will not give up

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When I was diagnosed with epilepsy all those years ago we were told the things that I could and couldn’t do, the things that needed to be watched and what I should and shouldn’t stay away from. Some of these made seance, others didn’t. Some because of my age then (4) didn’t apply anyway. When I was re-diagnosed as a teen some of these started to play a part whereas they hasn’t before one including not having a bath or shower without someone being about. Outside the door. This is one of the most frustrating things I think because having a relaxing bath isn’t as relaxing when your constantly aware that someone is sitting outside the door waiting for me to get out so they can continue doing whatever it was they were doing. I have only had one seizure jn the bath and i was startkng to get complacent again recently until However I realised once again how important this was. Tuesday night when I was relaxing after a long day I woke suddenly in the bath to find the water drained and my head hurting and me in the bath surrounded by soaking  towels. The feeling of pain from having a seizure in such a hard and restricted place my nose and throat sore from swallowing water and my contact lenses still in but really sore and hard in my eyes. I was lucky though… So many others have been where I am and not made it, the beast taking them to heaven. Just three months ago another angel was taken this same way. The risk of drowning in epilepsy is higher than you think. 



The next day I had another seizure and another and another. My head was hurting so bad and my painkillers weren’t working. I had oxygen on and there was not much else we could do for now. The dr wouldn’t come until it was worse. Well it got worse I can’t remember much of the next few hours. Mum had called the dr in panic and tears that if they didn’t come out and administer the emergency drugs now then we would end up in hospital which is useless for me now as my veins are so bad iv access is impossible with light going to theatre and the hospital staff get grumpy even though I cannot ho my veins being difficult to access! 



The dr came about a hour and a half later. I was given a series of injections one in my bum and two in my arm. All having a different purpose and all combined making me really sleepy and woozy. This is not an uncommon syndrome for me. So many times I end up in this situation of pain from the cluster headaches and the epilepsy seizures all at once fighting inside my body and trying to take over, they succeed and I end up poorly and bedridden for a few days recovering from the aches which my tensing muscles cause, the bruises and scrapes where I’ve hit something or knocked something down, and the wooziness nausea and anxiety this beast and the drugs cause. 



I eventually do recover. Able to move freely not in pain… Then another seizure strikes. Is it to remind me that my body isn’t actually mine anymore?  That it belongs to the beast of epilepsy? No because I will not give up! I will not let the beast take my body just yet…. I’ve too much I want to do. 

It’s taken part of my vision some of my teeth have been broken, It’s given me sprained ankles, dislocated shoulders, serious cuts and scars and that’s just physical. The beast still hasn’t broken me  yet. I will not give in. 

I’m really Tired and still feel unwell but I’m still positive too. 


I have epilepsy…. It does NOT have me 

Looking fine on the outside

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Sometimes I wish you could see epilepsy on the outside. The trouble I have when I get asked things like, What job do you do or where do you work….. well at the moment my answer has to be I don’t….. Everyone because of that thinks im one of these lazy bums who live off the state and don’t deserve to breathe or be part of the same airspace. They look at me as if im dirty, a scumbag who should be out earning a wage. 

Well Its not for lack of trying.  For 3 years I fought to get back to work. I went through assessment after assessment after assessment. I went to interviews with the hospital for work (i was a nurse) I went to assessments at the benefits place as I was told to go there by my dr…. whereas other people were there to try and get signed off for work and get benefit, I wanted them to tell me I could go back to work that I had made my life for the past 6 years including training ! It didn’t work. I did however get a little benefit… not much to live on especially compared to what I was receiving working but It was a conciliation and helped me with transport costs and things like the things I could do. To get to this point though there were forms and forms and forms. How anyone gets away with the benefit fraud that you see on TV astounds me.

