Update on how I have been handling Epilepsy as of lately.

Hello everyone, it has been a while since my last post, this actually makes my second post total. Just an update on how I have been and how I have been dealing with Epilepsy these past few months since my last post. To catch up, I have Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures, and I have been having them since I was 18 years old; my first seizure was July 29th, 2010. Back in June 2016, while I was still living in Utah, I had begun to experience more seizure activity, and began to have a few seizures in my sleep. It brought my total amount of seizures at the time to 16 since I first began having them. The month of July 2016 was by far the worst month of this year, and the worst month I have dealt with since being diagnosed with Epilepsy back in 2010. I had 2 seizures back to back, within about 30 minutes of each other, at the beginning of the month. They took everything out of me, all of my motivation and energy, then about a week later I had another seizure again; so that made 3 seizures in the month of July 2016,all very close to each other and all were in the morning between the hours of 5am and 7am. Now the total amount of Tonic-Clonic seizures I have had is at 19, and I will admit that it is hard dealing with them and the thoughts of when I will have my next episode. I was living with my sister in Utah, but due to the increase in seizures and seizure activity, I had to move back to Texas and in with my parents. I try and look at the positive aspects out of this condition; for instance I got to live in the mountains this year, now I am living at the Texas coast really close to the beach, so that is at least somewhat of a plus. The hard part for me, is that my parents don't seem to fully understand or fully grasp the full extent to what I am dealing with. I have tried time and time again explaining it to them, but I feel that they still don't understand. I am still taking Levetiracetam, and my doctors I had in Utah increased my dosage for the last time on this drug, I am now taking 3000mg a day, and it is pretty hard dealing with all of the side effects. I haven't been able to see a doctor down here yet, but I am seeing one soon so that I can begin to get taken off of this medication and put onto a different medication. The seizures and the meds have made it very difficult to perform the tasks I used to be able to perform. I had to leave my job back in June, then after the increase in dosage, this whole ordeal has just made it difficult for me to work or maintain a social life. My parents don't understand that what they are able to do, is twice as hard for me to do. Just being on my feet for over an hour is exhausting, and they have been dropping hints at me that I need to get a job, however I am unable to work at the moment due to the medication, and due to still having seizure activity, I am often exhausted and worn out throughout the day. Since June, I have begun to have some different symptoms arise, such as Deja Vu, memories that feel real but don't feel like they are mine, extremely vivid dreams, increased amount of headaches, restlessness and drowsiness. I know all of my triggers and most of the symptoms I show before a seizure, but these new symptoms, aside from the drowsiness and restlessness and headaches, all began occurring before the increase in dosage on my medication, and I have been on this medication since 2013, so it seems like I have been experiencing new symptoms these last few months. Straying away from my symptoms and the side effects, I still draw a lot; it is about the only thing I am able to do that brings me peace and provides me the ability to clear my mind and sink into my own world. I also write in my journal more, and i have found it to be pretty therapeutic, I even began writing letters to the universe, such as letters to Love, to Evil, to the Universe, and even to myself; it tends to help me relieve myself of my emotions and clears my mind for a few hours to even a couple of days; however, the emotions build back up and my mind gets clouded to the point I am unable to focus or concentrate, so I have been writing more often, and I have been drawing newer pictures and putting my old projects on hold. I sold quite a few drawings, so I am trying to draw more and more so that I can sell more and more; the more I draw the better I get, and people are starting to see my progress and are really enjoying my artwork. I am planning on applying for disability since no medication i have been on has been able to control my seizures, especially after a certain period of time. Once I see my new doctor, I will get their opinion, as well as all of the tests run on me again; it has been a few years since i had my last MRI, and I have had a lot of seizures since then, so I will more than likely get another MRI, EEG, CT-Scan, and whatever other tests they feel the need to run on me. I couldn't get Medicaid unfortunately, the State of Texas is pretty picky on who they allow to receive medicaid, and although i seem to be eligible, they didn't grant me medicaid, so I am having to wait until November to apply for insurance, but I have been informed by representatives from medicaid that my best option is to apply for disability and that I would have a much better chance at getting that from the information i filled out and provided to the Medicaid representatives. Well, that's about what I have been dealing with the past few months. It has been rough, but I try to stay optimistic. I wish and hope for the best, as with everyone that is dealing with Epilepsy and the battles we have to go through. I have found that the people here on this site seem to understand me and my condition more than others, and i greatly appreciate that. Until next time everyone, take care.