My friend :(

[Crystal11]

This morning I woke up to (my guide & seizure response dog) Umbro, sitting up against my bed- he moved several times- he was listening to something. I got up to see what he was and I found my friend Rachel having a grand mal in the kitchen. I ran to get my hearing aids and I came back to find lots and lots of blood under her head. I moved her away from the dishwasher and the cabbinet as fast as I could after she stopped moving. She was heavy! I thought it would be a lot better for her to wake up on the floor in a open space and not against everything. So I waited and told her everything is okay. When she was more awake, I asked her to open her mouth and let me see if anything was injured- I didnt see anything but a busted lip. She was postictal and sort in panic afterwards- probably because she knows something had happened or she doesn't feel well.
I got her to sit up and walk to her bedroom to rest. My sister woke up and found out that she had knocked out a tooth near her front teeth. She became upset (obviously) and called her Mom.
I feel really bad for her. Last night we all went to an Epilepsy Support Group meeting and she forgot to take her evening meds. So I gave her two of my Keppra (regular) which are faster acting than Keppra XR we both take. We both also take Lamictal but because I'm not on the higher dose, I could not give her what I had. She is taking 500mg while I'm still at 50mg. Anyways, I gave the meds to her and it still didn't help aparently. The Lamictal is vital to her staying seizure free or at least keeping her GMs away. She still has atonics and a few absences here and there.
I feel bad for her- as if she needs anything else going on right now. She just recovered from busting in her two front teeth- but those healed and were not totally broken off or anything. Back to soft foods.

She told me last night, that she wasn't feeling too well and that she felt strange. Knowing that most people don't have auras before grand mal's- I just thought that her body was not happy with the lack of meds. I wish I was up earlier this morning to help her- I would have been able to catch her since she always has an tonic-cry before she goes fully into her seizure.

I worry about her going to work- she works every other day but takes the bus there and back. She is alone during work but others at work have started to notice her Atonics and Absences- but are willing to support her if needed. I am proud of her for being independent and working and staying strong.

I wish me friend the best of luck and hope she feels better soon. She is at the emergency dentist now to see if they can do anything with the tooth that remains. We could not find the other part of it- so we think she might of swallowed it.
My friend...


Everyone take care, be safe.
Crystal and her guide, Umbro.

[Nakamova]

I hope you both feel better soon Crystal. That post-ictal feeling is lousy, and it's hard to see someone having to pick up the pieces. Your friend was lucky to have you there, especially because you can understand and empathize with what she's going through.

[Rae1889]

Oh No! I hope she is doing better. that sucks so much. She didnt injure anything else did she?

aw give her a big hug from me. If she's back to soft foods, tell her to the fruity baby food instead of apple sauce. When I had teeth pulled they told me that the organic baby food was better ot eat *and tastes good* than apple sauce as it has alot of nutrients and vitamins instead of alot of sugar in apple sauce. If she han handle the veggies and stuff, she could try that. I could wrap my head around mushy meat, so I never tried that *it was also good when I chewed my tongue realy bad and ate througha straw for a while*

[Crystal11]

The day before, she had an atonic where she hurt her knee- but usually it doesn't bother her too much the rest of the day. She also hit her head a few days ago during an Atonic and it was a little skinned and sore- but so far the only other thing is her being sore from it. Her GMs are not violent or extremly harsh on her- so normally after a few hours she is feeling well enough to walk around, visit and eat etc.
She has always been there to protect me during my complex partial seizures when I walk around. I don't always do that- but when I do, you never know what can happen. So I know her fear of "what might happen?" "Will she get hurt?" "Can I help enough?"
I also have Atonic seizures if I skip meds and its very frightening to realise you can fall at any time without warning.
My Twin sister Danielle also has complex partial seizures and her are much shorter- so we all three look out for eachother a lot.

We talked in support group yesterday about having a support system, or people that can be there to help out. Most people there don't have anyone else in their family that has Epilepsy and sometimes their family members aren't always around.

Anyways- she is at the dentist and it will only cost $95 from what I hear- to put a cap or a fake tooth over the part that remains. I am happy about that- because I thought it would be a lot more than that.

I'm going to have an MRI today so I wont be home later- but my Sis will be home and they both can visit and Rachel can rest and be safe inside. She goes to work tomorrow and I worry about her- I cannot go to work with her obviously but I wish my guide dog who also does seizure work would work for her! LOL
He has, for the last 4 GMs, has either been around or woken me up acting strange. My little boy... (lol)

I will give her a hug when she comes home- from all of the people here who wrote back. She will appreciate it a lot ya'll.
Thanks,

Crystal

[Meetz1064]

give her ((((HUGS)))) for me. That sucks a hill o'beans. I'm so sorry that she's hurt herself like that.....

Gentle hugs,

Meetz

[BuckeyeFan]

Continue to support each other like you always seem to do so well. Let her know we will be waiting to see her smile again when she is ready.

[dfwtexas]

So sorry your friend had that happen. Keep us updated on how she is doing. I know this must be very upsetting to you too.

[Crystal11]

Rachel is feeling better. She is upset though. She is at work now- and I still worry about her. I forced her to wear her medical ID which she bought a year or so ago. She doesn't wear it like she should and while she is at work at least, she should be wearing it. Not everyone knows what's going on. During her GMs they can tell- but during other types, they may not.

The dentist was real nice and actually had to pull her tooth down back into place- they put bonding on it and a cast type material on it to keep both teeth in place. She feels better and is taking antibiotic now to keep infection down.
Her bottom lip is busted but she is able to eat carefully.

She thinks that one of her meds isn't working as well- Lamictal. So we are working on getting a neurologist here for her and getting other services set up soon.

I told her that everyone on this post has given her a hug. She smiled.

Thank you everyone,
Crystal