some wine with that cheese

[sfrancis]

Warning I am in one of my "black" periods. See my profile for history, then the rest of this will make more sence.
As the profile says I have had seizures for almost 50 years. That being all I have known you would think I would be used to being dependent on others. I hate it! While there are few things i can't do; plumbing, electrical, carpentry, landscape and probably more. Thing is I can not, as most here, drive. The work I have done all my life is so dependent on beingabe to get there.

 

[valeriedl]

I know what you mean about not being able to drive. When I graduated high school I was the one who had the car and usually drove my friends and I every where. Go shopping myself and so much more. I was able to move out and have my own place and drive all over.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy at 27 (I'm 35 now). After a few months after I had my first seizure they realized that I was probably going to have epilepsy for the rest of my life. I had to move back home with my parents, quit my job and sell my car.

Most of my friends live about an hour away and have kids. We are hardly ever to get together and if we do they come to my house. I hate the fact that they have to drive that long to get to see me. I don't get to go out at night and have 'girl time' because they'd end up getting home at 1am and they can't do that. We still talk on the phone alot but it's just not the same.

Luckily when I met my husband I was able to move out and not live with my parents, however I still have to rely on someone else to get me places. My husband works full time so he's gone all day, and sometime on the weekends too. My grandparents are usually the one's that take me places. I know they don't mind but I just hate doing it.

I go to several different dr's for different things and drs hours are usually 9 to 5 - when my husband is at work. He takes me to some but has to take the day off or leave early which hurts the pay check. I'm on disabilty too. My grandparents take me to alot of the dr's appts and I hate that they usually have to sit in the waiting room for an hour or longer before I get in to see the dr, then wait out there until I'm done seeing the dr. Then we go to the pharmacy and get pescriptions filled, which is sometimes a 20 minute wait.

We have a very large yard and my husband has to cut the grass and most of the other things because I'm unable to do it. I'm home all day and I can't cut the grass so he has to work all day then come home and spend another hour or so out there on the tractor. I can only do so much inside the house when I'm alone because I could have a seizure at anytime and end up catching the house on fire. I could probably do that any way even if I didn't have epilepsy though -ha ha.

It's just things that I've learned to deal with. It's hard but when you have people to help you out it makes it easier.

 

[Soulcreek]

Guys (I'm new on here, by the way), I have a similar problem. I used to drive, had a seizure in the car, thankfully didn't crash, but was banned for a year. Drove again for about 18 months until I had another seizure. I haven't driven since. That was 14 years ago. I'm also 35, and it gets on my tits from time to time that I either have to rely on my wife, my dad, or public transport (which is crap, as I live on the coast, where bus services aren't great). I have no independence, essentially. I guess I'm used to it by now, though. I can't change it, so I have no choice but to accept it. I can't work due to my epilepsy, and so I feel cut off from society in some ways. I hate being dependent on the state and would love to be able to get out there and earn the money I receive. I just hope my epilepsy can be brought under control and that I can get to a place where I feel confident enough to get back to work.

 

[seizurrific]

Hi all : )

Soulcreek, I definitely feel your pain. I have had intractable epilepsy for 14 years (I'm 22 years old) and while I do have a driver's license (my mother and I didn't tell the DMV that I had seizures until a week or two after I passed the driving test; we figured that it would be easier to get it back than get it in the first place) in our area I have to be seizure-free for a year before I can utilise it and drive again...being intractable that's an AWFULLY tall order and it's going to be basically impossible to get it back. In order to maintain a positive attitude (I am totally with you in your black mood about driving...) I moved into an apartment flat that is pretty much smack in the middle of our bustling downtown area. It makes it easier to get around and get out so I can go for walks on the strand or walk around in the shops, etc. I also bought a car (I know...?!?!? hahaha) as I find I feel much less guilty if someone can drive my car instead of making them drive their own.

I'm sorry you feel so alone- hang out here, we've got you. Also, I wonder if perhaps once per week you could head with your husband to work (but not at his work) and just get out for walks or do something with a friend. Leisure and some form or recreation (knitting to skydiving and everything between) will elevate your mood so much! The possibilities are endless. Go sit in the green grass in your yard and read some great books, grow flowers, take up gardening, etc. : ) If you want more ideas I'm right here. You'll find something to take you mind off all this, I promise.

 

[seizurrific]

And by Soulcreek I really meant all of us...sorry 'bout that- just had a "moment" while typing lol