I Commuted and My Bike's By My Desk!

[Deborajen]

I biked to work again today - first time in two years! Yaay!

Back in October, out of nowhere, I had some seizures so per Kansas Law I couldn't drive for six months. Yesterday, my doctor cleared me to drive again starting next week. I'm both relieved and nervous - it's been a long time.

My coworkers have been great - they've helped me with transportation and have been supportive emotionally as well. Well, today, I get to work (on my bike!!) and there's a little cookie basket with a Matchbox car Volkswagen Beetle and a Beetle keychain with a nice card from my coworkers. What a morning! Now here's the funny twist - I've got my bike parked in front of my desk in an out-of-the-way spot. Two coworkers have already come by to see the cookie/car basket - they point at the bike and laugh! Who brought THAT in?? They think it goes with the cookie basket!!

I couldn't be more giddy right now I'd thought about riding to work ever since the seizures but never could convince myself to do it. There's always a lot to keep in mind - preparing (clothes, lunch, extra hygiene supplies, anything you have to carry), safe/low traffic routes, allowing time for flat tires, etc. But getting it done feels sooooo good! And the ride home - should be around 80 degrees with practically no wind - I can't wait!

But of course, safety is always first. So to everyone else who's commuting, take care - and enjoy the ride!

Deb

[Biciclista]

congrats on your bike commute! may you have many more!

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on commuting to work! If you loved it so much, you will be much more likely to do it in the future. Yippee!!

[indigoiis]

Hooray for you! And it sounds like you have some awesome co-workers!

[cylegoddess]

I know, I know!

[NbyNW]

Congrats on a great commute!

I'm glad you have cookies . . . they'll help you have the energy to get home!

[sgtiger]

Congrats, Debrajen, on your first bike commute back! I'm sure it's the first to many more. Sounds like you have great co-workers, too.

[Geonz]

Yay, Debrajen!@!!

So things have worked out? (My brother had a grand mal seizure - also out of the blue - 'bout two weeks ago... no, *not* the brother who got the dx of Wegener's disease in March...)

Keep on pedalin - now you're free to make your own choices.

[Deborajen]

Yeah, things have worked out o.k. - so far so good.

Is your brother having tests done? Since I had two seizures two days in a row, my doctor went ahead and had me get an EEG which showed "seizure potential," so he put me on meds. They took about a week and a half to get used to. Now they just make me a little drowsy but no more seizures. My neurologist told me about 70% of the time seizures start occurring "unprovoked" (ie., no history of seizures, no previous head trauma, etc.) and they have a good success rate treating with meds as long as they're taken regularly. Seizures are scary and there aren't always firm answers regarding the cause, but at least they can be controlled. I hope things work out well for your brother and he doesn't have to go through any more of them.