kgknight |
Last Activity: 09-16-2008 12:18 PM
About Me
- About kgknight
- Seizure Background
- I've had Partial complex seizures since birth in 1956. Growing up back then no one knew what epilepsy was and it was tough. Some people thought it was contagious. Some mistook it for mental retardation, and a whole bit of misunderstandings were experienced. The kids in the neighborhood didn't play with me so I took upon myself things to do which didn't need a second person. Drawing, sketching, gardening, and being as creative as I can be. Love cats and have always had two to keep me company, and I was the first in the family to have it. What we found out is every male in the family gives birth to an epileptic. Dad had 6 children and I was the one to have it. My brother has three kids and his son Robert has the same condition. My brother Ronald has two daughters and his oldest has it. Seems like its hereditary.
Through growing up Schools and teachers didn't understand so I was shifted from one school to another, being shifted through 9 schools along the course of the way. In NYC more than 12 hospitals had worked with me, and then Emory Univ Hosp in GA, then another in IN, and this one University of Nebraska Medical Center which has Epileptologists instead of Neurologists. What a difference the Epileptologist makes. Because of the condition finding work was hard, so all I could do was find Temp jobs between 1973-1986 96 temp jobs through 29 temp agencies. In 1986 I had 4 back to back seizures at work and wound up in the hospital not knowing how I got there. They did MRI, EEG, EKG, CAT Scans, and more. Dr said "Do Not Go Back to Work" They said it was the Pressure, stress and tension that triggered such a massive seizure. From that day until now, my seizures have declined greatly and I'll remember what my Dr said. Avoid stressful situations, boredom and depression. Keep your mind occupied. Seizures had dropped from several per week to one per every 7 weeks. I've tried all meds but the combination of Keppra, and Trileptal does the good work for me. 1500 mgs of Keppra twice daily and 600mgs of Trileptal twice daily. I've been in support groups in NYC and have heard terrible things about the way others have been treated. So I feel a little better knowing this is more than just me that its bothering. - Treatments
- Keppra 1500 mgs twice daily / Trileptal 600 mgs twice daily / Stay calm, and collected
- Location
- Omaha, NE for now. Will be moving to Oahu Hawaii in Sept
- Interests
- Gardening, Landscaping, Animals, especially Cats, Reading, Writing, Bible Study, and being creative.