Hi All,
I haven't been able to work outside of my home for over a year because I haven't been able to drive. I feel isolated and depressed alot of the time. I was just wondering how many of you are in the same boat?

What do you do to remain sane? Or are you insane? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

Thank you, Kathy

I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm bored. I'm going crazy. I can't work because I have seizures and alot of memory loss. Just cant do **** right anymore. I have a BA in accounting and can't use it which is sad. The things that keep me going are my family but sometimes I go off on them because of all the meds. The hardest part of the day is when I'm home alone with no one to talk with. My husband has to work and he sometimes surprize me by taking the day off to spend with me. I have a african gray parrot that keeps me company (talks way to much). I
have a daughter at home now (thank God) She in home school to make sure I'm ok. Overall Just get a friend that you can trust that can hang out with you durring the day.

Live well
Yolo http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

hey cathy i stay at home with my kids and my husband works although i would love to be able to get out of here whenever i want to i cant because i cant drive and my husband doesnt want me going to far with the kids just in case so im pretty much stuck here with 3 kids until he gets home.although i love every minute of being with my kids i just wish i could take them to the park or something like that just me and them hopefully someday that might become a reality. im looking into doing some data entry from home for a company that my neighbor works for that way i wont have to worry about getting to work and all that stuffso im hoping that works out well time to go fix breakfast for the kiddies have a good day all

------------------
mother of 3
ages 4,3,and 1
my pride and joy

diagnosed with epilepsy jan. of 97

live life to its fullest you never know when it may be to late to do all the things you would have done tomorrow

i am a stay at home mom. we planned on me getting a job when the girls went to school- which is now, because money has been really tight without me working, but it was important to us for me to stay home. i have a friend that lives with us, and her 2 kids.- since march. she helps me when i am sick. she will be moving soon, she is getting back w/ her husband. my parents are around the corner.

I know just what you all are talking about.. when i had my first seizure, and then went on to loose my lisence, and consequently, had to quit my job.. i felt like my whole life was being taken away from me... I got pretty depressed as well... recently however, my epilepsy has been pretty controled... I got vns a little over a year ago, and it has been pretty sucessful at controling my seizures.. I have had a job for the past 5 months, i take the bus and metro to work.. it takes some time, but it is great to get out of the house... I highly reccomend doing whatever you can to venture outside of hte house, or at least find something to keep you busy at home... it has made a big difference in my attitude... I have heard of a lot of people carpooling to work.. that can be a very effective tool.. good luck, and keep your head up, something will come up

Hi all,
Well...I don't work anymore and haven't done for 4 years.I am at home to do all those jobs I couldn't do when working....and now I'm at home and I've no money to do those jobs anyway.
So as you can guess I am quite quite mad...

Garry

Hi Friends,
It sounds like many of us are on the same boat....or island! I hate to sound like a whiner....and I really try not to complain, and I attempt to find a positive in most negatives. BUT, I am so sick of being stuck home alone (with the exception of my cat and greyhound.) I have one friend who takes me out every once in a while. The rest of my friends and family are more than willing to take me out and about, but they all work while I'm the loneliest.

I live in a beautiful farmhouse on Lake Champlain with spectacular views of the lake and New York State's Adirondack Mountains. There are probably 25 homes on our street, but most of them are vacation homes. My closest neighbors aren't the most outgoing people. I live about 10 miles away from town. If I can't find a ride from a friend or family member it costs me as much as $20.00 to get to town and back because I live in such a rural area. I found a volunteer opportunity....and couldn't find a ride!

I had a Doctor's appointment last week. In order to make the 1:00 appointment I hitched a ride to town with a friend. She had to pick me up at 11:00 in order to drop me off in town and head off to do her errands. I sat at a local restaurant drinking Earl Grey Tea until I couldn't stand it anymore. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif Fortunately I know alot of people in town, and was able to visit with some of them. So, at 12:45 I walked a few blocks to my Doctor's appointment. When I was finished I walked back to town and waited until 4:30 for a ride back home! For a 15 minute Doctor's appointment I spent over five hours in limbo!