Now things have changed (for the worse) with my health since the beginning I dont apply for jobs anymore… not until I can get a Drs letter saying I can work. I have tried to volunteer at charity shops (thrift stores for you USA readers) and places such like yet they wont allow it as they are worried Id sue them if i fell and hit my head on something in their shop. The world has gone mad. As Im at the point where I have been told I shouldnt be on my own at all I guess work in most places is out of the question but doesn’t stop me wanting it. My dream job would be somewhere I would be helping others. Probably something craft wise now Im really into craft. I wish I could work somewhere like the craft box… Crafting all day and all that it comes with doesnt bother me. To see peoples happy face when they create something is amazing and lovely. 

Just today I had my cousin round and I set her up and taught her how to bling her own phone case…. the outcome is amazing which I will post when its dry ! 



So anyway looking  “normal” on the outside can be difficult 

Just the other day someone said to me “your looks don’t give you any sympathy” meaning well you look fine! I just stood there…. In my head I was saying “if you could see my insides, the pain I have and the struggles I’m going through I would be the ugliest thing you have ever seen, if seizures had a physical form what would they look like? if the pain and joints could speak what would they say?” I will never know those answers.

.. Lots of people out there think of epilepsy as having a seizure and getting back up and that’s it. Well it is and it isn’t… My seizure count last week was 12 and that’s just the big ones…. It’s difficult to count the small ones as sometimes I don’t know about them but the ones I know about ….. The count is about 80. I’ve gone through 1 portable cylinder and one large cylinder of oxygen and about 185 tablets.

I’m sitting here and my back hurts alot, I can feel twinges of pain on my ankles and my wrists. In fact if I move my wrist.. It cracks. My neck is sore and I’m tired. This is because the seizures really do take a toll on my joints, my muscles and me.
When i have a seizure i do try to just get up and start again sometimes i can sometimes i cant…. its not as easy as it may sound or look. tiredness is like a black heavy blanket that covers me and sometimes I can and sometimes I cant fight it. Now Seizures and epilepsy… There is no fighting with the Beast of epilepsy. – once a seizure decides its going to happen , that spark from one neuron missing the other one and landing somewhere it shouldn’t well that I can’t fight, I cant stop it, that is it. Sometimes I know its on its way and it gives me signs and sometimes it creeps up from behind and I have no idea until I wake up on the floor or in some hospital somewhere, friends sometimes strangers peering over me.
Just think of living life knowing that any second your body could be taken over and the next thing you know you could be in a hospital bed somewhere. Im NOT over exaggerating. on 19th July 2009 I came home from work and went to lay on the bed…. the next thing i knew it was a week later and I was in intensive care. That is the not knowing- the uncertaintuy of epilepsy.
I take a photo every day to remind me of that day….. why? because I don’t want to forget. – Epilepsy takes memory sometimes too. I lost a couple of weeks here and there and I don’t want that to happen again. My photos are my “insurance policy” so next time you tell me I take to many photos….. just think that I can’t rely on my brain to remember the good times like you can.

I’ve been fighting this fight for 22 coming up to 23 years in July. Not because I want to, or because I can, but because I don’t have a choice. Im not unhappy with my life though in fact I feel stronger for still being here today. 

Confidence at Gigs

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Stress causes seizures too, and I was under alot of stress over this this past week, There were issues after I subbed for a band last saturday and because of this, I found myself spacing out most of the day and my big seizures well increased a little too. 

The rest of the week I went to KCCB on monday (mark wasn’t there but Kara wanted to come and see if she thought it was possible to sing so there was no probs with someone to go with). It was a lovely practice though hard. I had a lovely pressie from my friend Judi of this beautiful sparkly and purple bracelet… ive not taken it off except to shower and bath yet cos its so lovely.

