My name is Alisha! I am 33 years old and living the boring adult life lol. Nice to meet you all! Thanks for dropping by my world! This is where I will post random things, basically like a journal or blog or whatever you want to call it lol
- Created By HametsuKuro
Long Time No See!
My last update here was early December. So much has happened during this time ^-^'
My neurologist wanted to wean me off of anticonvulsants due to the area the stroke damaged looked pretty much healed. It was going to be a 5 week process since weaning too fast could trigger seizures. However, on December 28th, I had two partial seizures back to back at home and a tonic clonic (grand mal) on the way to the hospital. I was only a day and a half into the weaning process. The hospital's neurologist told me that I had to stop the process and go back to taking my normal dose. I went to set up an appointment with my neuro, but they told me to just stay on the old dose and follow-up in ~6 months. The earliest they had was July 3rd. I went back to no driving due to my state's law, so life was rough again.
Back in November, my post went short-staffed. My Operations Manager (OM) hired a new guy and one of the previous came back from medical leave. This new person became a problem real quick and has honestly been the reason for my declining health, along with the OM's blatant negligence to listen to me and do something about it. Long story short, since November, I haven't had a single month without excessive overtime. Every time my coworker had medical issues (one time was a death in the family), my OM refused to find help and made me and the new hire work 12s...except the new hire often abandoned me and forced me to pull 16 hour shifts, once 19 hours. These weren't occasional call outs either, we would pull these extra hours for a week in a row. I have no qualms over the other worker, they had no control over their call-outs. However, the new hire refused to help me. He also would call-out for not getting enough sleep, but like 7 hours before his shift? None of it made sense. In April, I experienced a different partial seizure that was extremely weird. However, at the time, I didn't know what it was. I blamed it on the sleep deprivation after pulling 56 hours that week. It was a short seizure, lasting only 3 minutes, but I was completely unaware that it was one since all my other seizures, I would have strange behavior and blank spots in memory or go unconscious. This one, I was completely aware, I could talk, walk, move around, the only thing weird was that I couldn't read. I just suddenly lost the ability to read and trying to read aloud was like listening to a kindergartener trying to read. Then it passed and I was fine. This was a short period, so I didn't think anything of it. However, at the end of May, I had another partial seizure, this time much bigger and longer, at work. It started out the same way. I lost the ability to read, but this time I was struggling for about 15 minutes. I began to panic a bit and then I went to check in a truck. I could read the numbers, but not words. I told the driver something was wrong. Luckily, the HR lady for the place I guard walked up to me and helped me dismiss the driver. I told her something is wrong and it was right around then that I began to deteriorate faster. I eventually lost all control of my body, but I was still aware and conscious for it. It was like I was trapped in my brain. Someone would ask a question and I'd answer in my head but my mouth wouldn't say it. I was loaded up to an ambulance and spent a couple of hours post ictal in the ER. It was the CREEPIEST experience ever. Everyone's face was distorted, it was hard to answer questions because I would answer verbally and then trail off and continue in my head. I was eventually released after everything settled. I had my meds increased. I still won't be able to see my neuro until the 3rd, but looks like I have permanent damage and will be given an official epilepsy diagnosis.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, we found out that our client for the post we guard decided to change companies and I almost lost my job .-. That was a nightmare and a half to deal with. The only openings my company had were either places I couldn't work at due driving restrictions or places that had the same schedule as my partners. There was one offer in particular though that had 3 days at a post that is a walking distance from home, but had a secondary post for 1 day in a different town that overlapped my partner's hours that day. I told my OM that unless he dropped the second post, I couldn't do any of them. I spent a week with him taunting me saying "all the other offers are taken, this is the only one left" and I kept telling him (multiple times) I can't unless the second post was dropped. He kept ignoring me. Then he'd ask again, and I would repeat myself. It took an entire week for me, my partner, his supervisor to convince him to drop the second post so I can work there. He finally allowed it. My last day with my post is July 2nd and I start at my new post July 8th.
