Sorry I have been missing but there has been a very good reason

A couple of weeks ago I managed to get a chest infection which resulted in me having a week off work to try and knock said infection on the head.  It was anticipated that I would return to work on the following Monday.  OH went off to work I was up going to get my breakfast, get myself ready for work and I do not remember too much after that until late afternoon when my Personnel manager came looking for me as they had not heard anything from me which in itself was unusual.  I groggily answered the door covered in blood whereupon she called the Ambulance to me and thereon in things are a bit vague but needless to say I ended up in hospital for three days.

It would appear that I had had a grand mal epileptic fit (I have had epilesy since I was about seven years old, but during the past 8 years or so not on medication) and during the collapse had fallen on a glass and brass candle lamp which glass shade had cut and lodged itself in my arm causing a three inch gash by three inch in depth wound.  The hospital think that the collapse was caused by the chest infection which in turn had given me an extremely high temperature.  Unfortunately my system does not cope with high temperature and my body's response tends to be to close down when in such situations i.e. when I have a high temperature.

I underwent emergency surgery under general anaesthesia on the Tuesday morning to wash out the wound, re-stitch and ascertain what the damage was. It would appear that whilst I was in Theatre I reacted to medication that they gave me In the circumstances I consider myself extremely fortunate in the circumstances specially as I have also as a result of this injury ascertained that I have an extremely rare blood group - and the hospital did not have any of my blood in and have subsequently ordered said supplies in from the National Blood Centre.  I was looked after by a bunch of lovely young people in the Short Stay Ward at Peterborough City Hospital most of whom were Forces Personnel and I must say I have had the most excellent care whilst I was resident. I was popped on an antibiotic drip for the chest infection and then given a further prescription of oral antibiotics as well and have lots of bruises, and puncture marks from where they have had gadgets in or have tried to take blood; my veins tend to collapse in fright (they are deep anyway). Everything is a bit vague as I was not firing on all cylinders but I have been  bit more with it since Wednesday of this week.  My arm is sore but is healing well.  However I have had a lot of back pain and bruising coming out since then, although I am getting more comfortable day by day.

As a result of this incident I have had to go back on to anti-epileptic medication more as a precaution than anything else and although not totally happy about it I accept that it is probably safer and wiser in the short term.  The added bonus being that the newer medication will be far better for my system than the ones I was on previously.  I also have to go and see the Consultant Neurologist at the hospital in due course as well.

Epilepsy tends to be a hidden condition one that people do not understand and they relate it to mental illness or instability when in reality it is a freak electrical surge within the brain which literally short-circuits everything.  We all have brains and therefore have the capacity to develop this condition it can happen to anyone it is not choosy.  Fortunately I have always been brought up to work within the boundaries of the medical conditions I have, but that does not mean to say that they dictate what I do and don't do.  I try things and see.

I have been extremely lucky in the circumstances but could I please ask each one of you reading this post if you would familiarise yourself with the following procedure in the event of someone sustaining an epileptic attack.  Reading this could help and make all the difference to someone and can help limit the damage.

 http://www.ehow.com/how_2088407_treat-someone-having-epileptic-seizure.html

Thank you for reading.

I am one of the lucky ones and am looking forward to returning to work.

Love and Light

Pattypan

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