The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Military Rant

Thu, 07/17/2008 - 23:02

Well I have been a member on this forum for a few months now. I have not been offically diagnosed with E yet, but now have had a second Major Seizure. I am a Active Duty E-4 (Cpl) in the Marine Corps with almost five years of service. Back in Aug 07 I had a what appeared to be a Seizure while driving with my wife in the car. After having a second incident at work I ended up going to the ER at the local Naval Hospital. After seeing the Military Docs I was sent to a Civilian Nero Office and was seen by a Nurse Practitioner. To keep a long story short, after all the test and dealing with the BS with Tricare she said she had no clue why it happened and said I was fine, and gave me one fill of Migraine Medicine. I did not feel I got the proper attention from her during our time togther. She really never seemed to listen to what I had to say, but I wanted to Reenlist, so I took the clean bill of health. Well since that date I have had a possible Grand Mal Seizure in my sleep and had another black out incident while driving. I have already seen the Navy Doc and have been refered to a Nero Office off base, which my appointment is a month away.

Right now in my mind I already know my Career is over, even before I see the new Nero. I did not want to go to medical and tell them what was happening, I was trying to hide it. But after my second time of blacking out while driving, I knew I could not keep it a secret. I am scared that if I do not get this, what ever it is thats wrong, figured out this time, I could be putting my Marines at risk. All I can vision is myself going down in Iraq when things are getting intense, when my Marines will need me the most. I still feel that maybe I should of never gone to medical and told them about my 'seizure'. I believe I could have kept it a secret from everyone. I do not know what to do anymore......

Comments

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by chollyb on Sun, 2008-10-12 - 10:12

I'm chollyb, an epileptic due to frontal lobe damage and disabled veteran.  I too am new to this forum.  I reciently was awarded 100% disability because I fought these fools and Gucci Suit gang bangers.  I spent twenty-four years homeless, loss of two careers and the list goes on due to my condition.  Yeah I got the money but all I ever looked for was treatment and an answer to my situation.   

While stationed in England my family and I was in a car accident.  My family came out fine, me however was a different storey.  I woke up a week later after five days in a come and two more days in complete amnesia.  The deja vous started immediately once I got on my feet.  After tyring to handle it for a while I finally reported it to the base hospital.  This was in 1984.  So they do a EEG, two weeks later they call me into the first shirts where all of the big brass was standing.  They were all looking pretty pitiful.  I was an aircraft mechanic in Mildenhall's CAMS org.  Had a beautiful record, with nine years in, A wife, three children.  Life was beautiful.

Anyway, they reported to me that I failed a urinalysis.  I thought that was interesting being I didn't use with too much to loose.  Make a long storey short I ended up with a general under honorable conditions, no other disciplinary actions.  It was all due to my condition. So now I'm a civilian, with a family and very confused about what was going on.  By then I'm having grand malls and all kinds of problems.  Spent nineteen years homeless looking.  

Don't trust the military or VA doctors very much.  From my experience they really are not trained in epilepsy or with epileptics.  After all of the grand malls and EEG's with spike on both sides of my brain they still don't see it.   

For twelve years I've searched for proper help for my condition, I got the disability, no understanding.  I had one VA hospital's ER give me children's aspirin trying to be cute.  

So that's the kind of treatment I received from the gov. since waking up from that coma. 

 

I'm chollyb, an epileptic due to frontal lobe damage and disabled veteran.  I too am new to this forum.  I reciently was awarded 100% disability because I fought these fools and Gucci Suit gang bangers.  I spent twenty-four years homeless, loss of two careers and the list goes on due to my condition.  Yeah I got the money but all I ever looked for was treatment and an answer to my situation.   

While stationed in England my family and I was in a car accident.  My family came out fine, me however was a different storey.  I woke up a week later after five days in a come and two more days in complete amnesia.  The deja vous started immediately once I got on my feet.  After tyring to handle it for a while I finally reported it to the base hospital.  This was in 1984.  So they do a EEG, two weeks later they call me into the first shirts where all of the big brass was standing.  They were all looking pretty pitiful.  I was an aircraft mechanic in Mildenhall's CAMS org.  Had a beautiful record, with nine years in, A wife, three children.  Life was beautiful.