Like many of you I am no longer able to work outside of my home...at least not full time. I am exhausted at certain times of the day, I can't concentrate, can't calculate, and need to remain in slow motion so I can stay focused. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif I am 49 years old, and I have come to a conclusion....Who would want to hire me?!? Believe it or not I am usually the upbeat positive one! I am just on a pitty-pot these last few days. This too will pass! It's too bad we can't rent a bus to gather us all up for a day so we can ride around and visit each other face to face. Of course the bus would have to have good shock absorbers in case we all had a seizure at the same time! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Alrighty-then....I guess I succeeded at cheering myself up. I'll catch you all later.....Kathy

Hi All,
Im a stay at home mom of four kids ages 2..3..(just turned 6 yesterday) and a 7 yr old. I am not allowed to drive either and yes im going crazy. Two of my kids are now in school although one is home sick today and the little two are tornados. I use to be the "backbone"of the family so to speak. Took kids to school, did all the shopping, kids docs appts, paid bills, cleaned house and all yadda yadda. My husband went to work and came home and I handled the rest...i even mowed the lawn (that because i wanted to not cuz he wouldnt). Now (since head injury in Jan) i cant do barely anything. I have PTSD/panic/anxiety and severe depression. Im on all kinds of meds and am very tired most of the time. My husband was supportive at first but is now making snide remarks and downs me. He says he joking but it just adds to the "worthlessness" that i already feel. I thought i had a friend across the street (the one who was baker acted ...that was on another post) but have recently found out that it was a call for attention cuz shes home and fine now and doesnt come over unless she wants to use my phone or my washer. The other day she was here on the pretense of visiting but i could tell she was on drugs and was continuously looking out the window and even told my 3 yr old to bring her 10 month old to her when he crawled from the room...the 10 month old is almost as big as my 3 yr old cuz shes my tiny girl...gonna be short like her mommy http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif. Anyhow, due to seizures and all the other host of physical and mental issues i have going on i cant do barely anything that i used too..i was also an artist and cant draw because woo hoo another diagnosis says i have bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and my hands continously shake and then the pineal cyst they found on "accident doing the mri. I feel cooped up and cant go anywhere but when i do i have panic or anxiety cuz i was out at a store when my accident happend. Its been just over 9 months and since the staples in my head are out my husband thinks i should be fine now and i feel hes just sticking around for the lawsuit in progress. Maybe im just being negative today but i feel like nobody (but those on here and my new friend who just happens to be my ex husbands fiance and my ex husband) are the only ones who understand...and those on here. Im so sick of trying to adjust quicker for those who are tired of it around here (namely my husband) I have a host of thing happend over the past months with new diagnosis all the time...like now i know i have permanant damage to my neck and right shoulder muscles. My husband came home and was not happy because i didnt finish the dishes and all...well that s cuz i had to clean up chocolate syrup from my 2 and 3 yr olds room where they snuck it from the fridge and coated themselves, the carpet and the bed and walls with it. Its funny today but i was in a rampage yesterday..along with the PTSD come some aggressive anger according to my neuro psych and i have been using my playstation as an outlet and thats what i was doing when my husband got home. Im just sick of being judged, trying to adjust to a radical change in lifestyle, trying to pretend im somebody im not and so on. Today is a very bad day because i thought about all this through the night. And to top it of i have no sexual desire because of my zoloft (150mg) and that gets my husband mad...i mean i try but i cant help it if i cant finish...yet somehow im the one always apologizing and trying to be better for everyone else....what about me???? when i ask that i was told to stop feeling sorry for myself. Im ready to just drop this life and run....but the guit and problems will follow...plus i cant drive so walking wont get me anywhere lol. Anyhow thanks for letting me vent AGAIN. You are all the best and help keep me sane...love to all
Tigre

Hi Tigre,
Sounds like you're having a melt-down! I had a wicked one last Sunday....cried all day! Fortunately, in my case, my husband is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor in addition to being my best friend. He seems to "get it." Actually, what caused my melt-dow

n was the whole not-driving thing. I needed to go to a particular store....but he didn't feel like going out. I was sulking and he told me that he needed to take care of his needs too....which I TOTALLY understand, since he drives an hour each way to work each day. In the end he realized that it wasn't my fault, and agreed to take me as long as I didn't make him go in the store. I am SO sick of it though. Mommajessibelle has a poem (posted some time last week) that describes our frustrations perfectly. Normally I know how to find the positive, and what to do.....this time I'm at a loss.

