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Seizures in the pool
Thu, 11/02/2006 - 20:22Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hi! My name is Lotten and this is my first visit to this site. My daughter Emily is 9 years old. She doesn't have a diagnosis, which is fine with me since I'm sick to death of all the labels and restrictions. At least nobody can tell us that because she has ????? she will never do ?????
Emily had seizures at birth, after a birth which damaged her brain stem, I can't convince the Doctors though since then they would have to take some responsibility. Sorry, I ramble, this isn't the time to go into her history. I took her off the meds at about 5 months old since they made her comatosed.(seriously, she had to get a feeding tube, cold water wouldn't even rouse her) She never had any more, although the neurologist saw possible activity in the right temporal lobe on subsequent EEG's. As Emily got older, she sometimes had absence seizures but nobody worried about them since they were infrequent and quick. I'm finally getting to the issue. Em has enjoyed a swim program for 3 years without any problems. She does get eye flutters when firs submerged but quickly starts to enjoy it. In the last 2 months however, Emily has had 3 seizures at the pool! Much more serious, eyes rolled back, jaw pulled down to chest and general body stiffness. We took several weeks off in between sessions hoping it was a "freak" thing, but the physio convinced me to try again. She is out of the pool now of course but I wonder if this happens to any of you guys. Emily doesn't talk so I never knows how they affect her, but she is great right after and goes right back to her routine. I would hate to put her on meds since she sleeps about 15 hours a day as it is. Thanks for letting me put this down. All Em's support staff say-run to Children's right away, but I feel that I know more than the doctors about my daughter by now. Then I stumbled on to this site and felt really excited. Lotten
Re: Seizures in the pool
Submitted by Cathy_C on Sat, 2006-11-04 - 18:52
Cara, Just a little something for you. Epilepsy is frustrating, but it doesn't have to be hopeless. It will be what you make it. If you are having problems Seek out for answers and/or the right doctors. I have gone through so much from age 16 up to now. Went through nursing school and was a Vet Technician/ Kennel Manager and I gave up my license and went on disability for 10yrs. I was a single mom who divorced in Texas and brought her kids back home to Maine in a Greyhound bus for 2 1/2 day ride. I have struggled many times with the question why I had been given this disability. My kids have had to suffer because I couldn't drive. I thought for years i was nothing but a freak without a cause and would never go anywhere. Coming through all of the negative searching for something better, I have since then bought some land and built a home on it without being married and lived there with my 3 kids. I remarried a great loving and supportive man in 2000. I since then have gotten hired in the Medical Research Laboratory that my husband is supervisor in as a Medical Research Technician. I found a great Epitologist by visiting online here and at the Epilepsy Foundation website and got an appt with her and since then I have had my right temporal lobectomy 3wks ago and haven't had a seizure since. I go to my neuro-surgeon on 11/15/06 and once I get an ok to return to work, my boss is giving me a full time job instead of keeping me part time. He has even told me the day I go on full-time that he will give me my full benefit package instead of making me wait the usual 3months. The reason I told you all of this is to show you that you having epilepsy doesn't have to be a negitive thing. I am in the process of getting involved with Epilepsy advocacy and I hope to be able to let people see that epilepsy doesn't mean your life is over. You just have to be strong and believe in yourself. Remember this saying and keep it with you always. I have lived by these few words. " I may have epilepsy, BUT epilepsy doesn't have me" and it won't unless you allow it too. And you too Lotten, just don't let this situation get the best of you. I know your little girl is young, but if this is something that she may have to live with for any amount of time in her life, your going to have to be strong and very supportive for her. Support to an epileptic is very very important. May God Bless you both and Good luck