Hi There

[chris2kids]

Hi I am new to this site and was looking for someone to understand what I am going through. It is helpful to read all the same concerns and issues dealing with E. I saw Mom of three boys and I am a mom so I wanted to know how you deal with E and taking care of your kids? I mean like I did everything..driving(can't do now), grocery(afraid), fun things(hard to) and at times feel like my kids see it or feel it. I have a daughter that is 11 and is great but I can tell that she becomes sad and my four year old is a boy so you understand all that energy. Just need some advice. Don't get me wrong..I am very grateful to have two beautiful healthy children and a wonderful husband but I feel SOOO dependant and I have always been the working independant mom. Hope someone has some good advice.

Thanks, Momof two kids

 

[epileric]

Welcome C2K

I"m sorry I'm not a parent so I can't really don't have any good answers for you.

I know we have a lot of parents here so you should be getting replies pretty soon.

I even gave you your own thread so everyone can give you their input & welcome you to the party.

 

[momof3boys]

Hi I am new to this site and was looking for someone to understand what I am going through. It is helpful to read all the same concerns and issues dealing with E. I saw Mom of three boys and I am a mom so I wanted to know how you deal with E and taking care of your kids? I mean like I did everything..driving(can't do now), grocery(afraid), fun things(hard to) and at times feel like my kids see it or feel it. I have a daughter that is 11 and is great but I can tell that she becomes sad and my four year old is a boy so you understand all that energy. Just need some advice. Don't get me wrong..I am very grateful to have two beautiful healthy children and a wonderful husband but I feel SOOO dependant and I have always been the working independant mom. Hope someone has some good advice.

Thanks, Momof two kids

Hi! :wave: I saw your post and wanted to respond!

Im fortunate enough to still drive. Our two oldest boys, ages 7 and 6 years old, they are in the first grade and second grade, and I take them to school in the mornings. My husband works in the Corrections, and leaves for work at 5:30am, so Im always the one to take the kids to school. Our youngest is almost 5, he will be in Kindergarten next year. He stays home with me. I have alot of family that lives near by. So if anything were to happen, like me having a seizure, my mom, aunt, or sister would be taking the kids to school for me so I wont be driving. I had my first VEEG in March, and after being released and put back on my medications, I didnt drive for a month afterwords. My dr said 2 weeks was good enough, if not seizures occured, but I wanted to give it more time before driving again. Im not able to work now due to having a child at home with me still. But next year when we have all three in full time school, Im going to look into getting a part time job. When it comes to jobs, in the past they always find out about my seizures and within days I get let go. They never use the exscuse for it being seizures, but they sure do find their way around it. Im just hoping I dont get another job where they do the same thing again. But for now, Im trying my best to live a normal life as possible. The Keppra XR is controlling my seizures very well now. I will be looking into possibly getting off the Keppra XR in august of next year. My dr got me off of Carbatrol, and kept me on Keppra XR. He said if things go good til the next time I see him, we will talk about taking a chance and trying to wean me off of Keppra. Kind of scary when I think about it. I just try to forget it and take one day at a time.

I can totally relate with the boys having alot of energy. It seems like Im always on my toes when it comes to these boys of mine. Do you have any family near by that could help get you out of the house to enjoy doing things your kids and you like?

 

[chris2kids]

Thanks for responding. I had a seizure like 8 years ago when my daughter was three, out of the blue..past out in my house and my husband witnessed a full blown seizure. So, I did the MRI which was ok but the EEG showed something on my left temporal..I went on Tegratol and was fine. So, after many years I had no seizures just alot of anxiety. Really bad panic attacks but felt good and wanted another baby. So, four years ago, had my son. Then, June 2010 I had an episode at home...thought I was sleeping..forgot where I was, hurt my foot, but nobody was home to see anything. Back to the neurologist after many years, they did the MRI again which was good, and EEG which did not show any activity. The doctor thought since I had the history and put me on Keppra XR so I took it. Then, in February, I had another one in my sleep. Back to doctor, increased it and added another. So frustrated since they can't tell from any EEG(had five) any unusual activity. I am getting used to the Keppra XR and Lyrica but I feel tired, and out of it sometimes. I have not drived for a year since the seizures but in one way I just want to be helpful. My husband has to drop of kids each day and my mom and sister pick up. They are family and want to help but I just want a normal life. My son's school is so close so I am waiting the six months which should be in December to start driving. Its really scary to think about and I guess day to day is the best. Thanks for your input.