I'm sure your husband is frustrated too. I hope you're being totally honest with him....including about the sex thing. Sometimes we need to be reminded about the "for better or for worse...in sickness and in health" clause in our marriage vows. Show him Mommajessibelle's poem. I think it would help him get into your mindset.

Oh well....I'm going to keep trying to remain upbeat. I hope you are too. I just put out some birdseed. There are chickadees eating it. They're so cute. It's a rainy (flood warnings) day...temps in the 50's. Not exactly uplifting weather! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Keep writing. Maybe we'll be able to cheer each other up. Be well, Kathy

This was an extremely hard decision for my family. I worked up till May of this year, but things were getting so out of control I had to step back and say No More. Two major events happened that changed my outlook (please no lectures, I've given myself enough!) I was working at Target, morning shift, unloading trucks (3am - 11:30am). I was riding with my sister-in-law, she had to call off. I was bull headed and decided to drive myself. I had one in my car while driving, I was lucky enough it was early morning so no one was on the road I was on, I banged my car up, but did not hurt myself. I was lucky! My seizures got to the point, I was having at least one a week at work. Target was okay with this. In May I went to work feeling pretty bad (knowing it wasn't gonna be a good day but needing the money) about an hour into my job I had a seizure. Unforuantely no one was around when it happened. I fell between six wood pallots full of boxes that fell on top of me. Once they figured out i wasn't answering my radio, it took them ten minutes to find me. I had some cuts and bruises, nothing major, I was LUCKY yet again! Thats when I quit. I have days when all I do is sit and cry, because if I was working we wouldn't be in this financial mess that we are in now. Target says when the doc okays it, they will hire me back. I hope so!! I don't live near anything and my husband is the only one who ever takes me anywhere. My mom took me today, but she didn't enjoy it. She asked me about every five minutes if I felt alright. My kids miss out on so much because I can't take them like I used to, and no one offers. I hate that!! No one helps. EVER!! WHY?? When I could drive, I always checked on my grandma, did her shopping, called to see if people wanted to have lunch with me or whatever - my phone never rings. I feel so alone. Both my kids are in school.... it sucks sorry I'm really emotional tonite!!!

Lisa

Hi Lisa,
It sounds like you're in the same rut as a few of us are! God, it must have been so scarey when you had the seizure at work. And....I promise no lectures about the car accident. We all take stupid chances! I know just what you mean about being the one that always offers the errands, assistance and friendship. What about OUR needs....like a little companionship, getting out of our homes. We are not freaks!!! That's what I feel like sometimes.

I had a job working with teens in a teen center. The funding was misappropriated by the jerk they hired to help write grants etc., and when he was finished screwing things up I lost my job and the kids lost their center. Then I found a job working in the General Store in our town. It got me out of the house and I was able to socialize with people. Then after about four months I had a seizure followed by Todd's Paralysis, which lasted for over half an hour.We realized that it wasn't safe for me to work there, which is why I am unemployed. Even if I found a job I'd have to pray I'd be able to hitch a ride somehow.

There has to be a way for each of us to lead productive and positive lives' without being isolated from society. In order to try and fight off the depression that is threatening to suck me in, I'm trying to do some sewing etc., to keep my mind off my troubles. I take walks with my dog, which will also be a thing of the past within a month or so, due to the cold, snowy Vermont winters. In January I will become a Grandma for the first time. I am real excited about the arrival, and have started to sew for the baby. I'm hoping I can keep my chin up with all the excitement of the little one. All I can do is hope....and hope....that things are looking up! Be well, Kathy