Hey. I had a weird medical incident last week, I collapsed at home, and had a sort of seizure. I was down for about an hour, and I am covered in minor injuries.  Mrs. Hippy found me and called an ambulance. I don’t remember any of it. The last thing I remembered was feeling a bit nauseous and sick, the next thing I knew two paramedics were tending to me, and it was over an hour later. 

The paramedics wanted to take me to hospital, but I declined. I declined because I was very disoriented, but also afraid of Covid. It was a silly decision that I now regret. I should have gone to be checked out. Instead, I just limped my way through the bank holiday weekend, and followed up on it today with my GP.

I have video of the incident, thanks to an old security camera from when I used to work nights. There is an hour of me struggling on the floor, I manage to eventually stand, but I then fall again on my face. It’s hard to watch, especially because I don’t remember any of it happening.

It wasn’t a stroke, I don’t think it was a heart attack, but both are still possibilities. My guess is it was some sort of epileptic seizure, presenting late in life. One of my mother’s sisters had epilepsy, so it is in my family.

I spoke to my GP this morning, she thought it was a seizure too. She has referred me to an urgent first seizure clinic, and is sending me for blood tests. I will speak to her again next week. I’m lucky, I have a really good GP, who I trust, and who knows me. Thank fuck for the NHS! My GP says we will figure it out and treat it. She says the video I have may help diagnose what happened. 

I am covered in bruises, and scrapes, and I have lots of muscle strains and pulls. I hurt all over. I’m also shaken up, and more than a bit scared it may happen again. I still don’t feel right. And my heart rate has been elevated since it happened, though it seems to have come down a bit today.  The same day it happened, I received the text invite for the 2nd dose of the vaccine. How that for bad timing? 

While I take it easy, and all of this complex new medical shit is investigated, I am going to have to pause my activities on the Ceasefire Initiative. Next week was expected to be the rescheduled ceasefire4good week, which was postponed once already due to Prince Philip’s passing. While I am feeling somewhat cursed, I am not abandoning the idea, this is just a pause until I know what’s going on with my health. The work will continue, soon I hope. 

I feel like I am letting everyone down, and I am so sorry. I saw a neurologist over a year and a half ago, regarding a different complaint. There is a good chance this incident is related to that issue, and this is a weird escalation of something I though was solved. 

No secrets from you guys. Other than Mrs Hippy, and a very small number of IRL friends I used to work with, I don’t really have many people in my life. Any positive vibes you glorious mofos can send my way, would be hugely appreciated! I don’t really want to die just yet.

And sure, I am over sharing,  but what have I got to lose? Are you a doctor? Does any of this mean anything to you? Any guesses on what happened to me? I’m listening. 

I will post again if there are any developments. 

Doug – the northlondonhippy – 4th May 2021