Category: the Rant Board
Hey all,
Can someone please tell me when it became a good idea to track someone down,
even though this someone went out of their way to make damn sure you knew where
they were, and that location just so happened to be the school nurse's office because
the person in question almost passed out?
So as some of you may know, I've been battling illness of some kind for about two
months now. It's progressibely gotten worse, and for the past few days I have ended
up dizzy and/or disoriented. A few weeks ago, the doctor gave an order to let me
nap during the school, once a day, if I so needed it. Also question, does dizziness
constitute a reason to need to lay down? I often end up in the nurse's office, if only
for a few minutes. Dizziness, headaches, just plain don't feel good, all those various
reasons. Now most of the time, I go at the beginning of the class. It has never been
expressly said to me that I need to let someone know where I am going at all times,
and even if it had, quite frankly, my world's spinning, i's not my fucking job to go off
chasing people down only to be ignored. So I go down there without telling anyone.
If I end up down there during my third or fifth hour class, I get my learning assistant
chasing me down and asking "Are you ready to go back?" after three minutes, and
the nurse handing me water and shooing me out the door despite being frequently
told with respect, that water is not doing any good. Note: I've been going through
about ten sixteen-ounce bottles a day, I seriously doubt I'm dehydrated. I usually
don't respond disrespectfully, but today it came very close to coming out something
like this: "Yes, Im so ready to go back to class. I mean, my world's turned upside
down and I almost passed out, but that's no big deal. Oh, and to your ridiculousness,
madam school nurse lady, you know what you're doing doesn't help, and you know
what the doctor told you to do. Why aren't you doing it?"
This sounds like a tough situation.
A few things of note though.
1. I don't know what's causing your issue, but it doesn't sound all that good. Water may not help, but it probably won't hurt either. Staying at least nominally hydrated is a very good idea. I know this might feel like a terrible thing to do if you're nauseous, but it's something to keep in mind.
2. If your doctor has told you that you basically have a bit of free time to lie down, and if your school nurse is then not supporting this, that's a problem and I sympathize.
3. I don't know how fast this dizziness and stuff comes on, but maybe as a caution in future, if it's something you can feel coming, letting your learning assistant know ahead of time would be a good idea. Again, I know it's not necessarily your job, and it's the last thing you feel like doing, but vanishing out of nowhere isn't a great idea either. Listen. I sympathize, I really do. But something you must remember here is that this learning assistant is sorta kinda responsible for you. If you'd wandered off, fallen down and gotten hurt, whose head would it be on? Not yours, surely.
All that said, I really am sorry you're going through this. I'm not trying to give you advice that comes across as insulting or terribly critical, but perhaps the bits I've suggested might help a little in the future.
Note: this is not. your. fault. But that doesn't mean you can't make it a little better, maybe.
On a note not specifically related to school, I really do hope they figure out what's wrong. I've been dizzy and nauseous and such before. It's not fun. And if it's getting worse, well...best of luck.
Also, let your doctor know what the nurse is doing, and that she's not letting you lie down. I hate to get legal, but if the school doesn't follow doctors' advice, they can be liable. Not that I'm saying go get a high-priced lawyer, but maybe a phone call from your doctor may be just as helpful.
I hope they find out what's wrong, because, I've had things undiagnosed for years, that cost me lots of difficulty. Having something untreated is more costly to the insurance, than just doing a few tests.
In my situation, I was almost constantly being treated for infections. Now, I have over 42 antibiotics, I can't take. If they'd bothered to run the tests, I wouldn't need an infection specialist, to keep monitoring me.
Push buttons with your doctor, and do what you can to find out what's wrong.
Blessings,
Sarah
First, thank you Greg. You're not being insulting.
Second: The learning assistant is rarely with me, just for the two classes. This
happens around the same time.
Third: I do stay hydrated. Like I said, I'm always drinking water. I've been through
this before when I was younger, and my primary care said it was dehydration. But
now it's not going away.
Yes, I would like it if they would be so kind as to figure out what was wrong. They
ran a bunch of tests yesterday for the dizziness and various other symptoms. All I
know is that it's annoying. And also, I don't have direct contact with the doctor. He
has said I should remain in school, as did the nurse practitioner I told yesterday. I
have told my mother, but she doesn't really appear to be taking it seriously either.
