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Epilepsy and college..

Fri, 11/19/2004 - 10:47
Topic: Teen Zone

I'm going to college in a month.  Although I am a commuter student, I'm scared of how I'm going to handle college.  See, I was absent..a lot in high school when I was diagnosed with epilepsy.  I had about 5 seizures over the course of my senior year and a lot of traumatic things happened to me which made me feel really down and hurt my grades a bit-for instance, not being able to drive. 

 I'm supposed to find out this week if i can finally drive again..oh how I love the New Jersey DMV...heh obviously sarcasm there.  Anyway, I'm panicing about everything.  I'm scared I'm gonna crack up when I get the work load which I know is going to be hell.  I'm scared if I don't get my license back before september I wont be able to drive and my mom will have to drive me which will be really embarrassing and upset me a great deal.  I've been waiting since September.

 I've been in such a depression all summer..I haven't even left my room and I barely talk to my friends anymore or go out with them when they invite me places.  The last thing I wanna do is go back to school..college no less where I won't know my way around, dont know about the teachers or how much work I'll have to deal with, and I don't know a soul there and see I'm a really shy person and every year since I was little I've cried on the first day of school.  I know that's pathetic since I'm 18 now but it always happens. 

I quit my job when I got epilepsy and lately I was trying to get another job but now my mom and dad dont want me to cuz we got my schedule for college and it's ridiculous..I wont have time for anything much less a job. 

 So basically I'm really losing it...I'm so scared and alone and upset and I just wanna run away and never come out of my room or something..I dont even wanna go to college..in fact my mom and I thought about not sending me for a year b/c of the epilepsy and the driving situation..God if any of you have been through this I beg you please respond!!!!!!!!  I need support more than ever, God I just need something to hold on to..

Comments

RE: RE: Epilepsy and college..

Submitted by Galinda on Thu, 2004-11-04 - 16:52
I totally get you.  I was the one who started this topic and I'm glad others shared their experiences here.  I'm in college now, now a resident, but I still have my license surprisingly.  See, I'm getting so stressed out and im failing my classes..it's horrible.  And i was in the national honor society in high school for cryin out loud!  Anyway, that must have been awful having a seizure, all of a sudden in your life like that when you grew up never having any.  And I've been in the situation of having a seizure in front of your friends.  Mostly all my seizures happened at home, and since my mom's a nurse she always knew what to do, but one night when my friend slept over we were going to go get some breakfast (obviously she was gonna drive) and then I had a seizure right there in front of her before we left..I woke up and all I could say to her was "I'm so sorry you had to see that".  I don't know what it looks like, but my mom tells me and it sounds horrifying.  It's something we both will have to struggle with perhaps for the rest of our lives..but maybe one day there will be a cure for this and no one will ever have to fear the worst if you forget your medicine or get scared when you have those "electric shock" headaches (i dunno if anyone else has those, but i have those days to hours before a seizure happens).  Just out of curiousity, what medicine do you take?  And, are you as stressed out as me?? 

RE: RE: RE: Epilepsy and college..

Submitted by jennamay on Fri, 2004-11-05 - 10:37

Here  are a few stories which may inspire you:

 

http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1089313782.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1063659858.html

http://www.epilepsy.com/stories/ps_1063659098.html

 

RE: RE: RE: RE: Epilepsy and college..

Submitted by Brookey54 on Fri, 2004-11-05 - 17:19
It is really great to know that there are people out there that really can understand what i am going through. I still am scared it will happen again, but each day that i go to class since that day i had my seizure has made me feel a little more confident. It is still really hard to not think about it constantly. I feel like any strange feeling may be a sign of a seizure. Before a seizure i usually get this dropping thing (Also i don't know if this is connected at all but does anyone get really thirsty after a seizure, i know afterwards i can't drink enough). I have also had more problems with memory, does anybody else have this? I know it might be just stress. My doctor called today and they are increasing my medication to 200mg of Lamictal twice a day. They said my blood levels were normal so who knows if that will even make a difference. I guess that is the worst part of it, not knowing if what you are doing will solve the problem and having to wait and see if you have another seizure. I really am happy that i have other people to share thoughts or whatever about this. I hope that it helps other people as much as it has helped me.-Brooke

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