introduce myself!

[cbuckley]

Hello everyone,
I'm happy that I found this group. I truly believe that coping with epilepsy is much better when you have people that can relate to what you are going through. I look forward to sharing my story and meeting you.

I am a 50 yr old man that has been coping with epilepsy nearly half of my life. I started having seizures at 24 yrs old, medically discharged from the Army. I was put on Dilantin since. I made the adjustments & started my life over again. Most of my seizure activity happens at night & mostly due to emotional stress. Too much excitement either way, positive or negative will set me off. I have to remember, "Not too high, not too low!"

My life as I knew it was gone when they kicked me out of the Army. I spent some time in denial about my situation. I was a heavy drinker & this only compounded things. When I turned 30, I quit drinking & sobered up. Whereas I used to drink to dull my senses & get away from life, I now choose to do everything I can to stay in the moment in my life. Now I completely hate losing control of myself & am compliant about taking my meds, etc.

Two years ago I had a seizure while driving through a parking lot. I totalled two cars. I am very thankful that nobody was injured. It certainly could have been worse. I had no aura when I had this one. It just blindsided me. The state revoked my driver's license. My neurologist adjusted my meds & wrote a letter to the state saying I was okay to drive again, but that didn't help.

I feel that I'm having to start all over again in my life dealing with a new reality of not ever driving again. I am fortunate in that I know from starting over at 24, that it is possible. I also have a great wife who drives me anywhere I wish to go. The loss of independence has been tough, but with anything in life, you make the adjustments & go on.

Having to cope with epilepsy has made me more empathetic towards people. Sometimes what seems to be a great curse in your life, helps you in the long run. Still, everytime I get in one of those pitiful poor me states of mind, I run into someone with a worse situation & with a better attitude. It's kinda funny how that works, isn't it.

Cliff

(I am now unemployed & looking for work. Does anybody know of any resources or programs available to help in finding a job working from home?
I know that I'm not the only one frustrated about not driving anymore. Please let me know. -Thanks!)

 

[qtowngirl]

Welcome Cliff!
You are so right, when you have others in your life that know exactly what you go through every day it makes all the difference. Family and friends (some of them anyways) try to be supportive, but it's just not the same.

I can relate to you in a few things (grand mals came at age 25), and having my license taken away was pure hell. Lucky enough in Canada they seem to be a bit more lenient in many places so as long as you can go a specific length of time without one you usually get it back (I'm driving, seizure, no license, driving, seizure, no license... on and on. Lost my license 4 times so far). I also seized behind the wheel once, and thankfully didn't hurt anyone. My car was rolling into oncoming traffic but luckily I hit the ditch before anyone was close to me.
I cannot imagine what it was like to be discharged from your career like that. So sorry for you. Sounds tho like you have an amazing attitude towards all of it, I envy you big time. The 'pick up and start over' frame of mind is so powerful when it comes to epilepsy, be proud of yourself, not all of us can do it.
You're right too about running into someone worse off, and you'll see that a lot on CWE. All walks of life are members here, and some stories that are shared can make you feel like there's barely anything wrong with you. It's unreal what others are faced with.

As for the unemployment/working from home I'm sure someone can help but we have to know where you live so they can chime in; sounds like you're in the states so I wouldn't know but someone can prob. help.
Best E site there is!! And again, welcome!

 

[Krista2882]

Welcome, Cliff!
What state do you live in? The driving laws with E are different from state to state but is there a possibility of getting your license back once you are seizure free for a certain amount of time? In CT, I don't know how long it is. My doctor just told me not to drive for 6 weeks after I had my gran mal but my first neuro didn't report me to the DMV. I started going to another neurologist a couple of years later, and he did report me to the DMV, but by that time, I has been free of a conscious-altering seizure for long enough that I was able to keep my license. I had to have my doctor fill out a form every 6 months giving the OK for me to continue driving. Once I was seizure free for 10 years, I didn't have to keep reporting anymore!
I hope things work out for you and you'll be able to drive again eventually. Unless you live in a big city like New York, you really need to be able to drive in order to get anywhere.
I'm glad you seem to have a good attitude about it, though. I know what you mean, seeing people who are worse off than you and realize that you don't really have anything to complain about in comparison. I thank the Lord a lot when I realize how much worse my condition could be.
Right now I only get one or two simple-partial seizures per month.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Cliff, welcome to CWE!

