Hello

[Franchise]

Hi, I'm new to this or any epilepsy forum. I'm 34 years old and have a wife and two great step kids. I had periodic to chronic complex partial seizures from the age of 19 to about 30. I have been ok for the last few years but had a big one last Monday. This is the first one my wife witnessed and I ended up in the ER. She was terrified and I wasn't aware enough to tell her I would be ok.

[Nakamova]

Hey Franchise, welcome to CWE!

I'm sorry you had a "relapse". Do you have any idea what might have triggered it?

[Franchise]

I do. I had bronchitis for about three weeks prior and was still pretty sick. I was at my father's house to go to a funeral for my step mother's mom. The church had brought food to their house and we were there to eat and meet some family before the funeral. I had just gotten there and had my wife and kids go inside first while I was on the phone with a friend. I was still in the car in the drive. I got off the phone and had a coughing fit and had a great syncopic episode. I became aware a couple of minutes later and was lying in the car very confused. I walked ( stumbled ) in and it was clear to my family what had happened as I was very pale and sweating badly. I took me longer to recover, close to 2 hours, than ever. The ER doc said syncope after coughing isn't uncommon, but with my history and the EEG and EKG and pacemaker recovery, Oh yeah, I have a pacer also, that I had definately had a "solid" seizure. My wife was terrified as she had never seen me have one. Maybe an aura or two in the three years that we've been together but never a full seizure.

[Nakamova]

That's sounds pretty unpleasant. Are you on meds? Did your docs suggest any changes?

[Franchise]

No meds any more. I didn't even talk to the neurologist. I feel fine now.

[skillefer]

Well, I'm glad your feeling better. However, you do need to sit and debrief your wife and kids. I had to do that when my hubby and I were courting and had one in front of him. He handles them pretty well now...but the first one did freak him out a bit. ONce I went over what happened with him and actually explained things and drew up an action plan with him, he was good.

[Franchise]

Yeah, I have told her about it as has my family. As you know, it can be far more alarming to loved ones and people around us. We kind of get used to it after a while and learn to deal with it and go on. Other people really want us to go to a hospital every time. We try to tell them why that can't happen but its hard for them. My brother always has a good time with it. You know, he asks if he can have the money in my wallet and things like that during the seizure. It keeps the mood light.

[RobinN]

Sorry that you had to put your wife through such a learning experience. I know the distress as my daughter has seizures. I am glad that you are well, and I hope it never happens again.

I hope you can share this site with your wife. It has taught me a lot and I have learned that knowledge is power.

Welcome.