Bracelet from Judi 


Tuesday was as per normal a bad day for me… I often suffer on tuesdays for the long and late night on mondays but coastal is so worth it. The next day I went shopping for ball gowns… I came up with a georjus red one however it had a stain so I didn’t buy it. I love the style though.We had to get home pretty quick as I was feeling really poorly and had oxygen on route home… I managed to get to bed and chill for the rest of the day.  Kara came round on thursday and we were going to the craft box… we got there though and there was a mass of children… we got our paint and left rapidly. I wasn’t feeling too good 15 mins later anyway so I’m glad we didn’t stay. I didn’t let on to kara though and we managed a couple of shops she wanted to do and then got home. the next couple of days (friday and saturday) I had problems with big seizures. I had 4 tonic-clonics in just one day, I was spacing most of the day too but that was least of my probs. I took it east and just chilled and had mostly pj days on the sofa with films and pussy cat cuddles. Magick knows if i don’t feel right and always comes for his cuddles. I really was trying to be good and rest as I had a concert at a bandstand with KCCB on sunday and really love their concerts. 

The rest paid off and I managed to feel ok to go to the gig. Judi was really lovely and was giving me a lift. Its always a bit scary when going anywhere with someone who you’ve not gone / been alone with before but I trust Judi a lot and she’s a kind person. I felt ok and was (still am) on my stronger meds which I always go on during a bad patch and so I was covered! I hoped. 

The gig went really well but was exhausting (as band and gigs always are) I find gigs are more strenuous as its constant playing and in a different environment. 
Judi dropped me off at the bandstand and went to find a parking  space. the first thing I found was that the bandstand was quite small for the band. The flute section was really tight and I panicked as where I was sitting there would be no way i’d get out in time if I felt a seizure coming on… if i felt it coming on at all (some are just sudden). I always like to be able to get out and here I couldn’t. There was no way round it though. The head of section in bands always sits on the end. Next to her was another lady who would never move in a million years so I just prayed hard that I would get through. Though gigs like this really do scare me to death. Music does make me forget and be normal but there is always that arghh thing especially in public and situations like this that makes me not be able to. 
As the pieces were played I was getting tired, making my anxieties worse. I was so glad when It was break time. I went and sat round the back of the bandstand after saying hi to mark. It was quiet and I wanted to try chill and I did. Mark judi and giles came over and auben sat with us it was all good. I was knackered and felt a bit odd but not too much. I got asked many times if I was ok and that non-defeatest part of me put on a smile and yep im fine. Im sure mark knew I was knackered and on the edge ha ha

This lovely picture was taken at that moment. 


Back: Mark, Front: Giles, Me (Jo), Judi, Albun


After break we had to start again and back into the cramped bandstand where I couldn’t get out! the second half went quite quick and It was good. I had taken my meds that I needed to at break and all went really well. The end of the gig and we packed up and sorted and then walked to Judi’s car which (she did tell me) was parked a long way away…. I didnt realise how far though. I made it but how I dont know ha ha. We had a good journey home. 


I got in and was exhausted. I put my Pj’s on straight away, grabbed a sandwich as I’d not eaten since 10 am and it was now about 6pm ! I sat and watched a film on my laptop but never saw much as I fell asleep. I woke at 8 and had a massive headache. I took some pills and went to get my things ready for the next day as we are looking after my nan and grandad this week so need to get up and go early as we need to light the fire and help them get up and dressed etc. I had a sudden drop seizure. I woke up and mum was there. I must have hit my head on something as I had a cut on my face. It was a little sore and bleeding. It was ok and wiped off the blood ok. I was so dozey and even more tired now mum helped me to bed and thats where I stayed. I must have fallen asleep again and woke up the next morning. (today!). 

Today has been a bit weird but ok. I ave had a headache all day but thats not unusual after a day like yesterday. I am really tired but that could be from either drugs or the manic weekend. Im happy though. Im sitting painting some glass work for my friend Linda. 

Thats it for now guys so say hi send me a message it will be good to hear your stories too. 

Cheerio ! 


COMMENTS

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Just a quick not to ask who is reading my blog? Please feel free to leave me a comment or message. It will good to hear from you. 

Would you like me to add a few craft bits in, tutorials maybe. 
I do all sorts of craft 

I also do nail art too so could could add a few nail tutorials too. 

Here are a few examples below. 

I also sell a few pieces of art and can bling almost anything if you would like anything blinged then let me know.

