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how epilepsy saved my life .

Thu, 11/21/2013 - 01:21

I read so much negative with peoples with epilepsy , I like to share how epilepsy has changed my life for the better , my first seizure , I broke the stove in our leaving quater , which got me fired , my first official epileptic seizure happen in the middle of a rose garden , there was not a part of me that was not bleeding , I still remember the former soldier from the French Foreign Legion who pick me up ..... in these days I was 17 , as Chef apprentice I was working 16 hours a day , my first day off was 7 month later..... among those I did several shift or 40 hours , we proud ourselves in making everything , it was a high end hotel . that was 46 years ago.

My family physician at the time gave me this simple advice , stay away from alcohol or by 30 you will be dead , eat fatty food it should help you , when you finish and graduate look for places with almost normal hours , and I basically spend the rest of my life working only 12 to 14 hours , I achieved the absolute best in my industry in manny Countries , taking my medication and still do, like a ritual.

By keeping alcohol away , I was able to avoid the countless other related diseases we had in the profession , all deadly , I do not believe I have more than a handfull of my friends alive in a class of 450 , I kept a clean diet they did not , all went due to alcohol , smoking , drug and or accident caused by the above . I do not exercise yet my heart rate is as good as a 20 years old , so is my blood pressure .70/120

Epilepsy does not need to be always a dead end , did I have seizure , you bet and we all know it is not pretty , I have practice manny of acitities forbiden , most of the time alone , mountain climbing , deep sea diving , Deep sea swimer 10K , flew and yes even pass all the FAA test for private pilot , I simply did not have the money to pay for the flight hours .... and countless other activities . I do not miss disco , dance club and the like , I slept while they simply commited suicide thinking their body was impervious to anything . However when I was overworked I relaxed . One has simply to acknoledge their limitations . Follow Your MD advice do not try to regulate your own medication , Hey and yes that meant from time to time I do not drive , hell of a saving . 

I am no longer working in the hotel and restaurants , as my wife of 28 years said it was too demanding , well my last real vacation was 10 years ago , working 2 jobs .  

Not a single case of epilepsy is the same , MD are the very first one by putting a blanket statement on it , pushing pills right and left , without much knowledge of their effect {they are going to hate me for saying this} as far as SUDEP , none ever told me in 46 years and I am like many epileptic still going .

I like to talk about my brain surgery later .  

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Re: how epilepsy saved my life .

Submitted by mereloaded on Thu, 2013-11-21 - 07:48
I love your story, it is very inspiring! Please do tell about your surgery. Sometimes people get scarred hearing about the horror stories, but not everyones experience is the same. Thank you for sharing! It is so nice to hear that yes, it is possible to live a full happy productive life. Thank you so much

Re: how epilepsy saved my life .

Submitted by mkosloske on Thu, 2013-11-21 - 08:35
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. I read so much negativity here too. It's all about what you make of the situation. How you react, and the decisions you make. Yes, epilepsy is a hurdle. But not a death sentence. There are many epileptics out in this world leading normal, productive lives. I hope your story turns things around for someone who is having a hard time coping. Best of luck to you!

Re: how epilepsy saved my life .

Submitted by just_joe on Thu, 2013-11-21 - 16:46

I read your post and commend you. Your age also shows what some of us have done.

Epilepsy is something that we haveto deal with. I have been telling others that they can dream and set goals just like everybody else does. I also tell them they can achieve those goals. They may have to take a few more turns or they may have a bump or two but their dreams can be achieved

I read your post and commend you. Your age also shows what some of us have done.

Epilepsy is something that we haveto deal with. I have been telling others that they can dream and set goals just like everybody else does. I also tell them they can achieve those goals. They may have to take a few more turns or they may have a bump or two but their dreams can be achieved

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