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I HAD A tonic-clonic seizure on the morning of December 27 2016, I had never experienced any seizures before this so it came as a shock to myself and the people close to me.
In the months leading up to this first seizure, I had been feeling very strange. I was convinced that I was having slight panic attacks due to the anxiety of Christmas coming up, I did not realise that this was the beginning of something much bigger.
I was getting an overwhelming feeling of discomfort in my whole body, unsure what was real. I got strong feelings of deja-vu and smells that weren’t actually there. I later learned that the “strange feelings” I was having were actually simple focal seizures.
It’s been great to speak to other people with epilepsy about this as it has made me feel less alone. I didn’t think anyone would understand, but they do. It is essential to speak about things that make you feel scared, worried or upset.
I still have simple focal seizures quite regularly, the way I cope with them is to breathe deeply and try to fight any thoughts of fear. I repeat in my head “this will pass”. It seems to work for me.
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Although my seizures started at the end of December last year, I was not diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy until May of this year when I had three tonic-clonic seizures within a couple of hours.
Like a lot of people, my EEG and MRI did not show up any classic signs of epilepsy so it took a long time to diagnose the condition. Following my diagnosis I was not myself at all, the seizures had affected my memory and moods quite intensely and I was advised to take two months away from work.
Having to take time off was difficult and frustrating as I really enjoy my job. It is challenging to spend days upon days at home, I did begin to feel left out as I couldn’t do the things I would usually do.
I wasn’t able to go out with friends regularly, firstly because I was still in a lot of pain and secondly because I could not afford to. I am happy to be back working full-time now but I do have to take extra good care of myself.
I cannot do the strenuous hours I would have done before my seizures started. If I overdo it, I am guaranteed to begin having simple focal seizures within 24 hours.
Friends and family
Living with epilepsy is challenging, it is a challenge for those who have the condition but it’s also a challenge for their friends and family. I have a wonderful support system around me, my family and friends are very understanding and do not get angry if I cancel plans or don’t feel up for the day that lies ahead.
However, when I was first diagnosed, some people weren’t so understanding. I have fallen out of touch with friends who weren’t prepared to help out when the seizures began to strike. Everyone is different, but for myself I have to make my social circle as easygoing as possible.
Due to my diagnosis of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, my emotions are heightened and I am overwhelmed by difficult or upsetting situations. The more of those situations I can avoid, the better.
I have been on Lamictal for SIX months now and it seems to be doing the job. I had my si month check up this week, my doctor has also been a fantastic help throughout this journey. I am confident that he has my best interest at heart.
If you are ever having problems with a doctor, I would suggest a change. It’s vital to feel comfortable in the hands of the person who is looking after a medical condition you have.
Epilepsy Ireland’s help
This Christmas will mark one year since epilepsy became part of my life, I have learnt a lot about myself and this condition in the last year. The support that Epilepsy Ireland gives is incredible. I attended an Innerwise seminar last month and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is reassuring to know that my symptoms don’t only belong to me.
This past year has been testing but I have found a sense of pride in myself that I did not have before, I hope others have found this too.
Eva-Jayne Gaffney is an actress whose star is rising after appearances in the multi-award winning Sing Street as well as Red Rock and Can’t Cope Won’t Cope. Almost one year ago she had tonic-clonic seizure and has been learning to live with epilepsy ever since. last week was National Epilepsy Week and for more information log onto epilepsy.ie.
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What a complete waste of money, this is going to be a bonanza for dodgy fas trained web designers putting up lame websites for dog groomers and hairdressers. Any business that has a genuine online business model should invest in their own business. Instead of a grant why not a low interest loan?
Joe, I have grown a business from 1 employee to 14 without any financial backing over the last few years, so I feel qualified to comment here. First off, I think this is an excellent idea – for a small business this would be a huge help. Businesses NEED to be on the web these days, but it does cost about 2500 for the most basic decent web presence (unless you are a web designer yourself). Small businesses don’t have that kind of money. It’s a vicious circle. You know you could increase sales (way more than 2500 per year) with a good web presence, but you don’t have the spare money to get one and the banks won’t lend it to you unless you are buying something tangible that they could repossess if they had to. Websites do not fall into this category.
Second, there’s nothing wrong in Fas trained people. Whenever I hear people talking down FAS training, I know they have never employed anyone who has completed a fas course. It’s an unfounded prejudice with no basis in fact, you are merely quoting “bloke down the pub says…” and it doesn’t reflect well on you. I’ve employed 4 fas trained people and they are excellent.
Having said all that, yes, I think the idea of a low cost loan, with a long repayment period is a fair compromise, though.
