Health update - October 2020
Hey, so, it’s been an interesting time of late and as a result my participation in the hobby as been in decline, so I thought I would just lay out what’s happened to me recently, and how I am moving forward.
Just over 1 year ago I was unlucky enough to get Encephalitis, which nearly killed me, and gave me a stroke. After a long stretch in hospital, and after some absolutely stunning generosity from the Gunpla community, which allowed me to take some time off work to aid my recovery, I was steadily returning back to work and everyday life around November time - albeit with 1/3 of my skull, right hemisphere missing - until March 2020 when it was beautifully patched up with a titanium alloy by an expert and awesome Surgeon from Cambridge Hospital.
Things were returning to normal, work was great, then the covid hit and everything was honestly alright - I had been working from home for along time already, it was an annoyance but not a worry. Then, up until June the cracks started to show - work was getting unfulfilling and feelings of inadequacy started creeping in. On the 23rd, work stress just got too much for me, and I had a very strong seizure, collapsing at home, and was rushed to hospital. After 4 or so hours in the emergency room, I was sent home with a referral to a neurologist.
The neurologist, knowing immediately it was a common long lasting effect of encephalitis, suggested I might have developed Epilepsy. I was put on a course of meds to control it.
Things started to gradually improve for me, although I was completely terrified of being left alone, so I took up some private therapy who put me through some CBT and talk therapy. He was excellent, and helped a great deal. I was signed off work again for the entirety of July.
August and September rolled past, the kids returned to school, my wife returned to work, and I continued to work from home. Although I still had some issues, I was on the mend.
Now, we’re in October. My wife and I were due to celebrate our 15 years of marriage, so we decided to spend a weekend away together. Unfortunately, half way into a 3-hour journey up north, I had another seizure, and through the brave and decisive action by my amazing wife I survived it, and it put me in A&E in Leicester hospital for 5-ish hours. Now, since then, I have been in a perpetual state of exhaustion and paranoia. It’s not all gloom however, I am gradually starting to reform myself, get some exercise and be more positive about how things are going moving forward, and I fully intend to return to the hobby I love. It’ll just take some time, and I thank everyone for your amazing continued support for me and all the very best. I will update here as things improve!