Not when we're at home. She specializes more in making it clear that it looks like
I'm milking my illness and lying. Which I understand. With the dizziness there's no
physical way to prove it. According to sighted people at school, I don't lose any
color.
This is touchy business, and I don't really know you.
But if the dizziness and stuff seems to happen every day around the same time, is there any chance it all that it relates to a specific sort of stress you'd be facing around that time of day? Or am I misunderstanding something here? If it is related to a specific stress, then it's more psychosomatic than biological or neurological, and this means it may be hard to diagnose, let alone treat.
If it's not, if this sort of thing can also happen to you on weekends, at random times, and is generally getting worse, then not having contact with a doctor strikes me as quite peculiar, as that sounds like the sort of thing that would merit attention right away.
It was for me. Something to think about.
I'm sorry, but if the OP could control the dizziness, I doubt he/she would've even mentioned it in their initial post.
I know this is hard for people to understand, especially if they've never been through something so severe as being so dizzy that you throw up, can't even lift your head, walk, ETC, but trust me, it's a real thing. And, from the OP's description, it's pretty serious in their case.
I suggest you keep asserting yourself, until you're able to get the proper medical care--this is not something I would take lightly.
I was never trying to suggest that she can control the dizziness. I was merely asking if she can predict when it's coming (in my experience, dizziness is rarely the sort of thing that's completely a nonissue one moment, and completely debilitating the next...it usually sneaks up on you and you feel it coming, or at least I do). I mentioned the chance that the issue might be psychosomatic because it's possible. That makes it no less a problem, but the way you treat something like that is far different from the way you treat something truly physical or neurological.
I agree with Chelsea, that it sounds like something real. I have head trauma, and seizures from that. People thought my seizures weren't real, because they weren't Grandmal. I kind of wonder if they want me to say: "Sorry, I don't flop like a fish, or break bones."
I'm frankly, glad I don't bust bones, or fall down and do all those things. I have, I think three or four times, and thanks, but that's quite enough.
Is there a chance it's a kind of seizure?
Blessings,
Sarah
Have you had a change in meds? I had a change in my meds and soon after had my schedule changed for work. I took my meds in the morning and soon after got in a car to go to work. I thought I was having severe motion illness and drinking coffee made it even worse. It was ugly. I later about 2 months later figured out it was my meds and I had to start taking them at night. Once I got adjusted to the new meds, I am able to take them in the morning again.
This had a huge inpact in my work and my ability to do it.
I use to get sick in the 4th grade every day at the same time and again it was med realated.
In highschool, I would get sick on Thursedays, every Thurseday I would fill horrible. The nurse figured out it was stress related because I had to go home the next day. I always felt better when I came back to school.
You said you were drinking 10 16 ounce bottles. Just be careful you are not over doing the water. Make sure your eating and so on. How are you getting along with your aid? You seem to get ill when she is around.
I'm just saying it could be a physical manifestation of stress or anxiety. Why rule it out?
I agree. One kind of seizure I have is a manifestation of anxiety. It's triggered by loud sounds, or bright lights. That tester hit me with a strobe, and there she went.
Anything's possible.
Hmm. My tvi suggested it could be a drop seizure. Usually I can feel it and the tiredness coming on, but once I can feel it, it's not really a matter of controlling or stopping it, but figuring out where I'd like most to be when it comes on in full. I get along with the aid well enough, except when she shows up in the nurse when I've almost fallen just to ask me if I'm ready to go back, and I want to be sarcastic to her. To those of you who think it could be stress-related, that's a possibility. I live with my mother, and while from the outside it looks like we get along fine, we really don't. So that could be a factor. No, I haven't had a recent change in medications. I would say it could be a side effect of my migraine meds, but this doesn't usually happen shortly after I take those, and I take them on an irregular enough basis that they probably wouldn't be a problem. Like I said, I've always had a certain amount of unpredictability with this, ever since I was 13.
