[jnewk]

hi folks

well, come to find out, I've been having seizures ... had have a few in the years past but dr and I thought it was cardiac related, like syncope, well I had a good one the other night and blacked out and face planted on the wall/door and came to in a puddle of various fluids....extremely nauseous and weak, blurry vision and somewhat fuzzy thinking. Could've gotten a mild concussion. Dr did not do cat scan but did rx for me Keppra, an anti seizure med. and then she called the dmv. its another loss. a big loss. most of you don't know my entire story but the last 13 yrs have been extreme in that every single year something big and traumatic happens...i.e, my son was killed, my sister and her husband also in another accident. I've had cancer, open heart surgery, bla bla. lost my house in the mortgage crisis, lost my 12 year marriage, pretty much everything. i'm in an apt in the middle of vegas (I grew up and lived my life in Los Angeles) but here I am in vegas, in a dumpy little apt on social security. I can't work. and now I can't drive. Most of my family is dead. I have cousins who live on other side of country, we chat frequently but they are far away. My life is just getting more and more limited because of my health and now my freedom as well. My friends (all of whom live either in California or east coast) have been supportive over these years, but they are getting worn out. And they are getting on with their lives. My friends are welcoming grandchildren, my son's friends are getting married and having children. My peers are enjoying their careers, relationships and life. I know I sound like I am having a fat pity party but frankly, this new development with seizures and loss of freedom is just another big blow. And I am alone basically. without resources. and of course, my social security is just over the "limit" for extra help in any expenses. so I am just ****** off and afraid and depressed and completely deflated. I have no more ideas.

thanks for listening
janet

[marion06095]

(((( BIG HUG )))) Chin up. There are better days ahead. I can just feel 'em coming, can't you?

[Lynn]

Gosh, if anyone was entitled to a pity party, it has to be you. So let it out and vent away - sometimes we all go to that 'dark place'..... but please don't stay there too long - we would miss you

[SallyC]

(((((Janet))))), I love your name. It was my favorite Aunts name.
Is it possible for you to move back to Calif. and be closer to Family
and Friends? In the meantime, I am joining you in your pity party.
Rant away, you deserve better.

[jprinz99]

as somebody who also has seizures I feel your isolation. You have had a series of dramatic 'life events' and I think it is natural to get po'd. Now - let's concentrate on the pluses:

you now have medication and hopefully it (or another dose/brand) will controll the szs.
You have a place to live; perhaps not what you would like, but better than alternatives
you have us (we are an excellent problem solving and venting board )


My advice: contact DMV and verify how long you need to be declared "controlled" so that you can drive again {each state has different rules and they can change every so often}. It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with your local epilepsy foundation chapter either as they can give the ins & outs of driving restoration.

if all else fails - rememebr we love you!

[jprinz99]

FYI- NV has a short seizure free period! See this link
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/re...s-by-State.cfm

[NurseNancy]

i'm sorry for all your loss and pain. i'm sure you're also grieving for the loss of your family and physically.

has your dr done an EMG? how is she making the diagnosis of seizures?
if you have MS you can contact the MS Society and maybe they can offer you info on resources.

can you join a church nearby for support?
i hope you stabilize and begin to feel better.
let us know how you are.

[jnewk]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Gosh, if anyone was entitled to a pity party, it has to be you. So let it out and vent away - sometimes we all go to that 'dark place'..... but please don't stay there too long - we would miss you

Thank you Lynn. While I do fall into that rabbit hole on occasion, this being one, I do not allow myself to stay too long. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words.

[jnewk]

Originally Posted by NurseNancy

i'm sorry for all your loss and pain. i'm sure you're also grieving for the loss of your family and physically.

has your dr done an EMG? how is she making the diagnosis of seizures?
if you have MS you can contact the MS Society and maybe they can offer you info on resources.

can you join a church nearby for support?
i hope you stabilize and begin to feel better.
let us know how you are.

Hi Judy...I'm going for a cat scan on Thursday. I believe she made the dx on basis of my explanation and a couple of other previous seizures which we all thought were episodes of syncope due to my arrhythmia. which came first....who knows. I have called MS society for some info on resources...haven't got a call back yet. Here in LV we don't have our own chapter.. we used to.. but they downsized and now we are the step-child of the Los Angeles chapter. and its the end of the year so I expect whatever resources they had are tapped out by now. I will keep trying but I have a feeling not much will be available til January. If they ever call me back I will find out

thanks for your concern and suggestions. I'm muddling through.

janet

[jnewk]

Originally Posted by jprinz99

as somebody who also has seizures I feel your isolation. You have had a series of dramatic 'life events' and I think it is natural to get po'd. Now - let's concentrate on the pluses:

you now have medication and hopefully it (or another dose/brand) will controll the szs.
You have a place to live; perhaps not what you would like, but better than alternatives
you have us (we are an excellent problem solving and venting board )


My advice: contact DMV and verify how long you need to be declared "controlled" so that you can drive again {each state has different rules and they can change every so often}. It wouldn't hurt to get in touch with your local epilepsy foundation chapter either as they can give the ins & outs of driving restoration.

if all else fails - rememebr we love you!

Thank you Jane. I have looked at DMV website and its 3 months. Not as bad as others. And I will follow up with Epilepsy foundation and even the epilepsy board here on neurotalk. It was just such a damn blindside it knocked me out for a minute so to speak. Oh well, on with it. Thanks so much!
janet