Anyway, they reported to me that I failed a urinalysis.  I thought that was interesting being I didn't use with too much to loose.  Make a long storey short I ended up with a general under honorable conditions, no other disciplinary actions.  It was all due to my condition. So now I'm a civilian, with a family and very confused about what was going on.  By then I'm having grand malls and all kinds of problems.  Spent nineteen years homeless looking.  

Don't trust the military or VA doctors very much.  From my experience they really are not trained in epilepsy or with epileptics.  After all of the grand malls and EEG's with spike on both sides of my brain they still don't see it.   

For twelve years I've searched for proper help for my condition, I got the disability, no understanding.  I had one VA hospital's ER give me children's aspirin trying to be cute.  

So that's the kind of treatment I received from the gov. since waking up from that coma. 

 

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by POH on Sun, 2008-10-19 - 00:19

Howdy,

                  I am sorry about what you are going thru(or have) I served a total of 21 yrs ad/grd (17 ad). during my last hitch I had a grandmal while on duty and sent to a civilian er. (guard time, this whole career was AF specail ops) When I went back to my station but could not work but was not discharged go figure. I left on my own and went to VA and got patial for incidents while active but not guard(siezures).

 

                   I now am seen by a  civian nuero and sent to Madison,WI va and they pick up the bill I don't get it!

I also did not get retirement$.

 

                     you might want to check about being able to go to the  VA I mentioned they have a great team from what I've seen and and are one of three in the country that actually have a conprehensive team that all doctors have to be in agreement for an operation.

                      luck!

                                  Patrick 

 

Howdy,

                  I am sorry about what you are going thru(or have) I served a total of 21 yrs ad/grd (17 ad). during my last hitch I had a grandmal while on duty and sent to a civilian er. (guard time, this whole career was AF specail ops) When I went back to my station but could not work but was not discharged go figure. I left on my own and went to VA and got patial for incidents while active but not guard(siezures).

 

                   I now am seen by a  civian nuero and sent to Madison,WI va and they pick up the bill I don't get it!

I also did not get retirement$.

 

                     you might want to check about being able to go to the  VA I mentioned they have a great team from what I've seen and and are one of three in the country that actually have a conprehensive team that all doctors have to be in agreement for an operation.

                      luck!

                                  Patrick 

 

Re: Military Rant

Submitted by Adz on Sun, 2008-10-12 - 09:48

Sorry to hear about the problems you are having, and although I never served in the forces I can relate to how you feel as my friends were ex-Gordon Highlanders and they still miss it after 12 years.  I couldn't even get into my local Cadets as an instructor because the Top Brass sayed no to the big E.

Honestly, if you feel that you may be putting your Marines at risk, then you already know what you need to do.  I haven't been watching NCIS for the last 3 years without knowing what your Gunny would do to you if he knew the situation.

So life will be different, but your a Marine and you will adjust.  There are so many people out there learning to adjust, and you have the training and determination to make sure you succeed.  Wish I could be more positive, but all I can say is take care out there, and do the right thing.  WMarine87 has good advice, use it.

TLBY&KY

Adz  

Sorry to hear about the problems you are having, and although I never served in the forces I can relate to how you feel as my friends were ex-Gordon Highlanders and they still miss it after 12 years.  I couldn't even get into my local Cadets as an instructor because the Top Brass sayed no to the big E.

Honestly, if you feel that you may be putting your Marines at risk, then you already know what you need to do.  I haven't been watching NCIS for the last 3 years without knowing what your Gunny would do to you if he knew the situation.

So life will be different, but your a Marine and you will adjust.  There are so many people out there learning to adjust, and you have the training and determination to make sure you succeed.  Wish I could be more positive, but all I can say is take care out there, and do the right thing.  WMarine87 has good advice, use it.

TLBY&KY

Adz  

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.