From OK to No Way: Coping with my ever changing health: Part one

“When something goes wrong in your life just yell “plot twist” and move on”

My daily life has more plot twists than EastEnders, though, thankfully, not as dramatic. So far, I haven’t been murdered with an ashtray or kidnapped and buried alive. My plot twists are subtler and mostly involve being fine and dandy one minute and then in bed with a headache, pain killers and two king Charles cavaliers for company the next.

Today is a perfect example of these kinds of plot twists. At 9am this morning I was work ready, all smiles and lipstick. I was extra happy because I had found the most perfect pink shade of lipstick in my collection that matched my eyeshadow perfectly. By 1.30pm I was in bed with a headache, pale, puffy eyed and in unicorn pjs, not a lipstick in sight. A two-hour nap followed.

Let’s be honest, we all know I love a good nap, but not when I have a list of jobs and tasks longer than my arm to get completed. Thankfully, I managed to be at work as planned this morning and do all the things I needed to do. To be totally honest, regardless of the plot twists, I always manage to go to work and do my work to the best of my ability. I love teaching. It makes me happy and I don’t ever intend to let a few minor epilepsy related hiccups get in the way.

I had a headache this morning, but it didn’t really kick in until 1pm. I feel “kick in” is a good description. That really is what a bad epilepsy headache feels like. Like someone has kicked you in the head, wearing steel toed shoes with football spikes on the bottom. It is not a fun experience and, as much as I try my best to just carry on regardless, when it gets that bad nothing, but a nap and painkillers is going to help fix that bad boy.

Everyone in my house knows this as well, I think my face often gives away my headaches, as does my lack of concentration, although sometimes the husband thinks I have a bad headache, but I am actually so busy watching real crimes I’m just not listening.  On the days when my face gives it away they know that I will be retreating to my bedroom with juice, an ice pack, strong pain medicine and at least one, if not both, dogs. (the dogs don’t come and lay with me out of sympathy, they do it because they love a nap and it’s the only time they get to sleep on the bed). I will usually emerge a few hours later, looking dishevelled in my pjs, wild hair, and often, if I haven’t taken my make up off, panda eyes.

After half hour, and a brew, I am back to normal and ready to carry on with my day.

These little hiccups used to bother me so much.  I got upset every time I had to take a nap during the day because of a headache. I felt like it was a stupid excuse. Thousands of people suffer from headaches and they don’t need to nap. Now, however, I have learned to embrace the hiccups, roll with them, take them for what they are (an excuse to sleep) and, when the hiccup is over, get on with the rest of my day/life. I can’t change the headaches, nor can I get rid of them. Hand on heart I would rather have the headache than a seizure. I don’t let it impact on my job, although sometimes it does impact on my social life, but I just choose to see it as a good excuse to nap and dream of lipsticks and living on a farm surrounded by King Charles Cavs and a goat.

I may not always look my best, my list of jobs may not always get completed and I may sleep more than the average person but all that is OK. I am in a more fortunate position than many others with epilepsy, I have a job that I love and a family I love even more. Most of the time I am happy and I’ve always loved a bit of drama so I don’t mind a couple of plot twists every now and then …as long as none of them involve kidnapping or an ashtray.