 

[RobinN]

@Kristin > wow... I have asked Rebecca to wait a year before she considers driving if she hasn't had a seizure. In our state the law is 6 months. Your doctor might have a lawsuit on his hands if he recommended only two weeks. FYI

@Chris > Raising multiple kids is difficult all on its own, let alone add a disability, or medication to the picture. I had 3 at home with me, and thankfully the worst issue I dealt with were migraines. They put me down for the count for 3-4 days. I have always been able to have my car, I am spoiled living here in CA.

I guess it is how you look at your situation. Find the positive.
Your kids will learn that life sometimes isn't fair, and they will also learn some incredible life skills. Your 11 yr old can take a Red Cross class so she doesn't feel helpless, and she can be her little brothers babysitter in an emergency.

It is my suggestion that you live your life to the fullest, and deal with the c**p if it happens. It may not, if you can work on ways to raise your seizure threshold.

My daughter has had about 50+ tonic clonic seizures during a 5 yr period of time. However she now remains med free, and hasn't had a seizure in 9 months.
So there is hope...

 

[momof3boys]

@Kristin > wow... I have asked Rebecca to wait a year before she considers driving if she hasn't had a seizure. In our state the law is 6 months. Your doctor might have a lawsuit on his hands if he recommended only two weeks. FYI

@Chris > Raising multiple kids is difficult all on its own, let alone add a disability, or medication to the picture. I had 3 at home with me, and thankfully the worst issue I dealt with were migraines. They put me down for the count for 3-4 days. I have always been able to have my car, I am spoiled living here in CA.

I guess it is how you look at your situation. Find the positive.
Your kids will learn that life sometimes isn't fair, and they will also learn some incredible life skills. Your 11 yr old can take a Red Cross class so she doesn't feel helpless, and she can be her little brothers babysitter in an emergency.

It is my suggestion that you live your life to the fullest, and deal with the c**p if it happens. It may not, if you can work on ways to raise your seizure threshold.

My daughter has had about 50+ tonic clonic seizures during a 5 yr period of time. However she now remains med free, and hasn't had a seizure in 9 months.
So there is hope...

I was seizure free for years before getting my VEEG done in March. My last seizure I recall was in June 2005 when I didnt get enough sleep after having my second son and had a seizure during the night. I experienced alot of headaches afterwords which my dr thought was seizure activity coming on, but after being switched to Keppra XR, it took all the headaches away. When I was admited for the VEEG, I was off my medications for 4 days, then put back on the medications before leaving the next day. He said if I had no seizures in the next couple of weeks after returning home, it would be ok to dirve. For me, I was having auras during that first week or two after returning home, and my level wasnt where it should be, so I gave it more time before I even felt driving was safe enough. During that time, he also had the thought of the seizures I had during my VEEG, them not being epileptic. So maybe thats why he said two weeks? But after further investigating the seizures, he found out there were indeed simple partial seizures I was having. I havnt had a seizure now since March. If I even feel a tad bit off, I wont drive. Id rather be safe than sorry.

 

[chris2kids]

Thanks Ladies for your input, I guess its hard no matter when and how if your dealing with E. I was reluctant to get on any forum as I just did not want to hear sad stories to make me more depressed but instead I don't feel alone. Its hard for people who do not have it to know how your feeling and I am sure for family its hard too. I think that taking back some of the control makes us feel better so driving has to be part of that and praying.

I wanted to say to Mom of three. I am sorry that when you get jobs that people have an issue with your medical issues that is unbelievable! I mean if you were working with major equipment or driving all the time but I run a business and I would never had an issue with someone based on health issues. After all, eveyone has something..either diabetes, high blood pressure, depression! I realize that E is looked at differently but that is why it is so hard for us..the way people look at and react to it are the problem. Sorry got carried away..makes me mad! LOL Keep looking for the right job...you will know. Wish you the best.

 

[nette]

well I don't know about having children, but I do know that E will continue to drag you down, I do have 4 siblings all younger than me, they all have that same look in their eyes, I am close to 39 years old and they have kids of their own , but still they have that same unknowing look , teach your kids all you can, I wish I could have taught my family more, but they don't want to know