Community Forum Archive

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.

Bad luck and feeling hopeless

Sun, 03/11/2018 - 12:20
I've had a sporadic history of seizures since I was in my late 20's. Never had them until then. They come one or two at a time and then I may go seizure-free for a number of years and, suddenly, I'll have one or two of them again. I am on a combination of Dilantin, Lamictal and Keppra twice per day. Usually, when they occur now, I have either been under a period of tremendous stress, lack of sleep, or I took either my morning or evening meds too late by accident. The worst case happened in 2012. I took my morning meds well into the afternoon one day after two nights of little sleep, and suddenly I was feeling an aura. I went to a movie with a friend and we made our usual stop for a beer afterwards. Afterwards, i had one beer and told my friend I wasn't feeling well and that we should call it an early night. On my way home, I had a seizure at the wheel while I was the middle of slowing my speed down, and I hit a parked car. Someone called the police, and I was accused of drunk driving. The cops didn't even give me a breathalyzer, but instead cuffed me and took me right to the police station. Then, at the police station, they took my blood alcohol level and saw I was telling the truth. Then I had a second seizure right at the police station. Then the cops knew for sure I was telling the truth. I have been seizure free until just the other day. Unfortunately, once again, it was in public. First of all, I am on Social Security Disability for a combination of chronic depression, two previous heart attacks, and lymphedema in my left leg. But I have been working two part-time jobs as a delivery driver for Panera Bread and also as an occasional Process Server for a law firm. The Panera job is at a busy store and the managers can be very bitchy and demanding. The other day, after working four hours at Panera, I stopped at a Culvers burger place to grab something to eat before taking my car into the dealership for some repair work. Suddenly, while in the restaurant, I had a seizure. One minute I was finishing eating and the next thing I knew, I was looking up at paramedics taking me to the hospital. I was in the emergency room and they ran an IV in my arm. Finally, the doctor on duty released me with a slip to follow the recommendations of my neurologist. They gave me a cab voucher for going home. But while I was in the waiting room, I had another seizure. I was admitted overnight at the hospital, and both my primary doctor and my neurologist came to see me. Neither of them were very sympathetic in their bedside manner. My neurologist raised my Keppra dosage from 500 mg to 750 mg, and he said I shouldn't drive for three months, which is the law following a seizure in the state I live in (Wisconsin). I told him about my part-time jobs, and he said that I was a smart guy who could do part-time jobs where I work indoors. But here's the thing: I live alone in my own house with my two cats, I have no brothers and sisters, all my aunts, uncles and cousins are deceased, and most of my friends are people that I know through mental health support groups who don't like to drive very far and live on the other side of town from me. How do I get around for the three months I'm not supposed to drive ? I can't walk very far due to the lymphedema in my left leg. I feel totally hopeless and despondent. Why couldn't this have happened at home instead of a public place ? My job with Panera...well, I'll probably have to quit that because I don't think I can take a medical leave of absence for three months because I'm a part-time worker. My income through Social Security is very limited on its own, and I hate to burn through my savings. I do have a friend who is a Process Server for a different law firm who did volunteer his services in a phone conversation that I just had with him, saying that he would serve my papers for the law firm I work for during my three-month absence. This whole thing is a mess, and I feel like a total loser. How am I even supposed to grocery shopping for food ? Can anyone offer me any suggestions for my situation ? I live in Milwaukee, and there's county buses, but you have to walk a distance to get to them, and my leg is disabled. And my income without the addition of those part-time jobs is very small. Can someone offer me some suggestions ? Thank you.

Comments

Do you have friends that

Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2018-03-11 - 14:04
Do you have friends that drive that are not with the groups you  mentioned?? Does Panera have an office in your town> Does you town have s mass transit system? There are companies that need people to work on the computer and or the phone and some of them will also let people work from j=home after the training. You see things can be done and research is mainly what is needed. Today few companies have people coming in to apply. Oh and your state employment office had someone in it that works with people with disabilities so talk to them and apply there.I use mass transit. I get to and from work before I retired. Stores malls and anywhere else I needed to go. It didn't make any difference if it was in Dallas which is where I live now. But I did it in small towns like Bay City Texas and others. I know about limited incomes and yes I do know a person can have problems. What you seem to have a problem with is getting to and from places. Especially since you have driven. You see I have never driven and have always had to use mass transit. walk or use friends. Oh and yes friends have helped me a lot. They picked me up and dropped me off and in return I gave them coffee or a home made cinnamon roll or a loaf of my bread.Advice  <<< check with your local state employment office, your city for mas transit and once there your SS office can get you forms for a reduced pass and in some cities the pass can be free. Oh and those passed can be day passes but for me I get a monthly pass since I use a bus or the rail system daily. My cost is 40 bucks for a month and you can't beat that with a car when you have car payments, insurance and then gas and upkeep.

Sign Up for Emails

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