Greg, sorry to burst your bubble, but debilitating dizziness does happen and is a very real issue for some people--I've had personal experience with it. Contrary to what you said, it comes on suddenly and I get no warning that it's even coming, and there's not a damn thing I can do to stop it from happening. Not just that, but there are different ways that dizziness affects people--for me, I just all of a sudden feel like I'm gonna fall, no matter whether I'm sitting, standing or lying down.
That being said, I never would've believed such a thing were possible either...till I experienced it for myself. And let me tell you: it's awful.
It's not a matter of a burst bubble, Chelsea. It's a matter of ignorance being remedied.
I've never known of dizziness to be so sudden, but that doesn't mean it isn't, either. In every case I've ever known, most of which were related to other people since I don't often get dizzy, there was usually some warning. If you're telling me that you get little to no warning, then okay, that's outside my experience, and I'm glad to have more knowledge than I did before reading your post.
I'd suggest you tell your parents to have a full physical done again.
she says in her previous posts that her mother isn't taking it seriously. Like, dude, it sounds serious!
Mother doesn't take me seriously, school doesn't take me seriously, and father is a passive bystander.
that's fucked up. People should take your seriously, Mikaela. it's fucking horrible. Sister doesn't take me seriously. and I'm over here crying because of the drama that's happening in my life. I'm trying to tell her and she's like, shut up little kid acting teenager. Well sorry for trusting you.
Then have a talk with your mom and the nurse together. A physical won't hurt anything. If they aren't believing you the physical will help everyone don't you think?
I'm pretty sure it's legal for you to go to a doctor on your own, though if you're living with your mother and don't have any of your own money, that might be a bit of a problem.
I can't speak to your dizziness or to your need to be at the nurse, etc. I'm not doubting you need to be there. But I'll speak to what your school's staff is doing. Your aid is coming after you because it's her job to make sure she's accountable for where you are at all times. I'm assuming you're in high school, right? so if you're in high school, no matter how you feel or don't feel, if you're not in class and you don't tell anyone where you're going, they're coming after you to find out where you went and when you're resuming your class. if they don't their job is on the line and your aid, as someone who is in charge of where you are for those two periods can get in some serious trouble if she doesn't come after you. I understand you don't feel well, etc. But if you're in school, you can't legally just leave and deviate from your schedule without making your whereabouts known. Legally, that's a big issue for the school, and could get anyone who's working with you into a lot of trouble. And I'm sure your assistant doesn't feel like losing her job, right? So that's why. you can't be mad at someone who's simply doing their job. that's how she makes her living.
Mikaela, That kind of thirst combined with dizziness is a classic symptom of hyperglycemia. In other words Diabetes. The opposite hypoglycemia can also make you dizzy and weak and come on very quickly. A blood glucose test and urine test can verify these issues. Either of these issues are very serious and dangerous and you should really be assertive. The symptoms of these conditions are commonly misdiagnosed particularly in someone of your age. Usually, it shows up very early, or when you are much older, but it is known sometimes to come on gradually during your teen years after puberty. I am not trying to frighten you, but unless they've ruled this out, I would ask them about it if I were you.
I live with my mother and have some money, but no way to get to the doctor.
The last time this happened, I asked my choir teacher to call my teacher for the next class and tell him I was going to the nurse because I was dizzy. The aid still chased me down. I wouldn't mind her trying to find me: in fact, that isn't the issue at all. I understand the accountability thing. My issue is when she comes in three minutes into my time in there, and the nurse automatically thinks nothing of what I am saying, and despite what I am trying to tell her, hands me a water and a snack and sends me on my way. Had the aid not shown up, I might have had a small chance of being listened to.
When my mother does not have her head stuck up her rectal opening, she has noticed the extreme tirst, and has told the doctors about it. I have also told the doctors about the disorientation that sometimes happens, along with the uncontrolled sleep. My primary diagnosed me with mono, and when I ended up back there because of more dizziness and pain, they ran a bunch of blood tests, an ultrasound that came back fine, and a urine test, along with some kind of cardio test.
yeah, I never knew that would happen. The time I get dizzy is when they draw blood from me. It happened once... I was going to this talent show after they did this check up thing on my sister and I. My sister of course was willing to go first. Then, when they drew blood from me, at first I was fine. Got up with ease. Then, bam, I was pale and well, feeling like I was gonna faint.
but, this has nothing to do with the problem here at hand... Bill is right of course. that's fucking horrible.
