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nana9848

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Hi, I'm Shauna. Trying to find some answers to what has happened in the last 7 weeks. I am a 63 yo female and had my first seizure in May, 2012. Went to ER, b/c I didn't know what had happened, a stroke or a seizure, was admitted and kept overnight for tests. They did a CAT scan, (showed nothing), an MRI (showed nothing) and then an EEG which did show "seizure activity" in the left temporal lobe. I was discharged with instructions to not drive for 6 mos, and to take a medication-Tegretol-probably for the rest of my life.

Now, 7 weeks later, I am on my 3rd medication-Tegretol, Dilantin and now transitioning to Trileptal--having very bad side effects.

Unfortunately, I am too young for Medicare and am unemployed with no insurance as many others right now. Does anyone out there have any experience with finding a neurologist that might see someone with little or no money? I am finding as I talk with others, that it's possible with a negative CAT scan and MRI, I may not need to be on a medication but I would very much like to talk with a Neurologist to help make the correct decision. I am currently going to a Free Healthcare Clinic in my area but there is no neurologist available there. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hello Shauna,

Sorry to hear you had a first seizure.

Neurologist is wise to see if you can, keep plugging to see one and wish you well with this. usually takes more than one seizure before they class as Epilepsy & start meds but your EEG shows ‘seizure activity’

Good MRI /CAT usually means seizure not due to brain damage (they can see) yet one can still have seizures like my Son 26, like you does show seizure activity on EEG but has perfect MRI /CAT.

Sure if you mention state/location some CWE members may well have some local help tips for you. Epilepsy foundation (local maybe?) would be worth contacting/talking to for advice.

Warm welcome to CWE.
 
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Hi Shauna, welcome to CWE!

As Chaz suggests, try contacting your local epilepsy foundation for assistance/referrals. If there is a university hospital system near you, contact their financial assistance office to see if there are any programs that might help. You might also try your county or state social services system for help.

After one seizure, it's not always considered necessary to medicate. On the other hand, if the EEG did show seizure activity, there's reason to be concerned, and it's worth taking steps to try and prevent any additional seizures from occurring. There's good info here about things that you can do to be proactive: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/proactive-prescription-epilepsy-1254/

If you do need medication, this thread discusses ways to pay for it:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/when-you-cant-afford-medication-1452/
 
Shauna, I'm new here too, and I'm just a bit freaked out by it all. I have been waking up at night with seizures and am in the midst of being diagnosed. I had an EEG yesterday and an MRI this morning. The dr wants to do a sleep study since I have seizures at night--several a month. Anyway, I doubt I can be of any help to you, but I can certainly walk with you through this as sometimes it's nice to have someone going through the same ordeal. The neuro did not tell me not to drive, but he did tell me that he thought I was having seizures.

Perhaps there is a community hospital near you that takes on the uninsured . . . they have one in Atlanta. I'll be praying for your provisions.

Peace,
 
Thank you to all of you who replied to my thread...I will make some calls tomorrow and see if I can find out about university connected hospitals, the epilepsy foundation, etc. That just gives me some hope...again, thank you!
 
Welcome to CWE

Welcome Shauna,

I am sorry to hear about your situation, but you are in the right place and will find many knowledgeable and helpful members. What city and state are you in? That info would help us in assisting you.

Good luck on this new journey and know that you are among friends.

Tom
 
Hi Tom,
I live in Bluffton, SC...30 min north of Savannah, GA, about 1 1/2 hrs south of Charleston, SC. Kinda an out of the way area...not much population so not much help here like in a highly populated area. We are considered a 'resort' area so people come and go although there are many who live here year around...

No Epilepsy Foundation branches here...only local Health Clinic so far, that I have found.

Thanks so much for your help...and glad to be here...hopefully I will be able to help others at some point in this journey...

Blessings!
 
Hi Nana9848,

I am sorry to hear of your situation. Epilepsy is hard enough and add to that no insurance.

I don't how far you are from Augusta GA, I have heard there are some great Neur. there. I lived in the Atlanta area so I chose to go to Emory. DON'T GO THERE.

Call the business office first and see if you can make payment arrangements.

I hope you find a neur.

May God bless you.
 
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