LiveForTheTones
Forum Crew Member
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I'm not sure if this is the right thread to ask this, but here goes:
About two months ago, I got a pretty severe headache. It felt like my brain was swelling and my skull was too small. I went to the ER by day three of nonstop pain and was given Dilaudid, which got rid of the pain, but not the pressure. I went to a chiropractor thinking it was structural, but the adjustments got rid of the pressure, but not the pain. I finally went to my primary doctor and was given migraine meds to no avail. I went through CT scans of my neck, sinuses, and brain, MRIs and MRAs with and without contrast on my brain, and everything came back normal. No aneurysms, meningitis, or encephalitis. When my primary doctor was left scratching his head, he referred me out to a neurologist. By this point, I had lost my vision. After a quick exam, the neuro advised I get to a hospital ASAP and get a lumber puncture.
I blew the gauge because my CSF pressure was so high. I saw a neuro-ophthalmologist and was told my vision was at 200/300 and my optic nerves were off the charts swollen. I was then told to head down to a different hospital for neurosurgery where I had a VP shunt installed in my brain. My condition was pseudo tumor cerebri, a form of intracranial hypertension.
My central vision is back to 20/25, but I have little to no peripheral vision. Because the optic nerves were damaged, my vision may never return to normal. And this isn't something that corrective lenses can help because it's not a "reflective issue," as the ophthalmologist says.
I was studying for my EMT license when this happened. My surgery was a little over a month ago and I'm just now getting to the point where I think I can try driving again, but I don't go long distances. I definitely can't drive at night.
My father, who worked in the EMS field for 30+ years, pretty much says that my dreams are dashed. That I can pretty much kiss EMS and fire rescue good bye. But he never wanted me to follow this career choice in the first place. Not wanting his "baby girl" to see all the horrors he'd seen and all that.
But an EMT friend says having no peripheral shouldn't affect my becoming an EMT/Paramedic. She recently had eye trauma and has no peripheral out of one of her eyes. But that's one eye. Both of my eyes are affected as far as peripheral goes. Some days are better than others.
My question to you guys is this: What do you think my chances of being hired are if I go through with my training?
This job is my dream, and I'm still studying and drilling myself every day for my license. I want to become a paramedic as well. But no one will ever hire me, why waste the money on that training when I should regroup and focus my attention elsewhere, you know? I'm asking here because you all are mostly in the field, and have been for a while. I would appreciate feedback if you can give it.
About two months ago, I got a pretty severe headache. It felt like my brain was swelling and my skull was too small. I went to the ER by day three of nonstop pain and was given Dilaudid, which got rid of the pain, but not the pressure. I went to a chiropractor thinking it was structural, but the adjustments got rid of the pressure, but not the pain. I finally went to my primary doctor and was given migraine meds to no avail. I went through CT scans of my neck, sinuses, and brain, MRIs and MRAs with and without contrast on my brain, and everything came back normal. No aneurysms, meningitis, or encephalitis. When my primary doctor was left scratching his head, he referred me out to a neurologist. By this point, I had lost my vision. After a quick exam, the neuro advised I get to a hospital ASAP and get a lumber puncture.
I blew the gauge because my CSF pressure was so high. I saw a neuro-ophthalmologist and was told my vision was at 200/300 and my optic nerves were off the charts swollen. I was then told to head down to a different hospital for neurosurgery where I had a VP shunt installed in my brain. My condition was pseudo tumor cerebri, a form of intracranial hypertension.
My central vision is back to 20/25, but I have little to no peripheral vision. Because the optic nerves were damaged, my vision may never return to normal. And this isn't something that corrective lenses can help because it's not a "reflective issue," as the ophthalmologist says.
I was studying for my EMT license when this happened. My surgery was a little over a month ago and I'm just now getting to the point where I think I can try driving again, but I don't go long distances. I definitely can't drive at night.
My father, who worked in the EMS field for 30+ years, pretty much says that my dreams are dashed. That I can pretty much kiss EMS and fire rescue good bye. But he never wanted me to follow this career choice in the first place. Not wanting his "baby girl" to see all the horrors he'd seen and all that.
But an EMT friend says having no peripheral shouldn't affect my becoming an EMT/Paramedic. She recently had eye trauma and has no peripheral out of one of her eyes. But that's one eye. Both of my eyes are affected as far as peripheral goes. Some days are better than others.
My question to you guys is this: What do you think my chances of being hired are if I go through with my training?
This job is my dream, and I'm still studying and drilling myself every day for my license. I want to become a paramedic as well. But no one will ever hire me, why waste the money on that training when I should regroup and focus my attention elsewhere, you know? I'm asking here because you all are mostly in the field, and have been for a while. I would appreciate feedback if you can give it.