 



Glass Painting (candle/ votive holder)
                   
Wine Glass With heart design 

Bling Ipod/pad/iphone wire 

Bling headphones 
 

Blinged pill/tablet pot 
Nail Art (winnie the pooh inspired)
FLAMINGO TOES

Panda nails

Peacock inspired nail art

Painting inspired nail art 

Seizure fashion.

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TODAY IS MAY 25th 2013

I have just been the first person in the uk to receive a  IWBYE tshirt (I Will Beat You Epilepsy) . Its a new website with dedicated fashion all about fighting and beating epilepsy. I am so honoured to have the first uk tshirt.
They only have a few tshirts in different designs at the moment but they will be getting more stock soon.

The Tshirt is very me as it even has a purple trebble clef which is even better as I love my music !






The tshirt costs  $20 and $10 dollers shipping. 
Its a little more than Id pay but its a excellent statement and one I live by everyday so very worth it. 

Double consultant

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Well the last couple of months have been full of ups and downs.
The ups being good days and playing music, meeting friends and the bad being hospital visits, consultant meetings, results and I still cant see out my left eye !

A few weeks ago now I met with my consultant, and another consultant from a high up place in the care of epilepsy in the whole of kent who was lovely but this meeting totally confused me as It was a surprise not to be just my normal consultant. I always have questions to ask my consultant but it all went out the window when I went in and the other man was there, therefore I didnt get chance to say hardly any of what I wanted to ask. In fact I left with more questions.

The man was there to talk about my situation and the posibility of doing something more invasive like surgery. This has been spoken about in the past and I was told a few months previous it looks like it may be possible…. it turns now that this isnt a option yet as my seizures dont just originate from my temporal lobe like they have done all my life but now have also spread to the occipital (explaining the loss of vision from my left eye). This for me was a complete kick in the stomach yet good news as well as at least I knew why my eye had been on and off and now pretty much off for the duration of time. 

I liked the extra consultant yet It was a really difficult meeting being told that the end of the line as to what they can do is very near. If surgery isnt a option and the drugs are not working then at the moment we are at a standstill. However there are a couple of other options being looked into as I type so for now all is not lost… its close but we’re not there yet. 

The other issue we spoke about in the meeting was my cluster headaches. It makes things more difficult that I have these as well as medication reacts and all sorts of things which I dont really understand myself yet they just said its a little more complicated and they tread carefully. Anyway there was this drug I was told I could try a few months ago. I had to have a ECG though to check my heart as it reacts with the heart. I had the ECG done and I wanted to now start the drug so I brought the subject up. This too was not a option as the ECG came back with a problem…. yet they didnt say what, and that was one of the questions I forgot to ask as they went into a different subject before I could really finnish what I was about to say. 

I left the appointment a bit grumpy and down. It was hard being told the end of the road is neigh, but i had a few answers and I knew not to panic about my eye too much and I knew they were now working hard to find me some answers and help. 

Still, got to keep going, have faith and “just keep swimming, Just keep swimming” ! 

Now to wait for the reply and answers. 

Speaking out.

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Over the weeks running up to the abseil I started speaking out about epilepsy more. I was never the type to tell the world about my problems… It just wasn’t me. However after meeting people online and looking back at the people I have met in this world that were rude, nasty and had not any idea about epilepsy I realised that my new friends were right and that more awareness needed to be raised about epilepsy. If you say the word cancer to someone they instantly understand and know what you mean… try saying the word epilepsy and watch the persons expression as they try and analyse you to see if you are mental, or can understand them or are going to attack them at any given moment… its not right. 

I looked about on the internet and I relaised that although there are many more things about than when I was a teen there was nothing to really help them or infact the rest of the world know they are not alone. 

I then created this video. 


This tells the truth about living with epilepsy and tells people about my epilepsy. 

Epilepsy is about having seizures but it is more severe than you think and 1000 people in the UK alone die every year from epilepsy. 

