New & delighted new comer to my.epilepsy

Hi, I can't really speak for anyone else, but I would say that many of us also live one day at a time, not knowing what is next. And Hell and back is also a good description of epilepsy for many, if not a large number of people. Whatever you do, try not to feel a burden on anyone. This is not like you had any control over this. It is a medical problem. It is not a good analogy, but it is like having depression or any other medical problem that is not fatal. Keep writing. You can always write and complain here, or talk about whatever is bothering you. Lisa

Hi meeciamecia, You have come to the right place and there are many many people who do or have felt exactly how you feel now. I am one that used to feel like I was a burden to everyone. It mostly started when I divorced and gave up my license and was a single mom who needed to get to dr. appts and shopping, etc. The not being able to drive takes our whole independence away. When I divorced and moved back home my children were 5, 7 & 15, now they are 15, 17 & 26. They look back at all I went through to make a good life for them even though I had restriction that I had to live with. They appreciate everything I have done for them. They know it wasn't ever easy. First thing you have to do is not think your a burden (I finally learnt that). Then I looked at my life and decided if I was going anywhere then on the path I was on I had to change my attitude about my having epilepsy. What a change that took place in my life when I did that. Since then, I have remarried, have been working in a medical research lab for 3yrs part time, I went for the vns implant which didn't work for me, then I found an Epileptologist who saw that I was a great candidate for brain surgery. I had my right temporal lobectomy 1 month ago, went to my 1month follow up with my doctor last Friday and she gave me a clean bill of health and I go back to work tomorrow, I am driving again, I am going back to work, not only to my old job, but to a full-time job. I have also been asked to start an Epilepsy Chapter for the Epilepsy Foundation here in Maine and am working on some Epilepsy Advocacy. I have gone through a lot and I want to show people that no matter where they are at this time in their life that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and though the book may already have an end to the story you can change the outcome of the end of the story by changing what you are doing now and what you want to do with your life. You don't have to let Epilepsy take over your life. There are many famous people who had epilepsy and have done great things. So keep up your chin and say this is the first day of the rest of my life with epilepsy and I am going to make the best out of it. I hope I haven't bored you, but most of all I hope I have encouraged you to keep pushing on and not to give up. Things will get better. Good Luck & God Bless, Cathy