ALRIGHTY! So a ton has happened since the last time I posted and I have an open bit of time so I am going to properly catch everyone up on all my comings and goings.
As you may be able to tell by the fact that I am posting at all, I am not in South Africa with the rest of SA25 right now. After finding the blood clot in my leg and alerting Peace Corps to the fact that I was going to have to continue treatment via medication after my first "check up" scan, they gave me a few weeks to have it cleared and then when it wasn't, they took me out of the training group. I totally understand this decision on their part seeing as a clot (DVT) can lead to some pretty serious medical repercussions and that getting weekly blood tests would not be possible while in the field. It was a really hard day when I woke up to the email from my nurse letting me know that I was being removed, but I tried to stay positive about it and the people in my training group (whom I connected with through facebook) were all really supportive.
So fast forward to a few weeks ago, I went to see a specialist who said he was going to take me off medication to perform the proper tests to see if I am genetically predisposed to clots or if this was just a weird mixture of birth control and a long train ride. If it was genetic I would be done with my Peace Corps journey since the medication that would be required to treat me FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE is on the "no go" list. If it was just a combination of my settings then I could come off medication and be good to go. :)
Turns out I am NOT genetically predisposed!!!! I flipped out, because other than having to wear old person compression socks for the next year and a half, I can be off medication and I have no life restrictions. Shortly after faxing the results to PC medical I was put back into active consideration (I had been on medical hold so long they took me out of the process completely) and cleared once again for Placement!
So that gets us back to right now. I am waiting to hear from Placement at all since I have no idea if I have to re-interview or if they are just going to send me another assignment. I have decided that I will be calling the offices on Monday to figure out what is going on to some degree since I haven't heard anything from them. I'm crossing my fingers to be out of here in the next four months but knowing PC there is going to be some sort of monkey wrench that will keep me here longer. At the end of the day I'm giving them till November 1st to get me out of the country. At that point I will have been in the application process just shy of 2yrs, and as much as I am dedicated to being a volunteer, I will not keep my life in limbo forever.
Much love to everyone, as usual comments are appreciated, and I will try and be more consistent with posting!
~Claire
As you may be able to tell by the fact that I am posting at all, I am not in South Africa with the rest of SA25 right now. After finding the blood clot in my leg and alerting Peace Corps to the fact that I was going to have to continue treatment via medication after my first "check up" scan, they gave me a few weeks to have it cleared and then when it wasn't, they took me out of the training group. I totally understand this decision on their part seeing as a clot (DVT) can lead to some pretty serious medical repercussions and that getting weekly blood tests would not be possible while in the field. It was a really hard day when I woke up to the email from my nurse letting me know that I was being removed, but I tried to stay positive about it and the people in my training group (whom I connected with through facebook) were all really supportive.
So fast forward to a few weeks ago, I went to see a specialist who said he was going to take me off medication to perform the proper tests to see if I am genetically predisposed to clots or if this was just a weird mixture of birth control and a long train ride. If it was genetic I would be done with my Peace Corps journey since the medication that would be required to treat me FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE is on the "no go" list. If it was just a combination of my settings then I could come off medication and be good to go. :)
Turns out I am NOT genetically predisposed!!!! I flipped out, because other than having to wear old person compression socks for the next year and a half, I can be off medication and I have no life restrictions. Shortly after faxing the results to PC medical I was put back into active consideration (I had been on medical hold so long they took me out of the process completely) and cleared once again for Placement!
So that gets us back to right now. I am waiting to hear from Placement at all since I have no idea if I have to re-interview or if they are just going to send me another assignment. I have decided that I will be calling the offices on Monday to figure out what is going on to some degree since I haven't heard anything from them. I'm crossing my fingers to be out of here in the next four months but knowing PC there is going to be some sort of monkey wrench that will keep me here longer. At the end of the day I'm giving them till November 1st to get me out of the country. At that point I will have been in the application process just shy of 2yrs, and as much as I am dedicated to being a volunteer, I will not keep my life in limbo forever.
Much love to everyone, as usual comments are appreciated, and I will try and be more consistent with posting!
~Claire
I really hope everything works out for you and that you get put into a country/position that is perfect for you! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelley! :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I can't believe everything you've had to go through! I was checking your blog from time to time and I was wondering if you'd made it to SA after all. I'm so sorry to hear that you got pulled out of your training group, but you have a remarkably positive outlook on things, and it seems like you have a pretty good plan. I hope they can place you somewhere soon so you can, as you said, get on with your life and stop being in limbo. I'm shipping out for Madagascar on Feb 28th and pretty much freaking out about it. If you end up in SA or anywhere on the east coast, and decide that you want to visit Madagascar on vacation, let me know! I'll be there until May 2014. Good luck with everything!!!
ReplyDelete