While having coffee with a friend yesterday morning, I missed a call from an unlisted number, which often, as I commented to said friend when I looked down at my phone, means a hospital. No voicemail. Grrrrrr. Coffee Friend and I had just been discussing how I've been eagerly—well, maybe "with a complicated mix of … Continue reading Cutting It Out(!): An Important Update
I seem to recall writing an overly emotional post about the Purple Walk for Epilepsy last year, and I'm about to unashamedly allow history to repeat itself. For everyone's benefit, I'll keep it short. What it comes down to is this: since living with chronic illness can be isolating, and since seizures can be stigmatizing, … Continue reading Purple Walking
Last Tuesday, I woke up early, put on more makeup than usual, obsessed over my hair for a bit, went to campus in a cab with the 'rents, donned a very-impressive robe, nervously waited around for a while, and was transformed from not-yet-officially-a-doctor to officially-truly-a-doctor in a tradition-filled ceremony attended by some of the people … Continue reading Dr. Me, PhD: And with That, I’m Officially a Doctor
My last post was admittedly a bit of a downer, despite my attempt—which may or may not have been evident—to put a positive spin on my tooth's decision to become infected in the middle of my break from my everyday reality (teeth have tiny brains with the ability to perform such executive functions, right?). But … Continue reading Putzing around England: Penultimate Trip Update
My brain and body have seen fit to remind me this week that just because I'm on vacation from many aspects of my regular life doesn't mean that I left my health issues at home when I hopped on a plane and transversed the Atlantic. Seizure-wise, things have, thankfully, been pretty chill, and I'm supremely … Continue reading Obsessed and Abscessed: OCD and Accidental Dental Tourism
As indicated by the title of this post, I spent this past weekend in London, where I was reunited with three old friends: one of my university pals, who moved to the UK years ago; the British Library, where I've done a significant amount of research; and the Victoria and Albert, my all-time favourite museum. … Continue reading Weekend in London: Happy Reunions and Marx’s Tomb (Trip Update #2!)
I arrived at Gatwick late Monday morning and in Cambridge several hours later. All aspects of the voyage, from arriving at the airport in Toronto to getting off the train, went relatively smoothly, save my seatmate on the Reykjavik–London portion of my flight, who didn't seem to understand the concept of "personal space," despite my … Continue reading Marks & Sparks and Mrs. Chippy: My Trip Thus Far
It was business as usual in our apartment the other day—my husband was running through the normal list of questions that he asks me when I'm in a postictal state—when the identity of one of my alter egos was revealed. "What's your name?" my spouse patiently inquired in an attempt to gauge the extent to … Continue reading Destroyer
It was only around 5 p.m. last Tuesday night that I remembered that I was required to fast the morning of the PET scan that I had scheduled for noon the next day. I know plenty of people who're able to happily live without food for hours after waking up and manage to do so while … Continue reading Hanxiety, Medical Souvenir/Halloween Costume, PET, New Pet
An e-mail from a regular reader (hi, K!) after my last post, an entry that had nothing to do with the dysfunctional world of my neurons, reminded me that an update on the epilepsy front was long overdue. I blame my silence in this regard on a few factors: perhaps most importantly, "epilepsy fatigue" has … Continue reading My Brain Today
De Morbo Sacro: Life and/with Epilepsy 