I got into Nursing School (LONG)

Okay this is a really neat story.  For those of you who know me since the summer you will follow this well.  For the newer folks who care to read this, I will sum things up...

So as you know I started the medical assisting program two weeks ago.  It is going very well and I am very tired physically, and mentally.  Well anyway, as I told you, I re-applied for the LPN program.  I got my acceptance letter yesterday in the mail.  So I am back in for September 2005!!!!!!! Yippee.. You guys know how hard, and heartbreaking that was for me.  I am crossing my fingers and praying that I stay healthy (seizure free) so I can attend school...{the NY LPN program is an 11 month full time day program; 8:00 am - 2:30pm with 8 clinical rotations to area hospitals.  Program total is 1260hours.  If you miss one day you must make it up on your own time and costs $10per hour.  It is an extremely strict program}

So for those of you who don't know me to well...Here is my story.  I have had a tuff time with anxiety and GI problems for the past 6 or 7 years.  I have been an administrative assistant for about 5 years.  I finally decided that I have loved the medical feild all of my life.  I truly wanted to help people and make them smile.  It just felt like something I wanted to do.  I decided to take the entrance exam for the Licensed Practical Nursing program here on Long Island.  Boces is the ONLY place you can train to be an LPN on the Island.  SO I placed in the 91st percentile when I took the exam.  With 3 awsome references and a sucessful interview, I was accepted into the Full time program  They take 70 out of 600, so I felt great about this.  So about a month before school was going to start (sept 04) I decided to take a quick vacation with my boyfriend down to Orlando.  4 days 3 nights.  As soon as we got off the plane I told him my head felt very strange and the pressure was off, I couldn't get my balance right.  An hour and a half after my flight landed I had my first Grand Mal (tonic clonic) seizure.  It was at my friends house.  THey took me to the hospital where I stayed for 3 days.  It was awful.  I was released and ordered to have a 24 hour aeeg.  I had that and it confirmed (to my suprise) nocturnal seizure activity from the frontal lobe.  I got these results and my diagnosis, one week before school.  They started me on Keppra.  It knocked me out!  Couldn't talk, walk, see well.  I was dizzy, tired, cranky and coudn't think straight.  It was horrible.  I tried to go to school.  I couldn't start the program and had to drop it and send a letter to the administrator to resign.  It was crushing.  So being that all of this was at the same time as my dx, I was here alot venting.  So it was an awful bump in the road, but now it seems like I am getting back on path. 

Thank you all for your continued support.  In everything I have done, and the decisions I have made.  You all are a wonderful group of people that I wish I could meet one day.  Keep up the happy thoughts here, and speading your knowledge. 

Tracy 24 years old, living with Epilepsy

Keppra 1000MG daily

Mary, thanks so much for the kind words. I really appreciate it. You always were behind me supporting my decisions, I will never forget that. I know who my friends are :) and you are certainly one of them!! Keep us updated on you too, I look for your posts whenever life will give me a chance on the computer! :) Feel good Mary!

Christine. What can I say. Without you, I really think I would be still sitting in this chair depressed, lonely, and confused. You were the most supportive optomistic person who backed me no matter what my choices were. That was unconditional support. I am so glad that we have built such a strong friendship, it just makes me so happy. I KNEW you would post and be pleased. I can go on and on. At least you can see my posts LOL!

:) Tracy

(((Jen~ thank you. I know you truly mean that. I am so happy to make you guys happy. I learned alot from you and I thank you for that)))

(( Ginny )) Thank you so much for always believing in me no matter what choices I have made.

Thanks Glenda, I really appreciate it. I love this forum. It is my favorite one (and I do post on others:)) I am lucky to have been able to interact with all of you. Thanks for the kind words. It makes me so happy to spead a positive energy! Hope you are well and take care, Tracy

Thanks so much Jessica. It is very inspiring to see you doing it and it gives me hope and strength that I can do it. Thanks for your support...and I just may be emailing you :) LOL Tracy

Thanks Shaun! And it is so good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well. I am glad to share the good news with my friends :) Tracy

Hi, I feel for you, as I had to drop out of the MD program 2 semesters before it was through---from meningitis.

But, as for the Nursing program, epilepsy and all, I managed to get through it and even the day after a seizure, I still went in for rotations, and class they were a littles less restrictive with me missing things, and waived that rule for me, as long as I kept my grades up, they said it was okay.

I made it through and am an RN with a specialty in Neurology, so I work in an EMU and have for 5-6 years. Right now, I am not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week, because of the stress involved, but I love it, and it was well worth all the seizing I did, to get through it.

I also went through EMT school, and had clinical rotations in the ER and loved that, as well. I am an adrenaline junkie, and that isn't good for me with seizures.

But, it can be done, you just have to want to, and not use epilepsy or anything else as an excuse that you can't, because you can. There is no reason why people with epilepsy can't be successful and enjoy what they do in life.

Good Luck!!!!

Nancy

Post Edited By Moderator (~Jennifer~) : 3/18/2005 8:30:02 PM (GMT-7)

 

Thanks Mary.  Good to hear from you.  Thanks for your continued support.  I am hoping that my health will stay good.  Crossing my fingers and praying this time around.  I want this very bad.  I hope that you too one day will be able to get your two days a week...How nice that you work with the elderly. take care, Tracy