I’d like to add this.
Your school has a principal. If you believe you aren’t being heard, you can ask for assistants from him or her as a mediator.
A change of doctors might be in order as well.
This is odd for you to have to do, but that would be my advice.
All this ranting isn’t covering your issues.
If need be, you’ll get assistants from the principal, and he or she will set up what is required.
Even if you are having some stress issues, or actual medical issues, these things will and should be addressed.
You never say or maybe I’ve not noticed, that this problem happens over the weekends?
You’ll have to understand, if this only happens in school how it appears?
Reasonableness will get your further then the latter.
I don't know how old you are, so if you aren't 18 yet, I'd advise you be assertive with any and everyone that you come into contact with, until you get satisfactory results--as has been said, this sounds like something very serious, and even if it turns out to be fine, it's just better to be safe than sorry. I wish you the best of luck getting this resolved.
Wow. So sorry you're going through all this. Is there a Center for Independent Living that serves your area? If so, I'd suggest calling them. The one in my hometown had people who did outreach in the k-12 schools. It sounds like you need an advocate. The adults in your life are failing you miserably. How long before you're 18?
Becky
about eight and a half months until I'm 18. The principal won't let me nap during the school day, he says he refuses to build a naptime into anyone's schedule, and if I need to sleep, I should be at home. Issue is, as I've said before, the nurse has a lot to be desired, and it's like pulling teeth to even get her to call my mother. It's gotten to where the only way I can deal with it is if I feel completely normal and can argue my point. I could try getting some of the teachers' attention, but most of them are teachers of sit-down classes, so they just respond that I can sit down. And even if I did get to go down to the nurse, there's nothing she can or will do to help me. As for the other person's suggestion of a change of doctors, as far as I know until I am 18, that's my mother's decision, and she believes I am with a good primary care person already So to her there would be no need to change.
Never suggested building nap time in to your schedule. The prencipals correct on that score.
Weekends?
If you are a person that only sees your side of the issues, you can't exspect support when you've not proven the problem, only your desires.
Hope that makes sense?
If you honestly have some sort of medical or emotional issues, the best way to get it solved is to talk about a solution, not what you want them to do. "I need." Why do you need?
Understand?
Once you turn 18 this will be even more important to learn to do. 18 won't magically make it go away.
If this isn't proof that the education system is fucked nothing is. I'm sorry you're suffering with this. It's just wrong.
have you ever considered home schooling? the purpose of government sponsored schools is to meet the needs of the most students. the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one. the important thing is that you learn what you need to survive after high school. whether that is done in your house or in a class room is the key. proving a point is not.
Would be interested in knowing if you have been successful in getting a meeting set up with the principal,and your parents and yourself to get to the bottom of this issue. Until this is done I don't see any real possibility for a resolution in the near future. Posting here on the Board is helpful in providing an outlet for voicing your concern and frustration, but ultimately only you hold the key to getting the help you need. If you are truly concerned for your health,and I have no doubt that you are, please don't delay any more. Good luck.
Yes indeed. You'll need all the luck in the world.
We had a meeting with the principal, but it was to discuss my grades and how best to get me out of the "hole I created" with this illness. Not a meeting discussing how best to accommodate health. My mother has finally started to remove parts of her head from her ass and take me minutely seriously about this, I am going home in a couple hours after I attempt to get a couple tests done before break. I'm supposed to have a follow up appointment with the doctors at some point, but Mom hasn't gotten around to scheduling it, and since I'm not 18 yet I can't do it myself. That office won't even give me test results, much less allow me to make an appointment. It's still like pulling teeth to get the nurse to listen to me, her protocol is to get every student out of there within ten minutes or less. I was shocked the oter day when she let me have an entire class period. That's like being given a shipload of platinum bars from her.
I am sorry to hear you are dealing with such debilitating health issues. However, as I read through your posts on here, it sounds to me like you are simply looking for attention rather than finding a solution to your medical issues.
