Question

[GrlCalledLauren]

This may be a stupid question, and i'm sorry if it is; but i'm not sure who to ask. I was meeting with my friend who also has epilepsy and we were discussing how I was still on the waiting list to see the neurologist. It's already been medically established that i've been having seizures; but they keep putting me in a waiting. I've been to a the university hospital emergency room for seizures as directed by a doctor but all they did was pump me full of painkillers (which made things worse), give me an MRI, and announce that I wasn't dying so I was free to go. They said: 'wait for the government to approve you so you can see neurologist. (I'm awaiting VCC, and medicaid for life approval).

My question was my friend said that I shouldn't keep waiting, and should go to a regular emergency room instead of a teaching one; because my seizures have been getting worse and lasting longer than before. But i'm afraid they'll just write me off again..I'm also worried because I was researching un-controlled seizures and it says that if I wait much longer worse complications could happen?

I'm probably freaking out over nothing; I just wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. Should I keep waiting and having the seizures or should I try going to a community ER instead of a teaching ER.

Sorry again if this was a stupid question, i'm just confused and I don't know who to ask...and i'm worried; because like I said my seizures are becoming more severe each time.

[epileric]

If I were you & wasn't sure the logic I use is that I'd rather go & find out I shouldn't have gone rather than not go & find out that I should have.

You also might get better attention if teaching is not a concern of the people looking after you.

[GrlCalledLauren]

So you think I should go? Like it's a worry; because I don't have insurance and i'm waiting for VCC to approve me- and the first time I went the teaching hospital just pumped me full of painkillers and gave me panic pills which I had to stop taking because they lowered my threshold even more. I'm just worried because the seizures are getting worse- but I don't want the ER to treat me like i'm mental (which is what the teaching hospital did).

[epileric]

I'm sorry, I don't live in the US so I'm not familiar with how your insurance works or even what VCC is (up here it's the Vancouver Community College). I can only speak in terms of what I think is best for your seizures.

[GrlCalledLauren]

It's alright, VCC stands for Virginia Coordinated Care, it's basically a program for people without insurance, who show a strong financial need that are unable to cover their medical costs. And thanks for the reply, I just wasn't sure who to ask

[epileric]

Well I know there are a lot of people here on CWE who understand the American system better than I do.

[momof3boys]

well, If I were in your shoes, I would probably be going to the community ER. Im in Nebraska, and here we have hospitals that have Financial Assistance. I have insurance through my husband's work, but whatever is our liability, Ive been able to apply for Financial assistance and they have covered each ER visit 100%. We have a $100 ER co-pay, and all that was covered. The only thing Ive had the pay was a few bucks to the Nebraska Heart Institute, who read a heart test that I had when I went to the ER because I has having chest pain that turned out to be diangnosted as GERD. If anything, you can call your local hospital billing department and ask if they have financial assistance.

[GrlCalledLauren]

I know they have financial assistance (the local community er gave me free stitches when I got my hand caught in a blender..long story haha) I'm just worried they'll treat me like the teaching hospital did. I'm worried about my seizures getting worse; but at the same time if the er treats me like the teaching hospital did what's the point? Thank you for replying though

[Nakamova]

I agree -- better to get your seizures diagnosed and controlled than keep waiting. It's your health, and there's nothing to lose at this point by being proactive at getting proper care. Go to the regular ER and give it a shot. If you are unable to afford tests or medication, the hospital may be able to direct you to programs that will help. This thread may provide some options as well: When You Can't Afford Medication

You may also find help through the 211 program: http://www.211virginia.org/211provid...er/index211.do

[momof3boys]

Ive never been to a teaching hospital, so I cant compare the two. But I do know that if you go into the ER at a community hospital with active seizures occuring, they will run some tests, probably a EEG, or maybe even do an MRI? Depends on the ER dr you get. But Ive gone into the ER before with having seizures, and depending on how severe they were, they have done EEG's and Ive even been kept over night for observation.

[GrlCalledLauren]

Do you think I should wait until I have another seizure or just go in and explain that i've been having frequent seizures that have been getting worse? They did an MRI and found nothing wrong, and they like doing EKG's on me- but I take adderall and i'm an athlete so my heart beats faster than normal already. Thank you again for all of the replies! I'll talk to my parents about it in the morning. I'm 19 so it's not really up to them; but I figured I should let them in on what's happening. I know that when I see the neurologist he's supposed to start me on anti-epileptic drug's but right now they still have me on the waiting list and the seizures have been getting worse.

[Nakamova]

If your seizures have been increasing in frequency, kind, or duration, then I say don't wait, go to the ER. The ER folks can always tell you to come back later or they may direct you to a clinic that can help. You might as well see what they say.

Do you keep a seizure diary? If so, bring that information and any other relevant medical history with you.

[GrlCalledLauren]

I don't keep a diary just for seizures, but I do write down what happens and what people tell me happens during my seizures in my regular diary. So I have all of that information down. Thank you for the advice, like y'all don't know how much this helps.