02/09/2022
Hi everyone! π For those who don't know me already, I'm Amanda, and I started Niche Space in early 2020. I'm back online after an- unplanned but necessary - break from socials.
Niche has still been ticking along with our beautiful community of members and some lovely newbies. A special thank you to the wonderful for holding the fort while we went overseas in July; the best medicine for our family after a particularly rough period.
I have endlessly debated whether to share the below. I know plenty of people who have MUCH worse things going on and know how fortunate I am to have access to the incredible healthcare system here in NSW. But it has had a huge logistical effect on us and, therefore, the business. So here it is, in a few paragraphs.
In August 2021, during the second Sydney lockdown I went to my GP after putting it off for a while. I had some strange symptoms but was convinced it was just pandemic-related stress.
An MRI later, I was diagnosed with a 12mm chiari malformation - a congenital defect where the brain descends into the spinal cord - and referred to a Neurologist and Neurosurgeon.
Following more tests, I was diagnosed with epilepsy alongside the chiari. Since November last year, I have been on antiseizure meds, which leave me feeling... well, pretty blah π
Add to that, losing my driving license as a result of the epilepsy diagnosis and relying on our friends, family and Uber to cart our three kids and me around, and we have been struggling.
It is what it is and it definitely could be worse. But I just wanted to say that I am eternally grateful for everybody's kindness and patience with me and my foggy brain π