Stuart Ross McCallum's Blog - Posts tagged "beyond"
Hello,
I'm pleased you found the time to drop in.
While busy promoting my first book, Beyond my Control, at the same I have been experiencing an overpowering need to start my next.
You are the first to know. My new book is a work of fiction (genre thriller) about a deeply disturbed, tormented writer who is waiting for inspiration to suddenly strike. And wow does it strike!
I am delighted to share my news with the wonderful people here on Goodreads.
Happy reading and writing,
Stuart
http://www.beyondmycontrol.net
I'm pleased you found the time to drop in.
While busy promoting my first book, Beyond my Control, at the same I have been experiencing an overpowering need to start my next.
You are the first to know. My new book is a work of fiction (genre thriller) about a deeply disturbed, tormented writer who is waiting for inspiration to suddenly strike. And wow does it strike!
I am delighted to share my news with the wonderful people here on Goodreads.
Happy reading and writing,
Stuart
http://www.beyondmycontrol.net
Hello,
I would like to share this professional review of my first book titled 'Beyond my Control'.
Stuart McCallum's "Beyond my Control" is the poignant story of the author's life with epilepsy and his fight to create a normal life for himself and his family.
The author had a happy childhood until anorexia nervosa forced him to move to break the cycle that was ruining him. Over the next two years, a far worse affliction began its slow deterioration of his life. He was diagnosed with epilepsy, and the auras he experienced grew in severity.
At first, anticonvulsant medication controlled his seizures. He established his own stained-glass business, married, and had two children. Over the next fifteen years, the seizures worsened, clouding his judgment and causing disruptive and often frightening behavior. Even though he survived an economic recession in Australia, his condition forced him to relinquish his business.
His seizures wracked his body and mind every few days. Wracked by anxiety and insecurity, he agreed to two surgeries to hopefully alleviate his symptoms. The second surgery involved having his brain resectioned. Instead of tearing his family apart, the ordeal they endured brought them closer together. Today the bond among them is stronger than ever.
This is the powerfully written and often harrowing account of Stuart McCallum's battle with epilepsy. The author does not shirk from his irrational and often dangerous behavior, and his style is straightforward and clear. "Beyond my Control" is a compelling story, and should be an inspiration to all who suffer from epilepsy yet hope to break the bonds of this debilitating condition.
By J Wahlborg
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
Best regards, Stuart
I would like to share this professional review of my first book titled 'Beyond my Control'.
Stuart McCallum's "Beyond my Control" is the poignant story of the author's life with epilepsy and his fight to create a normal life for himself and his family.
The author had a happy childhood until anorexia nervosa forced him to move to break the cycle that was ruining him. Over the next two years, a far worse affliction began its slow deterioration of his life. He was diagnosed with epilepsy, and the auras he experienced grew in severity.
At first, anticonvulsant medication controlled his seizures. He established his own stained-glass business, married, and had two children. Over the next fifteen years, the seizures worsened, clouding his judgment and causing disruptive and often frightening behavior. Even though he survived an economic recession in Australia, his condition forced him to relinquish his business.
His seizures wracked his body and mind every few days. Wracked by anxiety and insecurity, he agreed to two surgeries to hopefully alleviate his symptoms. The second surgery involved having his brain resectioned. Instead of tearing his family apart, the ordeal they endured brought them closer together. Today the bond among them is stronger than ever.
This is the powerfully written and often harrowing account of Stuart McCallum's battle with epilepsy. The author does not shirk from his irrational and often dangerous behavior, and his style is straightforward and clear. "Beyond my Control" is a compelling story, and should be an inspiration to all who suffer from epilepsy yet hope to break the bonds of this debilitating condition.
By J Wahlborg
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
Best regards, Stuart
Hi All,
Part of my daily routine/obsession is to check my website, (not to see if it's still there) to see if there are any new entries in my guest book.
Today, there was a message from Australian author, Neill Bartlett wishing me success with: "Beyond my Control". Just two weeks ago I read an article in an Australian newspaper about his book titled: "Sisters of Mercy" which piqued my interest.
It really is a small world! Oh yes, if anyone reading would like to sign my guest book....please do....I will be checking!
Hope you have a fabulous day, Stuart
Part of my daily routine/obsession is to check my website, (not to see if it's still there) to see if there are any new entries in my guest book.
Today, there was a message from Australian author, Neill Bartlett wishing me success with: "Beyond my Control". Just two weeks ago I read an article in an Australian newspaper about his book titled: "Sisters of Mercy" which piqued my interest.
