Can\'t Wait!
Hello, My name is Kristi. This is my first post. I'll give you an EXTREMELY brief history..
I am 26 (next month), and married with two beautiful daughters, ages 10 and 6. I had a stoke in my medulla at age 22. The main symptoms were ataxia and vertigo, for which I was prescribed Valium. I was never told that my body would become dependent on it. I received SSD after a long battle, so that's how I manage to pay the bills.
I decided...None of the doctors that I am seeing are helping me, so it's time to help myself. It's possible that my brain is healed, and that the benzos are masking the "wellness" that I should be experiencing. So I decided to taper my Valium really slow. I was on 20-25mg a day, now I am on 8.5mg a day. Still a really long way to go but I am over half way there! Slow and steady wins the race!
I have wanted to be in the medical field since my first Fisher Price medical kit. I had a lot of obstacles in my life..being a Mom at 15 and being forced to drop out of high school as a freshman, and being kicked out of my house was a big blow to my dreams. I had to work full time + a lot of overtime to provide for my family. I had received my GED when I was 16, but there was nothing that I could do with it at the time. I think having a stroke at a young age was a wake up call for me. I have a whole new perspective on life. I look at is as a gift. Once I am off the Valium I plan to go to college to get a nursing degree. It has always been my passion. I just pray to God that the benzos haven't done permanent damage to my brain. Have any of you heard of this?
I spoke with the Social Security Administration, and they said that I could continue my education while receiving benefits. I am really lucky!
Now, here is my biggest fear.....since I was forced to drop out of High School as a freshman, I obviously have to advanced math or science classes behind me. I am terrified that I won't even pass the pre reqs! I have drive and passion, but will that be enough?
I bought a few books from "The Idiot's Guide To" series. Algebra, Chemistry, Biology, and A&P. The thing is, right now my benzo brain can't comprehend a paragraph, let alone learn from it! I hope that this will go away and I will be the "sponge brain" that I was once before.
I have browsed this forum, and I understand that a lot of people here don't like their job and are really stressed. I am prepared for the job. TOTALLY. What I am not prepared for is college.
That's my story. Sorry if I bored anyone to sleep. If you made it this far, is there any advice that anyone could offer me? Thank you SOOOOOO much!
Kristi- Hopefully a future nurse!
I am 26 (next month), and married with two beautiful daughters, ages 10 and 6. I had a stoke in my medulla at age 22. The main symptoms were ataxia and vertigo, for which I was prescribed Valium. I was never told that my body would become dependent on it. I received SSD after a long battle, so that's how I manage to pay the bills.
I decided...None of the doctors that I am seeing are helping me, so it's time to help myself. It's possible that my brain is healed, and that the benzos are masking the "wellness" that I should be experiencing. So I decided to taper my Valium really slow. I was on 20-25mg a day, now I am on 8.5mg a day. Still a really long way to go but I am over half way there! Slow and steady wins the race!
I have wanted to be in the medical field since my first Fisher Price medical kit. I had a lot of obstacles in my life..being a Mom at 15 and being forced to drop out of high school as a freshman, and being kicked out of my house was a big blow to my dreams. I had to work full time + a lot of overtime to provide for my family. I had received my GED when I was 16, but there was nothing that I could do with it at the time. I think having a stroke at a young age was a wake up call for me. I have a whole new perspective on life. I look at is as a gift. Once I am off the Valium I plan to go to college to get a nursing degree. It has always been my passion. I just pray to God that the benzos haven't done permanent damage to my brain. Have any of you heard of this?
I spoke with the Social Security Administration, and they said that I could continue my education while receiving benefits. I am really lucky!
Now, here is my biggest fear.....since I was forced to drop out of High School as a freshman, I obviously have to advanced math or science classes behind me. I am terrified that I won't even pass the pre reqs! I have drive and passion, but will that be enough?
I bought a few books from "The Idiot's Guide To" series. Algebra, Chemistry, Biology, and A&P. The thing is, right now my benzo brain can't comprehend a paragraph, let alone learn from it! I hope that this will go away and I will be the "sponge brain" that I was once before.
I have browsed this forum, and I understand that a lot of people here don't like their job and are really stressed. I am prepared for the job. TOTALLY. What I am not prepared for is college.
That's my story. Sorry if I bored anyone to sleep. If you made it this far, is there any advice that anyone could offer me? Thank you SOOOOOO much!
Kristi- Hopefully a future nurse!