This morning I went shopping and pulled into my garage and before I could open a truck door, my neighbor was standing beside it. She looked awful and was babbling about her husband having a stroke. I said "Call 911, call 911 right now."
She asked if I could come book at him - he's in the rec room in the basement. Still saying, "Call 911. Where's your phone?" I ran into the basement and saw her husband ---
I didn't know what was wrong with him, I just knew SOMETHING was and it was bad. I asked for a phone and she said that he had a seizure while ago, but she thought this was a stroke. Now I;m yelling "Call 911 - give me your phone and I'll call'. Then the poor man --- well, I knew it was a bad partial complex. I asked her for a phone so I could call and she said it was upstairs .... I ran and she followed.
Oh - I'll stop details. I am certain that poor man had a couple partials and three tonics before the ambulance arrived. The two ems got the bulky man on the floor and he continued seizing. They called for assistance in getting him up the stairs ... a fire truck and a plain little pick-up truck arrived and 3 more men came down the stairs. They got him into the ambulance but it didn't leave for about 6 or 7 minutes. I have no idea what was happening. The wife just continued looking for the cats, trying to change clothes, call her son and find her husbands ID and insurance.
I wanted to drive her to the hospital but she would not even consider it.
Good grief.
It wasn't my first experience with seizures but it was my first time to ever see one.
Thanks for listening to me.

It has been my experience, with customers having seizures in the store ... that they will not transport, an unstable seizure patient.
They call the hospital, which usually gives authority to give Valium IV, and monitor for a short time. The major risk with seizures is
to the head (from the fall), and breathing if a status one develops.
In the ambulance they will give oxygen, and watch the vitals.
They probably sent EKG tracings too while waiting to leave. Once they see the Valium is taking effect, then they get permission to transport. If the drive is long, that may be a factor too.

He could have had a stroke of some kind, that caused the seizure.
Brain tumors also have that potential, when they become big enough to set off a seizure. Ted Kennedy's seizures were his first warning of his brain tumor.

Sounds like a very alarming situation all around. I hope the wife is okay?

Hi Wren,

This sounds like possibly the gentleman may have had a stroke earlier in his life and this sometimes can lead to sz. I saw it happen with my grandmother who had mini strokes and then within time alzhemiers set in.

You are a very kind hearted person helping the lady out. Over the yrs. that I've had epilepsy many people just don't know what to do if someone has a sz. that's why I've made it a point to teach students and staff at school about epilepsy and what to do if someone has a sz.

I will never forget a few yrs. ago I went to see a new family Dr. and I had a sz. and he then called an ambulance. I asked him why he did that and he told me that he didn't know what to do if a person had a sz. I reported this matter to the administrators of the Drs. office and they were not to happy.

This world needs to wake up and realize not to keep so quiet about epilepsy so others can learn what to do and not be afraid.

Here's wishing you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

mrs.D ... Because I had a brain tumor growing enough when I was 46, I started having seizures.
This man did have epilepsy (his wife told me) but hasn't had a seizure for years.
He had 7 stents a month or two ago and he's diabetic.
The wife said her son called and will meet her at the hospital.

Porkette and mrsD ... I appreciate your listening and information. Thank you.

(((Wren)))

Sounds like a horrifying experience for you to be a part of and for the man's wife.

It is great that you took charge of the situation to help your neighbor get the help that he desperately needed. That is a wonderful thing that you did!

I agree with mrsD. The EMT's had to get his seizures to stop, as we know that status epilepticus can be very dangerous. I didn't know that EMT's carried medicines that are aimed to stop seizures...but I guess that makes sense. Thanks for the info, mrsD!

Sometimes we forget what it is like to see seizures ~ how scary they can be to others. We're used to having the seizure, but not so used to seeing them. Porkette, I LOVE that you're taking upon yourself to educate teachers and students at your school, about epilepsy. That is terrific! I wholeheartedly believe that society needs to become a lot more aware and educated on seizure disorders. Personally, I've adopted part of a highway nearby, to pick up trash upon regularly, in the name of "Epilepsy Awareness". Just a little reminder to everyone that drives by.

Hi Wren,

I was wondering do you know how your neighbor is doing? I'm sure if it had not been for you and your help your neighbor might still be wondering what had happened. You are a true blessing to your neighbor and others. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

This is awful - just awful and I don't know what to do. This morning I was leaving and saw my neighbor come out, jump in his car, light a cigarette and dive off. He's driving!! He's driving!!
Good grief -- maybe two years ago he told me to look at his face. Hard to miss -- his face was a horrible mess - badly torn, two black eyes. He said he had a seizure and that made him wreck his car. That very day he was driving again so (duh) I thought he was using "seizure" as an excuse for having a wreck. He couldn't have a drivers license.
Well, now I've seen him seize and seen him drive.
This state takes your license for 12 months.

Hi Wren,

I'm sorry to hear that your neighbor was in an accident and is still driving. It's nice to know that you care enough about your neighbor to speak up about it. You may want to tell your neighbor that if they are driving and still having sz. that they can lose their license and on top of that be fined. I know in NY where I live we have to go 1 yr. sz free and have a Drs. written statement saying it's safe for a person to drive or the insurance rates will be sky high.
Take care and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks for replying, Sue. I don't know what to do but feel like it is a circumstance full of danger to him .... and me. This is a small town.
I don't know what to do.

It is so sad to see one driving without a release. Years ago I know a lady who had epilepsy and drove anyway. One time she ran off into a lake having a seizure, lucky that her 2 kids were not with her. My thoughts and prayers are with him to think about the other people on the road instead of putting himself before them.

Darlene