If you are over the age of sixteen, you are not required to attend school if you no longer wish to attend school. So if you do not want to attend school and deal with your aid following you around, then you could simply stop attending school. I believe the Hadley School for the Blind offers a GED program if you wish to take this route and do not wish to graduate from high school. I really do not recommend this as the best solution to your problem. However, it is still an option none the less.
None of your posts talks about how you experience the dizziness at home or on the weekends. Therefore, this could be a sign that some sort of stressor at school is triggering these dizzy spells, or you are simply not healthy enough at this point in time to engage in physical activity after being diagnosed with mono. Vitamin C is a water soluable vitamin that is easily depleted under periods of high stress and illness. Therefore, it would not hurt you to take extra amounts of vitamin C at this point in time as a means to help you deal with extra emotional and physical stress.
However, if you are concerned about your health, and you feel as though your mother and current primary care doctor are not willing to take you seriously, you could always go to the emergency room or an urgent care clinic as a means to obtain a second opinion. The urgent care clinic would be the best option, but they may not accept your insurance. An emergency room at a hospital accepts any kind of insurance. However, since your medical issue is not considered to be an urgent life threatening emergency, you may have to wait a while before being able to see someone if you decide to seek out a second opinion by attending the emergency room. They should be able to provide you with basic care services without receiving consent from your mother.
However, I also agree with forereel in that if you are seeking solutions that it would be best to learn how to present what you want in a professional manner. Once you have stated what you want in a professional manner, you can then ask others for their input and opinions as to the best way of being able to achieve what it is that you want.
For example, if you do not want your aid following you to the nurse’s station, you could state this by saying you would like to be able to be more independent in taking care of your health needs by being able to go to the nurse’s station when needed on your own without the assistance of your aid. You could then ask your aid what he or she would need from you in order for you to be able to achieve this goal.
Perhaps all this person really needs is to know where you are and to know that you are okay. So perhaps you could notify your aid in the same manner as you notify your teachers as explained in one of your posts. But your aid would be the best person to ask what they would need for you in order for you to be able to go to the nurse’s station on your own. I am sure there is some way to make it happen if you are able to present yourself in a professional manner when discussing your goals with others.
Okay, I don't really know Mikaela, but I think some of you are being unnecessarily hard on her. It sounds as if she's doing everything in her power to advocate for herself. But if her mom won't listen, and her principal won't listen, and the nurse won't listen, and her aid won't listen, she's running out of options. And it may not matter how nice or professional she is. If they're bent on not taking her seriously, either because she's underage or because of her disability(s) or whatever other stupid reason they come up with (though I suspect it's one of the two), then no amount of her being nice or professional is going to do any good. That's why I suggested an advocate. They deal with those sorts of stupid people all the time. It's their job.
Becky
I'd like to graduate high school. If I didn't want to graduate high school, I would have dropped out a long time ago. Probably would have gotten thrown out on the streets for it, but I would have done it. I happen to have people in my life who seem to give a damn (not my mother) who would have my head if I dropped out of high school.
I do experience these spells at home and on the weekends, to the point that on the few occasions I have set foot outside of the house, I am either leaning on my mother, or in a wheelchair for Christmas shopping.
I have not been disrespectful to anyone: in fact, I am being very nice, though perhaps not as assertive as some are encouraging me to be. To be fair, there's not much the school nurse can do for these situations, so when I do go down there, unless I directly ask for her to call my mother, which usually gets me sent home, she tries to keep that as a last resort. That much, I have learned from this situation.
I take a Vitamin c every morning with all my other medications.
Someone suggested the Emergency Room or Urgent Care. I'd take that route as an option, but I have no proof of insurance when going in there, and, omitting the obvious call 911 and ask for transportation, I have no way of getting myself there. My school has a lot to be desired with their mobility program, so I'm receiving training through VR. I've tried to get my father to help, but the most he ever did was pick me up from school when they were being obstinate and I had not yet learned the obvious lesson: when you don't feel well, don't beat around the bush.
People have given suggestions as to what you can do to help with your situation. What you choose to do with any of these suggestions is up to you. However, if you keep looking for excuses or reasons as to how you can not resolve your situation, then nothing will be done to resolve your situation. the only person who can live your life is you.