I agree with most of your points Andy, but I think Joe is talking about FAS trained web designers. I am a web designer myself and I agree with him that a course in web design with FAS doesn’t make you a designer. You might learn how a website can be created, mostly with outdated software and techniques, but the design part is not taught. This results in pretty ugly bloated websites.
IT Developers can not be got at the moment, lucky for them they are flat out if they are good.
Good sentiment here but poor execution again. Grants are a joke. We need on the ground assistance, less red tape and a lowering of costs for doing business.
This is like what FF did in the 90s &00s horsing out grants to build and worsened a “building bubble”. IT Developers will do as the builders did and jack up prices.
I wonder if an IT lobby had anything to do with this decision??
Oh I am getting very cynical about politics in this country.
Andy I have what I believe to be a brilliant web based business idea but cannot secure funding to get it off the ground,as a man who seems to know about such things what would you recommend my next step to be? Thanks in advance.
John, I’m working on a few ideas online myself at the present with a business partner. There are ways of doing it cheap. Drop me an email if you’re interested, darrenoceall@gmail.com
Use open source software, dip into your own pocket and start designing.
John, try kickstarter. Crowd funding is really taking off. Either that or talk to enterprise Ireland about their hpsu (high potential start up) programme. Good luck.
Why not cut real business costs for us like rates! If 2,500 was gone off my rates bill this year it would be a start! Government please start listening to small business’s, we are on our knees. Asking business’s who don’t have a shilling to spare to “match” any money invested by government is down right insulting at this moment in time, as we struggle daily to pay government induced costs. We need urgent incentives that mean something, not watery options like this were only a few will benefit!
Lets face iy it looks better for Rabbitte to be seen givng out (taxpayers) money than cutting rates and sorting out restrictive rent contracts.
Your rates aren’t set by central government they’re set by your local authority.
In the meantime at Enda’s breakfast table…eur 50 tax for every new domain plus we can create the mb tax, that works out at…
Once the money is handed over to a damn good web designer or developer then I think it’s a great idea for small business. Portfolio and good testimonials/refererrals can help you find the right developer or else It’s money down the drain.
Seconded.
People with MONEY to purchase products, thats what small business requires.
A business owner that needs to be incentivised to get online, is not a business owner that should be in business.
I just find it incredible that just 37pc of SME business in this country use the internet and now they are being subsidised by the taxpayers with a grant to do do,i have used it for years and im nearing 70,and would find life impossible without it, as would most people,as i say it just beggers belief.
sPEND IT IMPROVING THE BROADBAND NETWORKS OUTSIDE OF DUBLIN, THEN MAYBE A BUSINESS CAN ACTUALLY GET ONLINE TO SET UP A WEBSITE!
Super idea! Good move by the govt!
You really must be stupid.
Hey Brian,
Take your negative comments and name calling some place else. If you have a counter suggestion on how the govt can assist small companies I would love to hear it.
Name calling is for little boys.
Good lad Brian.
It is not name calling its an observational comment, Unlike your back Kenny and Co at all cost reductions contribution.
Kenny has his major faults however this initiative is a great one. To think it is stupid is stupid, are you stupid?
Actually you sentence does not make sense. It’s grammatically poor.
You are correct the word “reductions” should have been “ridiculous”
No counter suggestion then Brian or are you just a negative person who points out faults and doesn’t contribute?
The majority of SME’s are begging for cash flow. Free up cash to assist in this. And not thro the corrupt banking system. Companies like pay pal, visa etc take up to 6 months to forward payments to suppliers from
On line sales. Where is the working capital for even 60 days coming from. No bank over drafts or credit facilities for established SME. What chance a new start venture have???
Support for SME’s. Started a new business, promised before I came off the live register of a grant from my local development office. Went for grant to be told in April I may add that there was no funds left for that grant for the rest of the year. Disgraceful !!
As initiatives go, it’s a step in the right direction, but there is a caveat – and this is not a complaint, but a genuine concern, which I hope will be yielded by even one SME business owner.
I hope there is some vetting involved in sourcing the website designers and developers, before a lump sum is paid out. My fear is that a growing number of template-merchants and hack ‘designers’ will be running (if not sprinting) to cash in on this.
So – please vet any third party based on portfolio, testimonials, ask for ‘links’ to previous work (and how these sites are doing on Google), and an outline of their working process, discuss website warranty etc
A hint; if you receive offers of simply ‘x pages for x€’, this is selling on a template as a commodity, and ‘not’ an invested designer interested in finding a ‘solution’ for your business.
Muppet
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