Worrier

Since I was a child I have been a worrier. Unable to sleep (in the winter)  as an 8 yo worrying about taking swimming lessons. Worrying as a seventh grade student that I didn't get an A in every class.  Surprisingly (note sarcasm), after having years of seizures in the part of the brain that controls emotion and having part of that part of my brain taken out I had increased anxiety and depression.

Said: "You know, faith is the opposite of fear"

*A friend asked me if I had noticed difference after my surgery. I told her about increased anxiety and depression- she asked details and then gave me this. Yes, B#&$%, I am sure it has nothing to do with 20 years of seizures and the recent brain surgery- faith is the problem. I believe in the power of faith, but I don't believe in people diagnosing others as having a lack of faith.

Should have said: I hope that you find something that helps.

Under the knife

During my second pregnancy my seizure activity went up significantly- around 10 a day.  We (my doctors, my husband, and I) were thinking my brain would go back to normal after baby came.

That didn't happen and brain surgery was the only thing I hadn't tried that may help. After about one year of pre-op testing to make sure it was a safe option I decided to go under the knife.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"How do you know nothing will go wrong?"

"They are taking part of your brain out?? Doesn't that scare you??"

Thanks, guys.  I hadn't thought of any of those things. Yes, I'm sure I want to do it. If you had my brain you would too.  I don't know nothing will go wrong. Yep, it scares me, but thank you for reinforcing that.

It's not like in the movies

Said this: "Is it going to be like in Steel Magnolias?"

*A friend of mine when I was pregnant with my first son. Yep, I got pregnant knowing that I would go into kidney failure and die. NO!

Should have said: What is it like to be pregnant with your medical conditions?

I'll go ahead and brag- I rock. I had two babies with pregnancies full of complicated blood sugars, increased seizures, and changing thyroid levels. How did I do it? I told you, I worked my butt off and I rock.