If anyone had ever said to me that I’d be using cannabis in any form, in my future, I think I would have asked them what they’re smoking. I’ve always been one to toe the line and always try to do the right thing…I still do, mostly. But what...
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus: Resilience grows on you…
I seem to learn more about myself and this condition every time… A week ago, I was in unimaginable pain and for the first time, I made the decision NOT to seek medical help. Thankfully my headache has gone since then, that in itself is a huge relief. I’m...
Hydrocephalus: How bad does it have to get?
Waking up with a headache a few days ago is nothing new. One that doesn’t go away, also nothing new. In fact, nothing about that day was different to any other time. I took some Codeine early in the day because I sensed this one would not let up....
Hydrocephalus: My Hydro diagnosis becomes a teenager…
13 years ago, today, my world changed. A “simple” visit to a Neurologist to find out what was causing my daily headaches, and subsequent CT scan, dropped a new word into my vocabulary. She was the first one to believe that there wasn’t anything sinister going on, that I...
Hydrocephalus: Being sent back to an abusive relationship…
Sometimes, being sent home after going to the hospital with, “Nothing’s wrong, everything is normal”, is equivalent to being sent back to an abusive relationship. You don’t know when the next flare up/episode will happen. You don’t know how badly you’ll be affected. You don’t know if you’ll be...
Hydrocephalus: Confessions at the edge…
I don’t regard myself as suicidal. It’s a very serious thing, to say the least. Therefore, I will NEVER make light of it. Too many people have ended their lives this way and the after-effects do not escape me. Despite being told that I am, treated with medication and...
Hydrocephalus: Coronavirus (COVID19)
I’d be lying if I said, I’m not concerned. The outbreak of the coronavirus is a hot topic across the world right now. I also have no doubt that there are some of us, living with Hydrocephalus, who are questioning the level of risk to us. In fact, many...
Hydrocephalus: Throwing money at a problem that WON’T go away…
It’s no secret, money makes this world go round. (Some may suggest other things do but…). This week, I’ve been reminded again just how expensive, inconvenient and burdensome this condition is in my life. At my last visit, the Neurosurgeon told me to see an Ophthalmologist and also to...
Hydrocephalus: I’m not scared to face all this on my own.
There are days when I wish I couldn’t read people. The unspoken can sometimes be so loud. • A reaction to something said. • The change of tone in your voice. • The way your face changes: mouth, eyes, brows… • A shift in your posture and demeanour. •...
Hydrocephalus: The waiting game and getting in the way of life!
Hydrocephalus doesn’t ask you if or when it can interrupt your life, it simply does. No matter whether you fail your last year of school because you were symptomatic around exam time and your brain took such a beating that nothing would stick. Or you have your baby brother’s...