I Wanted to show people with epilepsy they are not alone and that everyone has down days but life is still worth living. After the struggles I have had in life I nearly didnt make it, not because I have been in intensive care a total of 3 times due to seizure but because I tried to end it all when I was a teen and felt so alone.  Anyway this has a positive end of that  it is hard but it does get better and it is worth the struggle. 

I have since made a few more videos about my fundraising and about epilepsy. There will be more in the future to they can be viewed on my youtube channel. link below. 
(please subscribe to me… its totally free and you will get updates when I post more videos)


Ive also done a interview with a online paper and the Local media and I hope when I figure out what im going to do next re fundraising they will help me cover it and raise even more awareness. 

Link to the online article below 


The News paper article about my abseil


Abseil Day

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Abseil day was a amazing experience. I woke up really tired, the weather was wet and cold 🙁 oh no I thought typical !

We got ready, I donned my epilepsy awareness Tshirt and purple ribbon makeup and grabbed all the cameras… We were off. Kara was due to be going with my friend who is also a photographer and was coming to take professional pics. My other friend tink was going with daryl (a friend from dads work). I couldn’t get it round my head that all these people were coming to support me. I was so shocked of how many people wanted to support me (or maybe they just wanted to see me 200fr up dangling on the end of a fishing line!?) 

Ok it was more than a fishing line but that’s how it felt that high up! 
We all arrived.kara had made everyone team Jo badges to wear! I was amazed! 
They were fab. 


 I went to register and I got my sticker which I put on my shirt. This told everyone i was a participant.


Next we were taken round into a car park, I separated from my friends and was hooked up to a harness. The gloves I were given were far too big and each participant had two pairs to wear each! 



 We were then taken up in the elevator 15 floors. Then two flights of stairs and another half dozen steps onto the roof. This part was enclosed a little. We had a photo taken. 
Then we had to climb two ladders walk across a partition and up another ladder. We were then ready to abseil. 
I chose to be feathered to the rather hunky looking ex sas soldier! Wonder why! Ha ha 
Everybody had told me the worst part would be going over the top so I was really nervous. I did exactly what the sas soldier told me to do though and it was fun. The view was amazing and I couldn’t help but look down. My feeling was : if I’m going to get the most from this experience I want to see the view! 
Once over the edge the hard work started. We went down in twos but the lady who I went down with Sandra had done these challenges before… She was also a bit heavier than me so the rope lowered her down… It wasn’t till the sas man told me I would have to lift the rope up because I was very light that I done that and started to move! 
I continued on my way down, soaking up the scenery but getting extremely cold . I am not the type of person that does well in cold. I was shivering and my hands were numb… I was really starting to wonder if my hands would hold me because they were so cold. I continued on my way down… Sandra was gone. Either I was slow or she was really fast! I stopped for a minute I looked down thinking I was nearly at the bottom… Wow big shock…. I was only 1/4 of the way down. I had way over half way to go! 
I was slightly worried but knew I was in safe hands I slowly and steadily continued on my way. There was a little squee when the wind we me off the wall and I scrambled my feet back onto the vertical surface again but apart from that he decent went well. 




Eventually I did reach the bottom, a big cheer from all my friends, I then disappears behind this wall where mum as was waiting. I started to feel dizzy as my feet reached the ground.. My only working eye went blurry too, I was so so cold I couldn’t stop shaking. I was pushed against the wall to keep me steady while the guys untied me from my harness. Another guy wrapped me in his coat and gave me a drink. I sat on the steel staircase and warmed up.


Once warm (less cold) mum and I went to meet everyone… I had to go back to the desk and collect my certificate. Upon doing so Claire presented me with a rosette and tiara! It was amazing. I cried, all emotions running through me. 

We all piled in cars and went back to mine where there was hot coffee, tea and nibbles. It was lovely to have all those people close to me on one room. I felt honoured and privilaged to have so many good friends who supported me and continue to support me. 



That day will never be forgotten. It is one of the best times of my life. 

After the abseil I had two newspaper mentions and was on the local billboard I was also on line and I had overwhelming response to my video which I will post on the next blog my total fundraising was £720 !