I hit a spork in the road recently. I had reconstructive surgery on my chest in 2007. It's been a roller coaster from the day they put the bars in. Despite all the problems I had post surgery I pushed on.
I'm a firefighter/EMT-B and work for a private ambulance company. MedCorp isn't the best place to work for but it's not the worst either. I went through the academy and EMT class with the bar in my chest and worked through the pain. I
They had to take the bar out a few weeks ago because I've been having more and more pain with the bar in. It came out June 25th and I've been in pain every day since. I also had some previous problems come back. The problem that started this whole thing. Vasodepressor Syncope. Basically my blood vessels will dilate and my heart rate slows down. The blood leaves my brain which in turn causes my brain to make my body drop like a brick so the blood comes back.
Now the spork in the road. No, not a fork in the road. This is a spork. If in fact my syncope is back it means I can't go through paramedic training or become a full time firefighter/paramedic. I might not even be able to handle volunteering in a fire station. I was prepared for this and have a plan B. I have a different major lined up if the tests come back positive for syncope.
I've worked so hard to become a firefighter and an EMT. The thought of giving it up like that feels like a kick between the legs. I can't bring myself to accept "plan b" because I'm so focused on the fire service. It's been my dream since I was little. Even though I know with time I'll be happy with my second major it will always be in the back of my head and will surface when I see a squad or an engine go by.
I don't know how else to deal with it and convince myself to open up to the idea of giving up a full time job in the fire service. If I can at least volunteer then I'll be happy because my training didn't go to waste. If I can't then I don't know how else to cope with this.
I'm a firefighter/EMT-B and work for a private ambulance company. MedCorp isn't the best place to work for but it's not the worst either. I went through the academy and EMT class with the bar in my chest and worked through the pain. I
They had to take the bar out a few weeks ago because I've been having more and more pain with the bar in. It came out June 25th and I've been in pain every day since. I also had some previous problems come back. The problem that started this whole thing. Vasodepressor Syncope. Basically my blood vessels will dilate and my heart rate slows down. The blood leaves my brain which in turn causes my brain to make my body drop like a brick so the blood comes back.
Now the spork in the road. No, not a fork in the road. This is a spork. If in fact my syncope is back it means I can't go through paramedic training or become a full time firefighter/paramedic. I might not even be able to handle volunteering in a fire station. I was prepared for this and have a plan B. I have a different major lined up if the tests come back positive for syncope.
I've worked so hard to become a firefighter and an EMT. The thought of giving it up like that feels like a kick between the legs. I can't bring myself to accept "plan b" because I'm so focused on the fire service. It's been my dream since I was little. Even though I know with time I'll be happy with my second major it will always be in the back of my head and will surface when I see a squad or an engine go by.
I don't know how else to deal with it and convince myself to open up to the idea of giving up a full time job in the fire service. If I can at least volunteer then I'll be happy because my training didn't go to waste. If I can't then I don't know how else to cope with this.
