50 years is a very long silent period. Lots of seizures are not recognized as seizures and can go on for a long time before a more obvious/notable seizure happens and one is diagnosed. Lots of people have disbelief after diagnosis but epilepsy is commonly not talked about yet it is more common than conditions that are mentioned frequently in the news. It can be a journey of sorts coming to understand the impacts and issues, so much varies for each person. Seizures can also change. Docs thought my child's epilepsy was from damage but now (years later) seizures changed and it is more likely to be genetic (genetic does not mean it runs in the family, it doesn't, more likely a de novo cause).