It really is a small world! Oh yes, if anyone reading would like to sign my guest book....please do....I will be checking!
Hope you have a fabulous day, Stuart
Hello Friends,
Epilepsy.com has just released a new medical journal titled: 'Insights and coping strategies' to improve the quality of life for sufferers, and families living with epilepsy.
I was invited to become a member of the editorial board, and as a contributor.The article I submitted has been published in the journal.
Here is the link:
http://tiny.cc/4UptL
Happy reading and writing, Stuart
Epilepsy.com has just released a new medical journal titled: 'Insights and coping strategies' to improve the quality of life for sufferers, and families living with epilepsy.
I was invited to become a member of the editorial board, and as a contributor.The article I submitted has been published in the journal.
Here is the link:
http://tiny.cc/4UptL
Happy reading and writing, Stuart
Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) and the Paranormal
Many unrelated conditions that can affect human beings often go under the microscope of ‘possible’ paranormal experiences. However, none has paranormal researchers ‘buzzing’ more than temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Many sufferers of (TLE) have spoken about their utterly bizarre and compelling paranormal experiences, which has been well documented in medical journals.
Being a sufferer of (TLE) for twenty years, I experienced many paranormal episodes which increased as my condition escalated. At the beginning I had feelings of déjà vu which manifested itself as an aura (simple partial seizure). During an aura I would often return to a village in England set sometime in the 16th Century; the villagers were all joyfully smiling, and some dancing. While experiencing these strange thoughts and illusions, physically, I felt ill with a sick feeling rising up to my chest.
On other occasions I would find myself walking around a crowd of people who I believed I recognized, however, their faces were strangely distorted, and I could hear sinister cackling. As time passed, I encountered a variety of incredibly weird, ultimately bizarre episodes.
As my condition deteriorated, the auras were followed with a (complex partial seizure). At times, the aftermath (postictal state) of these seizures were both deeply disturbing, and frightening experiences. I would enter (postictal psychosis) and lose touch with reality immediately after the seizure passed.
A brief excerpt of one of these events taken from my book titled: Beyond my Control.
One of the early episodes with my menacing postictal state occurred in my stained glass studio. The moment I shouted, "I'm having an aura," our seizure plan was immediately activated, and I was locked inside my studio.
The seizure passed, and I entered my postictal state. In a trance-like condition, I began to aimlessly walk around the showroom, glaring at the display of fragile glass and lighting. After a few minutes I clenched my hand into a fist and randomly lashed out, striking the glass panels. With my fist bleeding, I focused on the doors, kicking them over. As my postictal state was beginning to end, I calmly walked into the manufacturing area and lay down laughing and smiling.
Once I finished laughing, I sat down staring and wondering why my hand was bleeding. I heard Rhonda unlocking the back door. She went straight to the first aid box and attended to my hand. Fortunately my hand wasn't too bad and Rhonda kindly cleaned the cut, and dressed my wound. Feeling ashamed and hesitant, I asked, "What have I done this time?" Rhonda explained the ludicrous rampage, walking around my showroom, breaking glass.....I felt extremely gutted. As always, I had no recollection of the episode once the seizure had passed.
Today, (TLE) is still commonly misdiagnosed, and one of the most misunderstood conditions affecting human beings. Hopefully, by speaking out about (TLE) people will become more knowledgeable about this highly complex condition, and in time sufferers will be quickly and correctly diagnosed.
Many unrelated conditions that can affect human beings often go under the microscope of ‘possible’ paranormal experiences. However, none has paranormal researchers ‘buzzing’ more than temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Many sufferers of (TLE) have spoken about their utterly bizarre and compelling paranormal experiences, which has been well documented in medical journals.
Being a sufferer of (TLE) for twenty years, I experienced many paranormal episodes which increased as my condition escalated. At the beginning I had feelings of déjà vu which manifested itself as an aura (simple partial seizure). During an aura I would often return to a village in England set sometime in the 16th Century; the villagers were all joyfully smiling, and some dancing. While experiencing these strange thoughts and illusions, physically, I felt ill with a sick feeling rising up to my chest.
On other occasions I would find myself walking around a crowd of people who I believed I recognized, however, their faces were strangely distorted, and I could hear sinister cackling. As time passed, I encountered a variety of incredibly weird, ultimately bizarre episodes.
As my condition deteriorated, the auras were followed with a (complex partial seizure). At times, the aftermath (postictal state) of these seizures were both deeply disturbing, and frightening experiences. I would enter (postictal psychosis) and lose touch with reality immediately after the seizure passed.
