Somone to talk to

Re: Somone to talk to

Submitted by mereloaded on Thu, 2013-10-24 - 19:01

Your fears are all understandable, don't worry, you are not alone. Why did you feel mad at the doctor? Because there is undue stigma associated with epilepsy. There s nothing to be ashamed of. Epilepsy can happen to anyone, at any age and luckily there are currently more treatment options than decades past. Do you know that epilepsy is far more common than cancer? Yet, there is no awareness, no public education, everyone is still afraid. I will tell you what my so s neurologist told me when I asked her this': "what now, should I just wait for the next seizure to come?" And she said, no, you carry on as normal, you live your life and do what you want to do. She also said that with proper medication and some lifestyle changes, you can pretty much resume your life and keep on going. Having epilepsy is not a death sentence. The neuro also told me that she did not like telling people what they should not do. I found that comforting, knowing that life goes on. There are people with epilepsy that go to work everyday, drive, go to college. Many of the users here will share their own experiences. Yes, this is scary and is all new, but I can tell you that once you learn your body, your triggers, your reactions, you will be able to know what you should avoid. For my son and most people with seizure disorders the main trigger is sleep deprivation. A consistent sleep pattern and getting at least 8 hours of sleep is crucial. Going to bed at the same time everyday is a good idea, and waking up gently in the morning also helps. DHA fish oil pills are clinically proven to help achieve longer periods between seizures. Stress is also a trigger for most, so if you are getting stressed and paranoid about having a seizures you are not doing yourself any favors. My sons neuro, a prominent one, did not think much about caffeine being a factor, of course if you are doing 5 bottles of red bull and a pot of coffee and diet pills it wo t be a good Idea, but a cup or two a day is not reason to be all upset. Of course, everyone reacts differently to certain things, so know your body. Recall what you did or not do on the day you had a seizure. Too much exercise? Drinking? Partying? Best wishes

Re: Someone to talk to

Submitted by vivaciousgemini22 on Tue, 2013-10-29 - 12:55

Your fears are very understandable. I can just imagine what you are going through being someone who has been newly diagnosed. I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I was two years old. I lived with this for twenty years. So I am pretty used to my medical condition. It will definitely get better as time go on. Epilepsy is something that you should not be shameful of. Let it be something that makes you stronger. Your life doesn't stop after you hear the words, "You have Epilepsy". Carry on with your daily life doing what you were doing before you were diagnosed. The only thing is that you have to make sacrifices in order to keep your seizures under control. I encourage you to educate yourself on Epilepsy and share your knowledge with others.

Some triggers of Epilepsy are sleep deprivation, flashing lights, and emotional stress. People with Epilepsy can do anything that they want, drive, get a degree, go to parties, anything. You will be just fine. I know it.

I hate how there is a lack of knowledge about Epilepsy. If others knew about Epilepsy they wouldn't get so scared of people with Epilepsy having a seizure. It bothers me every time I let someone know that I have it, they look at me in a shocking or disgusting way. Next month is National Epilepsy Awareness Month and you are as much of a part of the Epilepsy community as any us. Everyone will be happy to help you cope with Epilepsy.