It's a crazy old world!

Friday 7th march I checked into a psych hospital. Things didn't go well and by Thursday 13th I was moved, in handcuffs and with force to an intensive care unit for psychiatric patients. Only 8 patients but about 15 staff. 

Friday I spent my day in a cell. 

Saturday I was moved to a room. Got very distressed and was forceably given tranqulizers to calm me down.

Sunday I chilled, got to know other patients spent some time outside. 

Today so far we've had morning meeting and done a quiz, which, of course, I won! 

Rooms are nicer here. Ensuite as well. 

Bedroom at the second hospital. 

Bedroom at third hospital. The current one. I have no sheets as they are deemed a risk. 

I'll try and daily update when I can! Only get phone for 30 mins twice a day. Love to you all and remember, don't be afraid of talking about or being around people with mental health problems, we're just like you guys but with a little chemical imbalance!

Finally going to admit it....

I've not posted much on here recently. Now I'm ready to tell you why. Some of you won't be surprised (I'm talking the chiari people who say they dislike me but continue to read my blog. Yes I can see you looking from my stats page)

I've recently been suffering from some mental health issues. I'm not afraid to admit to that. I'm not afraid to admit these became very disruptive to my normal day. 

I've spent 14 days in the last month in hospital and am still here. I'm getting there. Seeing the right people, getting the right help.

I know there is a stigma attached to mental health but I'm not one to follow what society says should be our reaction to what is really a part of many peoples everyday life, more so when you've got a chronic pain condition!

So that's me and that's where I've been. Feel free to comment, question using the box on the right or follow me on twitter. 

Crazy coma kinda time.

So I don't want to go into any great depth into what happened as it was traumatic for my family and I'm still struggling with flash backs. 

Due to drug interactions I became very unwell on Sunday late afternoon. I have no memory from this point so this was second hand info so hoping I get it right. 

I was rushed to hospital via an ambulance. By the time I arrived I was displaying a GCS of 3. If you don't know what GCS is, as I didn't before this week, it's a simple test to see if patient responds to pain, vocal commands and eye movement. The highest is 15, showing a normal reaction to all of these. The lowest is 3 means that no amount of pain, shouting or force was able to rouse a patient. This is termed a deep coma or death. I was GCS of 3 on arrival. I was immediately intubated and sedated and taken to intensive care Sunday night. Monday I remained in a slightly shallower coma, maybe GCS of 5 or 6, and was slowly starting to squeeze hands ect but not too much more. I have memories of this day but they are vague and kinda scary. Tuesday morning I must have decided I was no longer wanting the breathing tube, rather scaring the nurse when I sat up, and successfully grabbed her followed by me desperately trying to pull out the breathing tube. I wasn't quite ready so after some sedation I popped back into dream land. Later that morning I was ready and finally was extubated. I was able to be more aware of my surroundings. I had lovely nurses who braided my hair as I slept and treated me with upmost dignity and the respect for me in some situations which were horrible. 

I moved off icy on Tuesday night to a step down ward close by. Thursday (today) I came home. Hardcore stuff to go from coma to home in so few days. 

I am lucky to be alive and wouldn't be without the staff at southampton general and my family and friends so big up them. 

Now I'm feeling muscle weakness, A fair bit of pain and a lot of brushing. 

So that's my crazy week. Let me know about yours in a comment below or on the little form on the right. 

It's 4am....again

I have had a horrible two weeks! Now I cannot, as yet, go into details but trust me when I say it was bad. I'll update in that when I can.  

Still having bad chiari headaches and there is no change there. Just wanted to let you all know I'm alive and kicking. 

Can anyone help?

I had my op yesterday, which didn't work quite as it should have. 

So, I was wondering if anyone could help. I was after some UK based research about chiari looking fine on a lying MRI and still having problems post op. Either something going wrong with the op or with it being visable on standing. Walton centre stuff would be awesome! X

Here we go again....

It has been a very short 5 months since I last had needles shoved in my spine. This is, for me, a long time between interventions but despite this I still detest the needles, only the ones in my spine, oddly.
Tomorrow I'm back in hospital for yet another blood patch, in an attempt to stope these unrelenting headaches.
Wish me luck, I'll keep you updated!

I've been rubbish I know.

Sorry for not posting more, had a stress filled few months! So much work! I'll try and get back to doing this far more.
Anyway, thought I should let you know I'm having my next procedure this Thursday. I'm groping in for my second blood patch. My surgeon wanted to give it another go, and as I trust him, I'm willing to go for it, even if I HATE lumbar punctures more than anything!
My pain meds have been working oky, however, the meds they gave me for breakthrough pain are having to be taken so often that I don't really have anything left for when I have a real spike in pain. Had one last Monday, came home early and my mum found me sobbing a while later =[ I went to the GP and he suggested I had a urine infection, even though I had no symptoms, had no problems with my waterworks ect. The only problems I had were a headache, stiff neck and a little bit of a temperature. I think he is just unaware of chiari and how much it can hurt.
So yeah, hoping that when I see the pain clinic at the beginning of March they will be able to adjust everything.
Also, I don't know I've I have previously mentioned this, I went and had a hearing test a few week ago, cos I was struggling in lectures and having to sit right at the front and if those seats had been taken. I would struggle big time. Also, was getting annoying for everyone at home for me to keep asking them to repeate themselves. So I am still, following my last test, pretty hard of hearing. I had hearing aids a while ago, but gave them back to pay to be seen privately about my chiari. Now I have to save £1300 ish to get the aids I need =[ hard now I am a student!

Anyway, if I don't update before, I will let everyone know how Thursday goes!