These don't strike me as excuses, necessarily. They strike me as very real impediments. Some of them are negotiable, some aren't.
Let's also bear in mind that (and here I want to apologize in advance if I sound a bit condescending toward the young) it is much harder, both psychologically and financially, and even socially, to just rock the boat and do some of this stuff when you're 1. young and 2. still living under the roof of people who don't agree with what you're doing. No, this isn't an automatic trump card in most cases, but it's still a pretty big hurdle to jump. It's all well and good for those of us who are twice her age, or nearly so, to tell Makayla that she should just go to urgent care, or just tell so-and-so in no uncertain terms what she wants, but it's a lot harder to actually be there and do it in the situation she's in.
That said, Makayla, you have indeed been given some pretty good stuff here. Some of it might be beyond you, some of it hopefully isn't. If you're having these troubles all the time, and not just at school, then the likelihood that they're psychosomatic drops at least a fair bit. The thing that you've got to bear in mind is that if you're truly feeling this bad all the time, then not being assertive only hurts you in the long run. Being assertive might be unfamiliar or scary, and it might seem untenable in the long-term, but this is your health, your life we're talking about. If you don't speak up, you're in a situation where others likely aren't going to speak up on your behalf. No one said this was going to be easy.
I guess this is what I'm circling around to saying:
You've got at least one person here telling you that you're making excuses, and that the ability to change rests solely with you. I agree with the second half of that statement, but not necessarily the first.
A lot of people, when confronted with a problem, get utterly and completely roadblocked by it. Believe me, I know this well; I've been there, I've done it. What I've had to learn, mostly the hard way I'm afraid, is that when you come up against a barrier, instead of just going, "Yeah, damn it, I'm stuck", ask yourself, as exhaustively as possible, "Okay. Is there a way around?" Rather than psychologically seeing a barrier as an end, look at it like a challenge. There might be no way around for some of them - god knows we all hit dead ends sometimes, and I'm not going to preach that the power of positive thinking will solve every problem you have - but in a lot of cases, thinking, planning and otherwise trying to find a way around the dead end will result in something productive. It's hard to do, but iive it a good try. If you go into a thing thinking you're beaten, you'll probably beat yourself. Another thing I had to learn the hard way.
It's hard for anyone, regardless of their age, to be assertive when we first learn to be. However, just like the OP will learn the value of that skill someday, those of us who are older than her have had to learn that too. That's just a fact of life.
Yup, I agree. I'm only saying that it's arguably even harder when you're younger and still in the care of parents/guardians. Some of us who aren't in that position any longer have to be assertive for entirely different reasons, but it's at least a bit tough sticking up for yourself unless you've been raised that way from day 1. I was raised to stand up for myself, but I was also raised to think that asking for help was something you didn't do...not because people actually said as much, but because when asking for help did happen, it was at least partially viewed as some sort of failure. So sticking up for yourself and not wanting to ask for help are sorta conflicting imperatives. Not nice.
I'm not trying to make excuses when I say the things I am saying. I feel I am assertive, maybe not as much so as I should be. I tell my guardian how I feel whenever it changes. I also asked her this morning to make a follow-up with the primary care doctor. She said she would.
Then you're trying to take steps. Let's hope she does so, and that if she doesn't, you remind her in the hopes that she takes you seriously. I do wish you the best of luck, and I hope you feel better sooner rather than later.
Wayne, you are incorrect about naps during the day. It has been recognized for a long time now that certain disorders require exactly that solution. In fact, many companies now have a quiet space set aside expressly to support employees who have such problems. As far as the person who keeps mentioning psychosomatics, knock that off. Though that does happen, it is fairly rare. It is not helpful to a person who is having health problems to have the first thing suggested that it is in their heads. It sounds to me that Mikaela is in a difficult situation and doing the right things to help herself. I still think this sounds a lot like glycemic issues, but diagnosis is really not possible from any of us. I am very concerned though to hear that Mikaella needs a wheelchair. If so, that is not minor at all. Keep pushing Mikella, that is all you can really do. I am really sorry you are having these issues. Being ill is never fun, or easy and I wish you the best.
