Migraine Awareness Month

June is Migraine Awareness month. I have not been bloging much lately due to the migraines and fainting, but others have. Check out the very informative posts at Somebody Heal Me! Here is the link: http://somebodyhealme.dianalee.net/

Go with God,
sconesail

Liability Waivers

I am really tired of the fact that, due to fainting, some consider me a liability risk.  I have also been told that I am a liability by several businesses in town. Here is a brief list of places that are scared of me and have essentially told me that I am a liability:

The Gym at a local hospital. This gym was located at the hospital, was about 50 yards from the ER and one floor down from the Cardiologist office. Furthermore, my mother, who is a physician, was with me. There were also many patients, and some had two or three stents, using the gym. I made the mistake of fainting when I was signing up and the manager told us that I was too liability risk.

A local church: I was helping with their English as a Second language class. I explained the situation to the students and most of them had no problem, as I am only out for a second or two. Most of the students were Korean and all had graduate degrees. The first time one of the students saw it, she said, “Here’s my card, if you ever want to try any Chinese medicine, give me a call.” However, the volunteers did not like it. The head of the program accused me of making a scene and told us that we were no longer welcome there because the fainting caused too much commotion.

In my local grocery store, I am not allowed to walk anymore. However, the manager put this in a very good way. He said, “If you use the handicapped cart, we wouldn’t have to bring it to you if you do faint and you would be safer. If you ever need help let us know.”

This brings us to what happened last week, when I discovered that simply walking two blocks from the gym also makes me a liability risk. I was walking home from the gym last week and I fainted in front of a building owned by a local college. Some very nice maintenance men were working there at the time. They asked if I was ok and I said yes. However, I passed out again about a minute and they offered to give me a lift home in their golf cart. (My house is across the street from the college entrance. I thanked them for the ride and really didn’t think any more about it. This is the south, and I thought they were just being nice. Fifteen minutes later, the head of College security and a professor showed up at my door to make sure I was ok. I explained the situation, and happened to faint in front of them. I assured them that this was normal. 30 minutes later, I received a call from my father who informed me that the college had called about it and wanted to know if I was ok.  My father simply said, “We just got a call from the college. What happened and why are they scared?” I also figured out that they did not want to be sued.

My state is known as “tort hell,” and many people sue for anything. I would never sue anyone, because the fainting problem is not something anyone can control. After three years of fainting constantly, I am tempted to have a liability waiver drawn up saying that the fainting is normal and that I won’t sue. I would also love to put a clause in their saying, “I promise not to sue and it is ok to help me.”

I hate the fact that I constantly have to explain this to others. The whole thing is frustrating and I am really tired of it because I often have to calm people who see me faint and prevent them from going overboard. I just wish I could make them realize that I am ok. I do not want to be known as the fainting girl and am determined to do the things I need to do. I am also hoping and praying that I get matched with a service dog in the fall. I have noticed that if I have Max, my father’s dog with me and I faint, no one freaks out.

I am not a liability; I am certainly not defined by the disease. I hate that it scares others.  If waivers would help, I will print them up tomorrow.

Poem:

Due to the fainting problem, I often faintin church. In fact, this has happens so often that when someone else fainted in church, it took my mother, who is a physician a few minutes to realize that I wasn't in church that day.

I fall during the lesson and find myself looking up at the ceiling.

The nave, covered with alternating stars and suns, painted lovingly in blue and gold watches over the congregation and over me.
Year after year, the stars and suns have seen so many come and go-

Some are here for brief periods,

Others will be baptized, confirmed, married, and then buried under the shadow of the painted stars.

These representations of the sky, speak an older truth,

of how God revealed his promises to Abraham and told him that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars-

the symbol of Israel, the symbol of our heritage.

And the suns with them remind us of the One true Light, who is the life of all men, of Christ.

They speak of new days, of the gospel and of our mission to witness to the Light, to Christ.

And suddenly, it seems that I am no longer staring at the stars and suns on the ceiling of the church,

I am part of the church,

just as they are and we are all called to be witnesses in the world,

just as the depictions witness the congregation.

I stumble and fall once more,

One of the witnesses looks at my form, prostrate in the narthex,

He doesn’t give it a second thought as I come to,

 Silently, he witnesses my fall, makes sure that all is well and goes on his way.

 In that moment, I know the truth, the one that is found in this place of worship,

I am just another member, another part of the church, and the peace which passes understanding envelops me.  

Though my fall is witnessed here- in this moment of weakness, I am made whole- one with the father, one with the Son, and one with the church.

I am simple one star who may flicker, but who bears witness to the light, just as the stars and sun on the painted ceiling bear witness to the congregation and to Christ.

In Memoriam

One Year Later

One year ago, on April 27, 2011, two major cities in Alabama were hit by devastating tornadoes.

Here is a slideshow of the storm that tore apart parts of Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
http://www.wsfa.com/slideshow?widgetid=51149

Today, the weather is perfect- a balmy 80 degrees and one of those days that lets you know that spring is here and Summer is coming. It is sunny and bright. The contrast itself is striking.

This post is written in loving memory of the 64 people who died in the storms- "May light perpetual shine upon them and may they go from strength to strength in a life of service."

Excellent blog on Chronic pain

Hi All,

I am linking to an excellent blog post on education and chronic pain. Please read.
http://shaunaslifeinpain.blogspot.com/#axzz1rHaPYtwV

Go with God!

Sconesail

"Pass the Patient"

Note: The current game is due to tingling/burning sensations in extremeties after fainting.
I seem to be caught up in a game that the medical community calls "pass the patient."
The rules appear to be the same as hot potato that I played as a kid.
Here is how the typical game works:
Dr. GP- "call the neurologist, I don't want to deal with this."
Dr. P- "Call Dr.N I don't know what to do."
Dr. N's answering service- "They don't take call! go to the ER or call tomorrow.
Dr. N's nurse- "Sure he will look at your chart- in three days. Or just go to ER. I don't want to deal with this."
Dr. GP's partner- take some extra medicine and go to bed. Call Dr GP tomorrow- and then call Dr. N.
Dr ER's probable response- I don't know what to do. Just go home and follow up with your own dr next week.

Whoever gets the complicated patient loses the game. whoever takes the patient and figures out the problem wins extra points for good deeds, and cheese straws at Christmas.

I know that everyone is frustrated. I just want an answer.

Happy Easter/Pesach!
Go with God.

Computer problems

I know it looks like I have been neglecting the blog lately, but regular posts were interrupted due to computer problems and migraines.

Normal posts will resume soon.