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Recently diagnosed, trouble coping

Wed, 05/07/2014 - 15:32

Hi all,

My name is Molly I'm 18, I've recently been diagnosed with epilespy, well actually technically not exactly, my condition doesn't fit exactly into epilepsy though I do have epileptic seizures that involve convulsions. I was hospitalized 9 days due to having about 16 seizures a day and things were getting better, I was able to return to school (I'm a freshman in college) with a good support system around me. A couple days ago, I hit my head and started going into what was bets described to me as a seizure storm. I wasn't coming out of themfor about 30 minutes and had to go to the ER where I was given keppra and magnesium.

I now have to face the fact that I most likely have to withdraw from this term and go back home (only 2 hours away from my school) but it has been incredibly hard for me to cope with this new diagnosis. I feel as though my independence has been lost, I'm afraid of being alone and so are people around me. I don't know what the future holds and that scares me incredibly... Though this is a minor factor it is still important to me at this time. Obviously being in college and entering my 20s means drinking is going on all around me. Though i've never been a huge binge drinker or anything like that it is still upsetting to me to think that I can never go out with my friends and drink again... or in the near future in any case..

I don't really know.. I was hoping some of you had some advice for me in terms of coping with the epilepsie and the feelings that arise with it...

Thank you,

Molly

Comments

colleges have a counselor

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2014-05-12 - 19:10
colleges have a counselor dean for students with disabilities..Check with your college and let them assist you in setting up courses and you can get in front of some people.Obviously being in college and entering my 20s means drinking is going on all around me.   I hope this helps and you get the assistance you need.

I'm sorry to hear about this

Submitted by Japaneselover on Tue, 2014-05-27 - 19:22
I'm sorry to hear about this :( you can go hang out with your friends still ^^ I heard one drink (if you take medication) isn't bad but not a lot of drinks like 6.I'm 18 also, so I understand what you're going through. Seriously, I haven't been able to drive yet :/ I've been waiting over 2 years now for my seizures to go away. I was on Keppra a bit ago but has such bad reactions I had to get off them (of course they were one of the meds that stopped the seizures) -.-' It sometimes seems Epilepsy enjoys watching people suffer :( I know it's hard but there will always be people to be around you and love you ^^ I know the feeling of being alone, I only know my brother (who is the only other person) who has it.At school, I feel like I can't talk to anyone about them. I hate it when people mention driving around me and feel like crying; the other week I was crying to my brother. I try not to do self pity stuff :/ I have petite mal and will literally zone out for not even a second. I'm just afraid I won't be able to get to college myself. I mean all my friends are driving, they say how it's fun and I want to change the topic so bad :( I can't relate then; if the topic comes up, I do other stuff to distract myself.

I'm 19 and I am in my second

Submitted by Misjoey101 on Tue, 2014-06-03 - 15:21
I'm 19 and I am in my second year at UC Davis. I wouldn't worry about drinking. I just tell people that I don't like the taste(that I haven't adjusted to it) and they usually accept that. You can still go out with your friends to drink, just go for the non-alcoholic beers and virgin margaritas.  I go to college close to a family member, my sister is in Sacramento. I have talked to the disability office on campus and accepted their offered accommodations for class and getting around. I have also talked to the  graduate neurology department on campus who have a good time studying my brain for their thesis papers and experiments. Where are you going to school? 

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