General Category > AN Issues
Any students?
Echo:
Hello Alix,
I'm so sorry that you have to deal with an AN at this point in your life. There truly is no good time to have to deal with any serious health issue. Life throws us these challenges and with inner strength and help from others we move on and things do get better again in most cases.
While I am a lot older than you, I have had to deal with many of the same issues. Balance and exhaustion were two of my big problems pre treatment, followed by some ocular motor issues along with the balance and exhaustion post treatment. Like you I am not used to having to slow down. Accepting that I just couldn't keep up with things the way I did before my diagnosis was extremely difficult. Once I accepted the fact that I was going through a difficult process, through no choice of mine, I started to find positive ways to cope. Joining this forum was the first thing that helped. Next, I made sure to get plenty of rest and if that meant taking a 15 - 20 minute nap every day at noon, just so I could get through the rest of my day at work then that's what I did. I found meditation recordings to listen to that were calming. I learned to pace myself. While none of these things made my symptoms go away, they did help me cope and get through my days easier than if I continued to push myself. The days that I would push myself were the days I really paid for. Definitely try to pace yourself and ask for the help you need to get through the next few weeks. You are not a failure by doing this - you are being proactive and taking care of yourself!
There are many success stories here of people who have had surgery or radiation and returned to their productive and active lives. I can tell you that I'm one of them. I'm doing 100% better now than I was a year ago. I still have challenges at times, but compared to where I was pre diagnosis, life is good again. I wish you the same good fortune and I am sure you will find your way through this difficult time.
Cathie.
Alix May:
milhaus, congratulations on your impressive graduation! You went through an amazing ordeal, and I hope the people in your life lavished praise upon you.
I really appreciate your detailed response and encouragement to keep going! I don't think I can express how much. The only other AN student story I found was someone who withdrew, so I was beginning to feel it was impossible.
I looked at things yesterday to see where I stand. I think in four classes, it'll be fine - the professors range from being very empathetic to tolerating my absences, and are cool with me just keeping up with the work. One might be a C, but a C is passing, so that's fine.
Of the other two, I spoke to them yesterday. One doesn't really care and I got a "come to class or fail" sort of lecture. The other has their hands tied by bureaucracy - it's a practicum course, I need 20 hours of internship plus all the other class meetings/"field trips" to pull a C, and no one wants a intern mentally stuck on a roller coaster. :D There is no incomplete in that course, so if I fail, I just don't graduate.
So, it'll be a nervous April, for sure, but yesterday was the last day to withdraw, so my chips are all in. :D
I did get some valium, but I'm a commuter, so it doesn't work in all situations. I also picked up a forearm cane since I keep falling. Hopefully the two will help.
Thanks again for the response, and the courage to try.
Alix May:
Cathie - it's really reassuring to know I'm not the only one with pre-treatment balance and exhaustion issues. It seems like what I'm going through is a rare type of of a really rare brain tumor, since my hearing is fine (ringing is annoying, but as long as the fullness + ringing isn't going at the same time, my hearing is normal), but I'm mostly plagued by how just flattened out I feel sometimes.
You're right, I am not good at slowing down these days! I never really noticed that until I had to. I will try to learn to pace myself and be more kind to myself.
Thank you, all. ❤ I don't really have family other than my husband and in-laws, and my friends all live far away, so this feels very comforting for me, to find support and understanding this way.
SueLL:
It is amazing that some/most of your instructors were not more helpful! What kind of human beings are they?
Luckily your high GPA can sustain some lower grades. Please take care of yourself, though!
We are all pulling for you to finish!
Alix May:
Thank you! You are all are incredibly encouraging. :) Five more weeks! I'll let you know how it goes.
--- Quote from: SueLL on March 28, 2015, 04:38:28 pm ---It is amazing that some/most of your instructors were not more helpful! What kind of human beings are they?
Luckily your high GPA can sustain some lower grades. Please take care of yourself, though!
We are all pulling for you to finish!
--- End quote ---
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