Hi everyone!!! I just have to have a little celebration finally! after 5 years of dealing with full blown chiari,surgery etc I am now EMPLOYED!!!.There is hope people!!! im kinda scared cause I don’t know how I will cope but omg!!! it feels so nice to know that I can still work and earn money it has just lifted my spirits so much.I cannot wait to start.
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Excellent. Good for you. Hope it all works out.
Merl from the Moderator Support Team
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Hey @thebrainsurgerychick ! Glad to hear you are employed! So happy for you and your new adventure 
! What will you be doing with your new job? It can be scary and exciting with working a new job. I had Chiari Decompression brain surgery the end of 2016, it was terrifying returning to work. Taking it day by day and always pacing yourself helps a lot 
! Also, ended up getting a standing desk at work and it helps a lot. You can get standing desk through insurance based on your diagnoses. Good luck with starting your new job, you are going to be fabulous!
Ashley
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Thankyou I hope all goes well to im a preschool teacher Im so nervous as I am worried about the little ones accidently wacking the back of my head but that’s ok I have a lovely supportive environment and I think im going to absolutely fine.Fingers crossed that I don’t crash and burn.I need to pace myself and listen to my body.The good thing about preschool is they have a really good structured routine and its a calm nurturing environment they also have nap times so I can sit down in a quiet space to rest if I need to.Also there is no preschool on weekends so im very lucky to have the weekends and I litrally live up the street from my place of employment so I don’t have to do a long commute to work.I live in a rural country town in Australia so most people including my fiancé travel for at least 60 minutes a day to and from work.I actually feel very lucky and fortunate that I got this position because the commute through shadows and flashing trees in the car is what sets me off a lot of the time.And is it just me or does anyone have major! car anxiety like I am seriously the worst passenger im just like so hyper aware its like my panic button is on all the time.
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Yea that hyper awareness with driving was pretty normal for me. Prior to surgery I drove everywhere. I worked in clients homes, driving to each one, so travelling 1000k’s plus a week was normal. Then to hand the driving on to someone else was not easy. I became the world’s worst backseat driver ever lol Luckily I’ve had my licence renewed and can drive.
I too have massive issues with light flashing through the trees. I live about 15k’s from the nearest shop. Early evening, just as the sun is going down, I can’t drive to the shop and back home as that drive gives me a wicked headache.
‘Pacing self’ can be a HUGE thing. Prior to surgery I had 2 speeds, full throttle and stopped. I tried to maintain that post surgery but couldn’t, now some days I’m lucky to be able to even get to 1/2 throttle and had a real battle with myself to accept that I could no longer go at my former pace. Regulating my activity has been very foreign and I hate it, but the reality of it is that I have no choice. My body tells me “Lay down or I’ll put you down…” And it puts me down HARD. If I over do it today, I can find myself bedbound tomorrow.
Merl from the Moderator Support Team
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Congratulations! 
Xx
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Awww that is super exciting, I’m so happy for you. Just take things one step at a time and pace yourself. No different than how you recovered from your Chiari surgery. Congratulations, the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in your life
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Congratulations!!!working gives us a “purpose” in a world that is different 
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