Most of my former classmates are now in the midst of final exams. It's a time I didn't take very seriously because I loathed it on numerous levels, from what it does to people to its pedagogical value, and probably because I knew I wouldn't be doing very well.
What am I up to? Knitting, thinking of things to bake or candies to make, lurking the internet for job listings, and, oh yeah, trying to get my health in order.
When I started this fall, I thought that my sleep issues would be over quickly. I would go in for a sleep study, get diagnosed, follow treatment, and get better. I would be a new man with almost every aspect of my life being improved once I finally got quality sleep. It has been three months since my initial sleep study and almost 4 months since I started seeking help. I am trying to self-advocate, but so much seems out of my control.
Currently, the medication I am taking does little for my negative symptoms (writing this with a mild migraine) and has added at least on more: ridiculously bizarre dreams. I reached the maximum dosage for the medication about a month ago, and after numerous calls into the sleep clinic. I finally got another sleep study scheduled. It isn't until the middle of January. In the meantime, I haven't had any direct contact with my doctor since my October appointment. The best I have gotten has been a call back from a nurse. Otherwise I have had to keep calling the receptionists. Sometimes they have new information, others they just say they will send back another message.
In some ways this has really enriched my patient advocacy education from the summer. Most of the people that worked in my patient advocacy clinical came to it after having some kind of need for patient advocacy for themselves or their families. I had a little of that after working with my grandfather for a summer, but actually having to struggle with access to care and understanding an illness are something else entirely to experience than just making tough decisions in a bad situation. I'm not sure if I would have been a better or worse advocate for some clients if I had already had this experience. Part of poor sleep is being irritable, and I'm not sure I would have responded well to having my own bad experiences thrown back at me on the daily.
In the meantime,I am trying to eat well, exercise, and keep myself active. Oh, and you know... looking for employment.
What am I up to? Knitting, thinking of things to bake or candies to make, lurking the internet for job listings, and, oh yeah, trying to get my health in order.
When I started this fall, I thought that my sleep issues would be over quickly. I would go in for a sleep study, get diagnosed, follow treatment, and get better. I would be a new man with almost every aspect of my life being improved once I finally got quality sleep. It has been three months since my initial sleep study and almost 4 months since I started seeking help. I am trying to self-advocate, but so much seems out of my control.
Currently, the medication I am taking does little for my negative symptoms (writing this with a mild migraine) and has added at least on more: ridiculously bizarre dreams. I reached the maximum dosage for the medication about a month ago, and after numerous calls into the sleep clinic. I finally got another sleep study scheduled. It isn't until the middle of January. In the meantime, I haven't had any direct contact with my doctor since my October appointment. The best I have gotten has been a call back from a nurse. Otherwise I have had to keep calling the receptionists. Sometimes they have new information, others they just say they will send back another message.
In some ways this has really enriched my patient advocacy education from the summer. Most of the people that worked in my patient advocacy clinical came to it after having some kind of need for patient advocacy for themselves or their families. I had a little of that after working with my grandfather for a summer, but actually having to struggle with access to care and understanding an illness are something else entirely to experience than just making tough decisions in a bad situation. I'm not sure if I would have been a better or worse advocate for some clients if I had already had this experience. Part of poor sleep is being irritable, and I'm not sure I would have responded well to having my own bad experiences thrown back at me on the daily.
In the meantime,I am trying to eat well, exercise, and keep myself active. Oh, and you know... looking for employment.