It might be worth re-petitioning the DMV about getting your license back. Sometimes there is some leeway for a Review Board to vote in your favor, especially if you neurologist gives you the all-clear.

You might your local or state rep to see what employment/re-training resources are available. Many home-based jobs involve computer skills, so perhaps you could pursue something along those lines.

 

[Ruth]

Hello everyone,
I'm happy that I found this group. I truly believe that coping with epilepsy is much better when you have people that can relate to what you are going through. I look forward to sharing my story and meeting you.

Two years ago I had a seizure while driving through a parking lot. I totalled two cars. I am very thankful that nobody was injured. It certainly could have been worse. I had no aura when I had this one. It just blindsided me. The state revoked my driver's license. My neurologist adjusted my meds & wrote a letter to the state saying I was okay to drive again, but that didn't help.

Cliff

(I am now unemployed & looking for work. Does anybody know of any resources or programs available to help in finding a job working from home?
I know that I'm not the only one frustrated about not driving anymore. Please let me know. -Thanks!)

Hi Cliff, I am glad to meet you. Welcome to CWE. This forum was made out of love by Bernard for his wife Stacy. That love has permeated throughout the whole forum.

Is there an unemployment office in the city that you live in?

When I was 16 years old, it was legal for people with epilepsy to drive. I thought about it for awhile. Then I thought, what if I had a seizure while driving? I could kill someone or myself, if a seizure came on. So I decided not to drive.onder:

My husband takes me places. I also walk to the stores. When we move, I always make sure that I am within a few blocks of a bus stop. In those two ways, I am independent. Have you tried public transportation?

 

[huskymom]

Hi Cliff, good to meet you!

Starting over can be such a blessing. Think of all the people who would love to do that. It is like hitting the "easy" button on those commercials, except you still have epilepsy. I know several people in my own life who would trade for mine in a heart beat. We don't have it that bad in life. It takes some time to get used to it, then you pull up your big girl panties and take life as it comes. Congratulations for being able to do just that. I hope that you visit here a lot

 

[Ruth]

huskymom,

:agree:

 

[cbuckley]

shaken, not stirred?

Thank you everybody for the comments. I do appreciate a good sounding board of understanding people.

Years ago when I got out of the Army, I tried to talk to my brother about what I was going through & he just became a brick wall, maybe out of fear? Didn't want to talk to me about it. Has anyone experienced that also?

I live in Florida. Between the state of Florida and myself, I fear getting back behind the wheel probably more that they fear me to do so! I don't know, I have been coping with it for half my life & driving just fine, but this last one reeeaaally scared me! It may take me a while to gain the confidence again.

I met someone last month who had seizures (one a day) for 30 years. His wife drove him around through this whole time (they are still married). He had surgery for a heart problem & his seizures never came back! You just never know.

As for my life, right now it just feels the same as not being able to drive. I feel that I have no control of where I am heading! So I guess I'm not worried about the destination so much as to what it will take to get there! Can you relate?

Thanks everybody!

 

[DadofTwins]

Welcome Cliff!

I am new here too and have found wonderful knowledgeable people who are happy to help. I am the father of a newly diagnosed 16 year old daughter for whom driving is a huge issue, so I understand how frustrating that must have been to you. Your attitude is inspiring and I hope that my daughter can learn from you.

Tom

 

[RachelinAZ]

Welcome Cliff! I am a newbie too!

I have never had my license taken away. Luckily with my doctors, it was "promise you will not drive for six months and we won't report it" (in two states), but as I told Dadtotwins, I hate driving, so it was no biggy LOL.

I feel for you on no one really understanding. All my seizures did/do was freak people out. No one tried to learn about them, or why I have such severe memory loss, or how it affects me in general.

I hope you find some great info here (I have) and friends