Okay. I finally got my question answered. Now, here's your solution.
You can dial the phone. Call 411 or 211. Get the social services number for minors requiring help if you feel you aren't getting through. Now you have a third party that can get you medical help. I'm sort of wondering if you actually need a wheelchair, why you say people aren't taking it seriously?
You are out Christmas shopping and you experience a spell so badly you need a wheelchair, but you aren't returned to the doctors, or another doctors opinion looked for?
That's pretty heavy. Seems the Christmas shopping would stop and you'd be taken to the hospital?
People have to see you honestly have something happening that isn't being addressed?
But, okay, social services will help. Call them. It is only a phone call away, and you are old enough to be heard.
I don't understand why so many of you are being so harsh to someone reaching out for help and doing the best she can. I see this all the time. Someone posts to the boards and they are thrashed and trashed. Try putting yourselves in her shoes.
If your health issues are so bad to the point that you need to lean on others for support and use a wheelchair for Christmas shopping, then I honestly do not understand why you are not doing anything more to address these health concerns. If you become dizzy enough to the point where you feel as though you can no longer stand, you can always call for an ambulance to take you to the emergency room. The emergency room is obligated to treat anyone regardless of their insurance status. And if you have health insurance, and do not have your insurance cards with you when you go to the emergency room, you can always send the bills to the insurance company when you receive them after they have been processed by the hospital.
Also, if your mother is not willing to take you to the doctor so that your health concerns can be addressed by a medical professional because you are still considered to be a minor, I believe this would be considered to be a form of neglect. I honestly do not understand why the doctor’s office is not willing to address you as an individual without going through your mother. However, if your mother is not willing to help you, and the doctor’s office is not willing to address you as an individual without going through your mother, and you are not able to change your primary care doctor, then getting an advocate involved would probably be your best bet.
Hopefully this will help your situation as I am rather confused as to what it is that you really want after reading through all of your posts on here. There seems to be a number of issues mentioned throughout this board topic. So identifying what it is that you want with each issue may help you achieve your goals with each issue. Good luck.
I personally did exactly that. It was the reason I posted exactly as I did.
First, I took in to account her age, and I thought about how I'd be at that point in my life.
What could I do? What if? When was this happening to me?
I don't know her parent, but I do understand the school system mostly will provide support.
It would have been my first resort.
When people come to get advice, or just rant, different opinions might just help them over that hump.
Bill, it was me that mentioned psychosomatic issues.
And I wasn't (and am not) out of line doing it either. Because even if the issue is psychosomatic, it's still a problem and requires some sort of treatment. Just because something is psychosomatic doesn't mean you can just wake up one day and decide to stop it. If it's deep-rooted, it simply doesn't work that way.
You'll note that I'm making a huge distinction here. What I am not doing is saying that the topic creator is seeking attention, making her own misery or that her issue is her own fault if it's psychosomatic. What I am suggesting is that the issue may be psychological rather than neurological. Frankly, I haven't got a clue for certain. How can I? But I won't be told off just for suggesting it as a possibility.
Shepherd Wolf, of course you are correct. However, bringing that posibility up as early or first consideration generally is interpreted by the ill person as suggesting it is all in their head, I.E. not being taken seriously. All other diagnosis should be eliminated first. I believe you are trying to be helpful, and was not meaning to offend. Still, that particular advice does more harm then good when a person is already feeling unheard. Just my opinion based on a lot of experience.
Regarding leaning on others or wheelchairs: it is firmly believed that even if I was taken to the hospital, they wouldn't be able to do anything, so my mother won't. Now if this happened when I was alone, which it has, I could make the 911 call and explain what was going on to whoever answered. I think they're obligated to send someone to check on you if you call 911. I'm rather used to going with what my mother says as law, though over the past 5 months especially I'm learning that doing so is hardly ever, if ever, the correct solution. I have also expressed also the pains I have been having in certain areas, and they've been brushed off as mono pains by the doctor, so I assumed that that's what they were.
Okay, well, if your doctor is telling you that the pain you are experiencing is from mono, then apparently your body simply needs some more time to completely heal from it. However, if it is anything more serious, then you should really have it checked out regardless of what your mother thinks about it. It is your life, and your body, so it is up to you to take care of it.
