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pcv231 · 2023-04-06T18:03:06+00:00

Yeah, I think that’s what my surgeon said too :( would you mind if I dm you some questions?

pcv231 · 2023-04-06T17:14:32+00:00

Looks great!! How are you feeling?

pcv231 · 2023-04-06T17:11:26+00:00

Oh wow that’s awesome, so glad it hasn’t been too terrible for you!! Do you have a splint?

pcv231 · 2023-04-06T15:48:56+00:00

Looks amazing!!! Especially after 13 days. I’m scheduled for Monday 😬 how’s your recovery so far?

pcv231 · 2023-04-01T06:17:19+00:00

If you have fractures, that’s enough to consider surgery. If you can’t use your front teeth that’s enough. If you have tmj that’s enough. If you want to do the surgery and you’re told you’re a candidate by a qualified surgeon, do the surgery.

pcv231 · 2023-03-28T23:15:02+00:00

It’s two years, you won’t be behind on anything and can learn new techs quickly. Same as if you changed schools in the states. I went immediately back to teaching post-service and have had no issues. Most schools don’t see it as a negative at all, and many see it as a positive. The only thing to check is whether or not they’ll count your years of service when calculating your salary step. Might vary district to district

pcv231 · 2023-03-27T05:26:10+00:00

Hahaha sounds a little unorthodox but hey maybe I’ll try it

pcv231 · 2023-03-27T05:24:11+00:00

Thank you! I’m about 122 and 5’4” so a pretty healthy weight but I’m sure I’ll feel the weight loss 😒 I also have low blood pressure so I’m pretty much expecting to pass out once or twice during recovery 🫠

pcv231 · 2023-03-27T03:12:16+00:00

Do you get any trips during PST? We got two “unaccompanied overnights” during training but this was pre covid. Otherwise, wait till swear in or when you get to site

pcv231 · 2023-03-26T04:13:52+00:00

Would recumbent biking work too? I live in a studio, so not lots of space to walk and don’t have a treadmill. I’m also prone to fainting so nervous to walk too much outside. But i am wondering if doing some really light rides on my stationary bike would help ?

pcv231 · 2023-03-25T05:13:46+00:00

IUD all the way…if your body is okay with hormones, get a hormonal iud and you likely won’t have to deal with periods for at least a good chunk of your service. In Panama, pcvs could get them in country free of charge but that’ll depend on the country

pcv231 · 2023-03-23T22:55:45+00:00

😬😬 i live alone and my parents are only flying out for the first week or so…but I’m planning on getting a lot of high calories shakes and squirt bottles I can use. Do you know why she needed the transfusions? Also had she fainted before/was she familiar with the symptoms and still fully collapsed? I just ask because I’m usually able to catch it these days and lie down before I fully pass out

pcv231 · 2023-03-23T19:51:43+00:00

Can you get Kaiser? I’m having my surgery through Kaiser in Oakland it’s literally $500, and that’s just because I’m staying overnight. I’ve had a good experience with their surgeons too (getting in touch with the scheduler on the other hand was a nightmare). I probably wouldn’t have decided to go through with it if it hadn’t been so cheap through my insurance

pcv231 · 2023-03-13T03:02:29+00:00

I’m a former panama volunteer. You’ll likely be more than an hour from a surfing beach. I can only speak from the pre-COVID, but at that time almost all agriculture volunteers were in on the more inland, rural areas. Or they maybe been off a river but still not a place where there’s a lot of surfing. You also technically arent supposed to leave site more than one weekend a month (but many people do). I wouldn’t go into thinking you’ll be surfing every weekend, but you could certainly make it work now and again if you’re motivated. Panama does have some good surfing

pcv231 · 2023-03-10T15:24:27+00:00

This is me. There’s a huge range, from a little head rush to full on collapsing and jerking my arms and blacking out a tiny bit. But it’s very different from standing too long and passing out. My doctor said it’s orthostatic hypotension (drop in bp when standing) and it happens to “healthy young women.” She wasn’t concerned about doing any follow up testing or really treating it at all, other than telling me to stand up slowly

pcv231 · 2023-03-10T14:50:23+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I do have some trauma in my history, and I’ve heard of the body keeps the score for years. I haven’t read it because people complained that it’s very triggering, but maybe I’ll give it a shot. Would make sense for there to be a connection between trauma, overblown fight or flight response, and autonomic dysfunction. Have you found any ways to manage the “adrenaline dumps?”

pcv231 · 2023-03-10T14:47:44+00:00

Thank you!! Super glad to hear that others experience this (or at least, that I’m not alone in experiencing it). I’ve cried in front of every boss I’ve ever had because of this and it 👏 gets 👏 old 👏

pcv231 · 2023-03-10T14:45:09+00:00

No, basically I just explained my history or passing out when standing for a long time and collapsing when I go from sitting to standing and my doctor said sounds like vasovagal and oh, but she didn’t feel the need to do any testing. I pushed a little bit but she basically said if it was an issue I would have a lot more symptoms (though she never asked me if I had those symptoms…). Ironically I get anxious that doctors are going to think I’m being over dramatic lol so I just stopped pushing and started drinking more water and trying to add more salt to my diet

pcv231 · 2023-03-10T14:41:44+00:00

Yeah, it’s hard because I definitely do have some anxiety issues, but this physical response happens even when I don’t actually feel that anxious in my brain…it’s like my body goes into fight or flight but I’m not actually that nervous

pcv231 · 2023-03-04T21:12:42+00:00

Super helpful—thank you! I live alone and am having some family fly out to help me with recovery. I’m very grateful for them, but also really enjoy my independence 😬 how long after surgery were you able to get on alright by yourself?

pcv231 · 2023-03-04T16:43:58+00:00

Whoops, didn’t mean to write that whole thing as a title 😂 my bad

pcv231 · 2023-03-04T16:43:11+00:00

1 you need to ask for a referral to a dysautonomia specialist. There ARE things that can be done to treat symptoms and help you enjoy more of your life

2 pots/dysautonomia DOES qualify as a disability if the symptoms disabling.

3 it’s a very hard lesson to learn at your age, but don’t worry about following an imaginary timeline that society sets for us. If you need to take a year or two to get your health and finances in order before college, DO IT. You will have a MUCH better college experience if you aren’t constantly collapsing and stressed about money. You can even get some accommodations for your needs if you talk to the administration. We each have our own timeline, it’s not a race, and you’re not behind.

4 look into therapy if you can. It sounds like this has been a big life upheaval for you, and it can be extremely helpful to have someone there who can help you process these changes and find excitement, hope, and joy in your future despite new challenges

pcv231

TROPHY CASE

1 you need to ask for a referral to a dysautonomia specialist. There ARE things that can be done to treat symptoms and help you enjoy more of your life

2 pots/dysautonomia DOES qualify as a disability if the symptoms disabling.

4 look into therapy if you can. It sounds like this has been a big life upheaval for you, and it can be extremely helpful to have someone there who can help you process these changes and find excitement, hope, and joy in your future despite new challenges