A brief excerpt of one of these events taken from my book titled: Beyond my Control.
One of the early episodes with my menacing postictal state occurred in my stained glass studio. The moment I shouted, "I'm having an aura," our seizure plan was immediately activated, and I was locked inside my studio.
The seizure passed, and I entered my postictal state. In a trance-like condition, I began to aimlessly walk around the showroom, glaring at the display of fragile glass and lighting. After a few minutes I clenched my hand into a fist and randomly lashed out, striking the glass panels. With my fist bleeding, I focused on the doors, kicking them over. As my postictal state was beginning to end, I calmly walked into the manufacturing area and lay down laughing and smiling.
Once I finished laughing, I sat down staring and wondering why my hand was bleeding. I heard Rhonda unlocking the back door. She went straight to the first aid box and attended to my hand. Fortunately my hand wasn't too bad and Rhonda kindly cleaned the cut, and dressed my wound. Feeling ashamed and hesitant, I asked, "What have I done this time?" Rhonda explained the ludicrous rampage, walking around my showroom, breaking glass.....I felt extremely gutted. As always, I had no recollection of the episode once the seizure had passed.
Today, (TLE) is still commonly misdiagnosed, and one of the most misunderstood conditions affecting human beings. Hopefully, by speaking out about (TLE) people will become more knowledgeable about this highly complex condition, and in time sufferers will be quickly and correctly diagnosed.
Beyond my Control is reaching people. Positive words with positive outcomes, who could ask for more. My blog features the words from a beautiful, warm, caring and selfless lady - Serene Low.
Hi Ross,
The minute I got your book "Beyond My Control" it was truly beyond my own control to put the book down. I was literally glued to your book. Your book tells of confusion, bitterness, humour, life risking decisions, family's care and love for you, especially your wife, Lisa, and made a poignant point to readers that life is still beautiful with epilepsy. Life does not end with epilepsy. Having epilepsy is not a life sentence. There is always hope and we should never give up on our hopes, even if we have braved through countless stormy and turbulent years in our lives. With an unceasing zest to conquer and defeat the invisible enemy within us, we will excel in our lives beautifully and meaningfully.
"Beyond My Control" is definitely a "Must Have" and a "Must Read" book. Ross, thank you so much for sharing your remarkable true story with the world, of your successful triumph over epilepsy. You are a great living testimony of how a remarkably troubled epileptic life has been transformed into a sweet, serene, and beautiful life.
Serene Low, Malaysia
A person with epilepsy and an epilepsy activist
http://epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com
My message: Thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog. Good health and happiness to all of you.
Best regards,
Stuart "Ross"
http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1tjj
Hi Ross,
The minute I got your book "Beyond My Control" it was truly beyond my own control to put the book down. I was literally glued to your book. Your book tells of confusion, bitterness, humour, life risking decisions, family's care and love for you, especially your wife, Lisa, and made a poignant point to readers that life is still beautiful with epilepsy. Life does not end with epilepsy. Having epilepsy is not a life sentence. There is always hope and we should never give up on our hopes, even if we have braved through countless stormy and turbulent years in our lives. With an unceasing zest to conquer and defeat the invisible enemy within us, we will excel in our lives beautifully and meaningfully.
"Beyond My Control" is definitely a "Must Have" and a "Must Read" book. Ross, thank you so much for sharing your remarkable true story with the world, of your successful triumph over epilepsy. You are a great living testimony of how a remarkably troubled epileptic life has been transformed into a sweet, serene, and beautiful life.
Serene Low, Malaysia
A person with epilepsy and an epilepsy activist
http://epilepsylegacy.blogspot.com
My message: Thank you for taking the time to read my latest blog. Good health and happiness to all of you.
Best regards,
Stuart "Ross"
http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1tjj
Hello Friends,
I am delighted to share this highly positive review for: Beyond my Control. Written by the Editor-in-chief, epilepsy.com.
Synopsis: Stuart McCallum wrote this book to tell the story about his life battling epilepsy. It starts on a cold day in October of 2003, in Melbourne, Australia, the day of his brain surgery. But before describing the surgery and its challenging aftermath, the story reverts to his upbringing in the far northeast of England. At age 17, he started to have his seizure auras: déjà vu sensations, nausea, and headaches. In retrospect, since he describes himself as being "dazed," some of these were probably full complex partial seizures. He saw many doctors, obtaining few answers. Some of the answers he did receive were wrong: for example, the one that declared him to be having psychological episodes and in need of placement in a sanitarium for his mental health. He was put on mind-numbing doses of antidepressant medication. His father rescued him, and Stuart returned to his family home in Australia. Once home, he had his first full convulsion and his diagnostic mystery was solved. Stuart had epilepsy.