Greg, I too have been less assertive in my younger days. I wouldn't deny that; I was just trying to let the OP know that she isn't alone in what she's going through, even though it may seem like she is from her viewpoint. As I said earlier though, I hope this is something that can be resolved.
211, not 911.
311 in some areas.
411 all areas.
You want the social services department that helps minors with issues of this kind.
All right this does not sound like Mono. She is not tired all of the time. She is merely dizzy, and having problems with her balance. I believe the doctor needs to order a CT scan, as well as a MRI to try to find the cause of it. I think she is incredibly brave to come on here, and tell us her story. I think she really does need help. I know what it is like to be in that type of situation. I had major problems with my mother when I was seventenn. I honestly pray she gets the help she needs to figure out what she can do to counteract the nausea, or get rid of it all together. She truly sounds like a sweetheart, and I applaud her for wanting to finish high school despite having this medical problem.
my dear, if you have mono, then why are you in school? the only cure for that disease besides some antiviral is est. if you are in school, how are you doing this? divorce your doctor.
I do agree that your doctor is a fool.
You guys aren't the only ones. They want to keep me in school, and the school also disants to keep me in school. The doctor won't order a bunch of tests, it's either mono or dehydration and that's the end of it. I'll try the 211 thing next time I'm alone, and see where that gets me. I'm also being expected to complete a bunch of schoolwork I've missed from either all my absences or sleeping in class and after because there's no real other option during the school day. And yes, I want to finish school. Once all this goes away, I'll have a life to live. And even I, as a teen, know it's kinda hard to live a quality life as a blind person without at least a high school education. That's the only reason I'm doing it, I despise school and everyone there.
I fail to understand what it is that you want anymore. It honestly sounds like you just want to complain about things expecting that other people will either figure things out for you or do the things that you do not want to do for yourself.
I know what it is like to suffer from various health conditions. And I have done my best to suggest things that could help improve your situation. However, if all you are going to do is complain about everything without taking any actions to improve your situation, then I do not have any more sympathy for you or your situation anymore.
However, I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that your situation and your health gets better soon.
Indeed. And school doesn't last forever. I had a bitch of a time back then but I pulled through.
I am so sorry you are going through this. It does seem like to me that you are experiencing quite a lot of stress. It might be worth it to speak to your school psychologist, or someone else about everything that is going on for you. I would need to do some looking, but I am sure there are resources for minors. I do think the dizziness, even if it's not directly caused by anxiety is certainly not helped by it. Nor is being unheard by the nurseand/or your mother. Best wishes for your health.
I know what it's like to have terrible headaches. I also know once you are in one, you can't think clearly and perform as advertised. It's a tough break, and you have my utmost sympathies.
I aso understand the terrible headaches. I've just lived with them. For me, Excedrin Migrain medication is the quickest - though definetly not the best - solution. It sounds like, mental or neurological, you need help, and you're not receiving it. I can't offer much since I'm in Canada and things are somewhat different here, but I can say that doctors can - at least in Canada where they are ridiculously over worked and keep appointments to five to ten minutes - have a tendancy to take one look at you and diagnose you with ... something. Those diagnoses are not always spot on. Thus second or even third opppinions aren't necessarily a bad idea. Though having everyone impeding you - or even feeling like they are - can certainly be a detriment.
Thank you for the well wishes. While it has been one hell of a time, I am ... hopefully
... starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. After almost five months of fighting
with doctors, insurance, more doctors, hospitals, oh, and a fair few unpleasantries: I'm
being told that I have "vestibular dysfunction and orthostatic intolerence". The
headaches have calmed down, and I am recovering from the mono, which is a good
thing. I have to see a physical therapist, so that they can build my body back up to
what it was. Hopefully by the time I go to Minnesota, I will be on my feet again,
moving around at the very least better than I am right now.
Hi there. I offer you my best wishes. I hadn't been on the boards in ages and didn't know you were having health issues. Hope for a speedy recovery and hope to chat to you again soon. Hugs.
Glad it's getting better Mikaela. Good luck. I'd be curious to know what that diagnonis means.