Some Positive VNS News in the News

Yes, I mean news news, not news of the personal-and-complainy variety. Yesterday I ran across this article about five-year-old Emma, who's the first patient in Canada to have the most recently released VNS model implanted. When she was seven months old, Emma was diagnosed with the seizure disorder infantile spasms (IS); her parents are hosting an … Continue reading Some Positive VNS News in the News →

Let’s Be Aware (for Epilepsy Awareness Month)

I haven’t done much thus far to celebrate Epilepsy Awareness Month (March) or Purple Day (March 26). Though I had fantastic ambitions to throw a theme party for Purple Day, I was eventually able to acknowledge that given the energy that the tasks would require, it’s probably too soon after my latest period of seizure … Continue reading Let’s Be Aware (for Epilepsy Awareness Month) →

Vanessa

Since the last time I blogged, I've made steady progress in the direction of adjusting to life with a VNS device implanted, cyborg-style, in my chest: I went to my family doctor and found a better solution for my nausea. I've almost completely eliminated ongoing pain by managing it with a combination of ibuprofen and … Continue reading Vanessa →

I Am Now a Cyborg: Hear Me Whimper

Well, I did it! All went pretty much according to plan, and I now have a VNS implanted in my chest. I'd like to claim that I've roared my way into cyborg status, but so far I've been in more of a whimpering state. Roaring will have to be a longer-term goal. I meant to … Continue reading I Am Now a Cyborg: Hear Me Whimper →

Becoming a Cyborg/Making Decisions/Drawing Questionable Pictures

I met with my epileptologist last Wednesday to follow up on the hospitalizations that seem to have plagued me this summer. Each of these mini vacays (ha…) from my everyday life has resulted in a heavier medication load than ever before, and since I've been deemed ineligible for resective surgery (for now, at least), I'm … Continue reading Becoming a Cyborg/Making Decisions/Drawing Questionable Pictures →

Rebreaking the Proverbial Ice

It's been a while. (I'm sorry.) I have three major updates, as well as many minor ones, but I haven't been able to get myself to open a tab, write a few paragraphs, and click "publish" in over what—two weeks?—so I thought I'd start with something short and sweetish to break the proverbial ice and … Continue reading Rebreaking the Proverbial Ice →