Why can't I do things I used to

Has anyone else had to

Submitted by just_joe on Sat, 2017-12-23 - 13:05

Has anyone else had to experience a complete lifestyle change from how they were before ? <<<You might want to rephrase that As Who hasn't had to change their lifestyle.... Would you be making changes if instead of epilepsy you were diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes?And been diagnosed this late on for no apparent reason?   <<< Epilepsy does not discriminate. ANYBODY at any age be they rich or poor young or old any race can het epilepsy. I made changes but I didn't let my epilepsy determine my fate. I controlled it. DId I lose friends? YES but the friends I lost weren't friends that really knew me or wanted to know me better. Some of those that walked away came back and learned more and by doing that they became friends that still talk to me today 50 years later.I used to party all week every week throughout university and drank a lot  <<<< well back in my old days I did a lot of partying. I was with friends and we closed down some bars and lots of clubs. My drinking was very limited. When we got at times the party continued. I did make sure I rested well the next day (slept for hours) so the party could start again. All  that being said I still had a seizure now and then. Lack of sleep is a biggie for some as if drinking. I have had many neurologists tell me this or that. Their assistants always tell me NO ALCOHOL. But each neurologist has their opinion. Most of mine limit the drinking to ONE beer every few hours and stopping after the 3rd. Others say ONE beer. Limit the drinks to one every 4 hours. So when I went out the bartenders knew I limited my drinking and they stayed with my limits. If someone bought me a drink they made it a Shirley Temple. A non alcoholic. If they bought a beer it too was non alcoholic. Most of the people in the clubs or bars never knew I limited my drinking. So by limiting my drinking I had a blast at many different places with friends. If you are out with a group of people someone needs to not drink so the bartenders know what they can fix for the person that will be driving home. As for lack of sleep.... When I was younger like 13 I had a paper route and the papers were delivered to me at 4:30 in the morning. I had to fold them and then deliver them. Which means I was awake about 4am and had the papers delivered by 7;30 in order to catch the bus to school. I had things that HAD to be DONE so it took time before I was ever in the house so I could study. We ate and I watches a couple of shows on TV but needed to finish my homework. Meaning I went to bed about 11-12. I was back up at 4am.SO learn your limits and stay within them. Oh and there are many other triggers that are not listed. I have seizures today but they are seconds long. I can have one while in a group of people and they don't know I had it. The way I got the control I have today is always asking the neurologists questions. Questions about medications. procedures and other things that can help me control the number of seizures I was having. I kept track of the number of seizures and the kind I was having along with the time to get back to normal.  I knew years ago that I would never completely seizure free. But by always talking and questioning my seizures are a few seconds long rather then the minutes they once were.You can change your lifestyle and still be yourself and go about what you used to do. Been there Did that. I control my epilepsy. If I control my epilepsy you can control your. In order to do that you need to accept it and move on with the rest of your life.I hope this helps and you get seizure free as many people haveJoe