The rest of the story tells how Stuart struggled to live his life with epilepsy, with many successes, but also with significant problems. He opened a stained glass and building supply shop in Melbourne. He came under the care of leading epilepsy specialists in Melbourne, who began altering his medication regimen with partial success. But all was not easy, for someone who would work on a ladder installing windows, suddenly to awake on the ground. He did well enough that his business prospered and he was able to successfully propose marriage to his wife, Lisa, eventually leading to two beautiful children.
After some years, the character of seizures began to change and Stuart would become abusive or even violent in the aftermath of a seizure. He would recall none of this later and would be profusely apologetic. Then his explosive outbursts also started occurring between seizures. He would throw pieces of returned stained glass at a customer, or speak rudely to those in his shop. In one post-seizure outburst, he stomped about his own store smashing his glass panels. Together with a downturn in the industry, Stuart's weekly seizures and antisocial behaviors led to deterioration of his business. It was clear to Mr. McCallum that his life could not continue on this trajectory.
Stuart's physicians at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne recognized that medications, even the ones that were achieving temporary control, were not going to be long-term answers to Stuart's uncontrolled seizures. They began to consider whether he was a candidate for brain surgery to cure his epilepsy. As extreme as this may sound at first, brain surgery is a standard and relatively safe therapy for epilepsy, provided that medications fail, that the seizures begin in a well-localized region of brain, and that region is safe to be removed. A key step in the surgical evaluation is video-EEG monitoring to record the brain's electrical (EEG) pattern at the start of a seizure. Mr. McCallum describes his video-EEG monitoring experiences in some detail in the book, and also in an article in the medical journal Epilepsy: Insights & Strategies. The many other steps for surgical evaluation were completed, including in his case seizure-tracking electrodes implanted directly into his brain. The findings were that he did seem to be a good candidate to have surgery.
A temporal lobectomy - removal of a piece of brain from the temporal lobe on the side of his brain - was performed in October of 2003. Stuart takes us through confusing hallucinations he had during his hospitalization and his postoperative pain. But he was soon headache- and seizure-free. His sister gave him a Dictaphone to record his recovery progress. It notes his insomnia and a cleaning obsession that came over him during his recovery. He had an insatiable desire to talk and would telephone old friends overseas and regale them with never-ending chatter. He became very focused on John Lennon's music. Few people have these particular reactions after epilepsy surgery, but everybody's reaction is different. Stuart's reaction to surgery and the cessation of his seizures was obsession and mood swings. Over time, these improved and he became himself again, but a Stuart McCallum without seizures.
Commentary: To learn facts about epilepsy and epilepsy treatments, people should read medical sources (like epilepsy.com) and talk to doctors. To learn about epilepsy itself and the effect that it has on people's lives, it is necessary to talk to people with epilepsy or read books written by them. Beyond My Control is a fine example of the latter. Mr. McCallum puts the bewilderment, frustration, fear and anger surrounding having seizures into language that everyone can understand. When he says things like "I felt like a walking time bomb; always thinking, when is it going to explode?" he makes epilepsy real and not an abstract medical disorder. For people with epilepsy and their families, reading the book may help to decrease the sense of isolation brought on by a chronic medical illness. But epilepsy affects many people differently. Some with epilepsy will observe that they do not become violent after a seizure, do not always have an aura to warn of an oncoming seizure, or do not have seizures like the ones described in the book. Some who take the journey through epilepsy surgery sadly will have ongoing seizures or complications of surgery. Therefore, the book is not a compendium of what someone with epilepsy should expect for themselves. It is one person's story, an example of how epilepsy can be faced with courage. The tale is told with sensitivity, humor and honesty. It is a strongly recommended read for people with epilepsy and those who care about them.
Reviewed by Robert S. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Stanford Epilepsy Center
Editor-in-Chief, http://www.epilepsy.com
June 26, 2009
Thank you for taking the time to read this wonderful, in-depth review.
I am delighted to share this highly positive review for: Beyond my Control. Written by the Editor-in-chief, epilepsy.com.