My new post has so many benefits. It's close by, has a bathroom inside the guard house, has two AC/heaters, a watercooler, microwave, minifridge, coffeemaker, and they provide coffee and utensils for us. My old post only provided a microwave and a single AC that didn't work between 1pm and sundown in the summers. No heater, no fridge, no water, and we had to walk quite a ways into the building to use the bathroom. We had to provide our own stuff like fans, heaters, fridge, etc. Not to mention, my old post was extremely toxic and contradicting, and this new post is very kind and will ban people from returning if we are mistreated. The biggest benefit though is that I am only working 3 days a week, totaling 28 hours. This will greatly improve my health. No more dealing with excessive hours. Less stress. More rest and sleep. Things that impact my seizure threshold greatly. I am hoping this means I'll have less problems. Also, this means I have more time to do my art/comic. Something I have been craving for years now. Having only a small window of time to do it was torture. I always had to choose between chores, art, or sleep on my two days off. Ever since my stroke, my energy has been zapped. I would get home, eat, maybe clean if I could, and then sleep and repeat. So, having FOUR days off a week will help so much...
Anyways, that's all that's happened since my last update! Sorry its a novel ^-^' Hope everyone is doing well!
Health/Life Update
So, a lot has happened since my stroke in May.
I was diagnosed with two genetic blood clotting disorders as well as having problems with other clotting factors that will clear on their own. The genetic ones are two different types of thrombophilia. I also had two Neurology follow-ups and imaging done at 3 months and 6 months post stroke. I just recently been told I no longer need to have more imaging or follow-ups with Neurology, which is nice. However, I still have a thrombus (blood clot) in my Left Sigmoid Sinus that hasn't budged with blood thinner. They told me that there is a high possibility that it has been there all my life given my congenital clotting disorders. Since the Sigmoid Sinus is a pair (left and right), they do not feel the need to intervene with the clot since the right side is wide open and clear. For those interested, the Sigmoid Sinus is responsible for draining blood from the brain, emptying down the jugular vein to be recirculated through the heart.
The stroke itself was caused by a couple of clots in my brain that blocked blood circulating and made the vein either burst or leak blood until it started choking out my brain. This is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Specifically, I had a rare type called intraparenchymal hemorrhage. I was very lucky to not only survive, but also survive with no deficits.
I will be on anticonvulsants and a blood thinner called Warfarin for the rest of my life. Due to the clot and the two congenital clotting disorders, I have to stay on that specific blood thinner, which really sucks. Even though it is an older drug that is compatible with many other medications, plus affordable, I have to have consistent blood tests to monitor my blood thickness AND I have to keep my diet restricted. Vitamin K interferes with the thinner and it is quite shocking just how much American food has vitamin k rich foods and ingredients (including cooking oils like olive, soybean, and canola). One largest loss is anything with soybean, even more so fermented soybeans, such as soy sauce, miso, teriyaki, etc. So, I had to cut out most Asian cuisine or at the least moderate it to very little amounts.
I still have at least one follow-up left with a hematologist to see if the other factors start to level back out.
So many life changing events in 6 months, but still recovering. I am still working, thankfully. I even started driving again since I have been seizure free for 6 months. Still have so much to catch up on after being in and out of work and many medical appointments. Hopefully, 2024 will be better ^-^'
Fantastic Update
I've been approved to return to work! Recovery is going well and they said my age is a huge factor in it. I still have to retake some tests, but there is confidence that they will be negative. My next CT scan will be in August and they will be able to tell me if I can go off blood thinners or not then. However, I am stuck using anticonvulsants long term due to where the stroke affected me; apparently, that area is prone to seizures when it's injured. I'm just happy that I don't have to uproot my family anymore!!! *faints*
My Gofundme has been reduced, but I still need some help to pay bills/transportation/food until I get my paycheck. I go back to work June 30th. I am also still accepting commissions to help reach the goal. Anything helps, even just sharing!
GoFundMe Created!
I have created a GoFundMe to help me and my family get through this crisis after having a hemorrhagic stroke. Even if you cannot donate, just sharing this fundraiser helps get more eyes to see it! Thank you in advanced!
I am also opening commissions to help earn money for the goal. I will be opening them on Kofi here soon (I am still making examples for the commission tool). You can find my Kofi here: https://ko-fi.com/turningtidestudio. Just like GoFundMe, sharing my Kofi will help just as well <3
Thank you all for your kindness and well wishes. I will respond to you all shortly.
I'm in the Hospital
Friday morning, I had a seizure that sent me to the hospital. I ended up having another one and was sent to a different hospital. I've been here since.
I had a hemorrhagic stroke, most likely caused by my hormonal birth control. I'm lucky to be alive and I'm lucky to have very little deficit other than struggling to read. I'm going to be here for a while and going to be on anticonvulsant and blood thinners for several months. I have a long road ahead of me. Just wanted to update here for the friends here.