Synopsis: Stuart McCallum wrote this book to tell the story about his life battling epilepsy. It starts on a cold day in October of 2003, in Melbourne, Australia, the day of his brain surgery. But before describing the surgery and its challenging aftermath, the story reverts to his upbringing in the far northeast of England. At age 17, he started to have his seizure auras: déjà vu sensations, nausea, and headaches. In retrospect, since he describes himself as being "dazed," some of these were probably full complex partial seizures. He saw many doctors, obtaining few answers. Some of the answers he did receive were wrong: for example, the one that declared him to be having psychological episodes and in need of placement in a sanitarium for his mental health. He was put on mind-numbing doses of antidepressant medication. His father rescued him, and Stuart returned to his family home in Australia. Once home, he had his first full convulsion and his diagnostic mystery was solved. Stuart had epilepsy.
The rest of the story tells how Stuart struggled to live his life with epilepsy, with many successes, but also with significant problems. He opened a stained glass and building supply shop in Melbourne. He came under the care of leading epilepsy specialists in Melbourne, who began altering his medication regimen with partial success. But all was not easy, for someone who would work on a ladder installing windows, suddenly to awake on the ground. He did well enough that his business prospered and he was able to successfully propose marriage to his wife, Lisa, eventually leading to two beautiful children.
After some years, the character of seizures began to change and Stuart would become abusive or even violent in the aftermath of a seizure. He would recall none of this later and would be profusely apologetic. Then his explosive outbursts also started occurring between seizures. He would throw pieces of returned stained glass at a customer, or speak rudely to those in his shop. In one post-seizure outburst, he stomped about his own store smashing his glass panels. Together with a downturn in the industry, Stuart's weekly seizures and antisocial behaviors led to deterioration of his business. It was clear to Mr. McCallum that his life could not continue on this trajectory.
Stuart's physicians at the Austin Hospital in Melbourne recognized that medications, even the ones that were achieving temporary control, were not going to be long-term answers to Stuart's uncontrolled seizures. They began to consider whether he was a candidate for brain surgery to cure his epilepsy. As extreme as this may sound at first, brain surgery is a standard and relatively safe therapy for epilepsy, provided that medications fail, that the seizures begin in a well-localized region of brain, and that region is safe to be removed. A key step in the surgical evaluation is video-EEG monitoring to record the brain's electrical (EEG) pattern at the start of a seizure. Mr. McCallum describes his video-EEG monitoring experiences in some detail in the book, and also in an article in the medical journal Epilepsy: Insights & Strategies. The many other steps for surgical evaluation were completed, including in his case seizure-tracking electrodes implanted directly into his brain. The findings were that he did seem to be a good candidate to have surgery.
A temporal lobectomy - removal of a piece of brain from the temporal lobe on the side of his brain - was performed in October of 2003. Stuart takes us through confusing hallucinations he had during his hospitalization and his postoperative pain. But he was soon headache- and seizure-free. His sister gave him a Dictaphone to record his recovery progress. It notes his insomnia and a cleaning obsession that came over him during his recovery. He had an insatiable desire to talk and would telephone old friends overseas and regale them with never-ending chatter. He became very focused on John Lennon's music. Few people have these particular reactions after epilepsy surgery, but everybody's reaction is different. Stuart's reaction to surgery and the cessation of his seizures was obsession and mood swings. Over time, these improved and he became himself again, but a Stuart McCallum without seizures.
Commentary: To learn facts about epilepsy and epilepsy treatments, people should read medical sources (like epilepsy.com) and talk to doctors. To learn about epilepsy itself and the effect that it has on people's lives, it is necessary to talk to people with epilepsy or read books written by them. Beyond My Control is a fine example of the latter. Mr. McCallum puts the bewilderment, frustration, fear and anger surrounding having seizures into language that everyone can understand. When he says things like "I felt like a walking time bomb; always thinking, when is it going to explode?" he makes epilepsy real and not an abstract medical disorder. For people with epilepsy and their families, reading the book may help to decrease the sense of isolation brought on by a chronic medical illness. But epilepsy affects many people differently. Some with epilepsy will observe that they do not become violent after a seizure, do not always have an aura to warn of an oncoming seizure, or do not have seizures like the ones described in the book. Some who take the journey through epilepsy surgery sadly will have ongoing seizures or complications of surgery. Therefore, the book is not a compendium of what someone with epilepsy should expect for themselves. It is one person's story, an example of how epilepsy can be faced with courage. The tale is told with sensitivity, humor and honesty. It is a strongly recommended read for people with epilepsy and those who care about them.
Reviewed by Robert S. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Stanford Epilepsy Center
Editor-in-Chief, http://www.epilepsy.com
June 26, 2009
Thank you for taking the time to read this wonderful, in-depth review.
