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Terrified of having another seizure!

Wed, 06/06/2018 - 09:44
I am a 22 year old nursing student and just expirienced my first grand mal seizure in April, the morning after my birthday. I am blessed that my boyfriend made me run a little late that morning, or else I would have been driving while it happened. I didn’t see it coming, I blacked out completely and woke up on a stretcher with an EMT in my face telling me I had a seizure. I was disoriented, angry, and confused. I was yelling at them, telling them I had to go and make it to my TEAS exam (nursing exam) which wasn’t until the day after. I was so out of it. I felt like I was thrown at a wall at 50 miles an hour. My boyfriends roommates later told me my boyfriend was screaming at the top of his lungs, crying (which he NEVER does) since he had no idea what was going on. I turned blue, stopped breathing and they all thought I died. I just cannot imagine the fear he must have felt. It kills me and I feel almost guilty. I’m typically alone most of the time, and now every time I feel lightheaded in the slightest I have a full blown panic attack and embarrass myself in public. I could go on and on, but I’m unsure if I should get on anti seizure medication before starting the clinical portion of nursing school, or get on medication for panic attacks. My MRI came back normal, but my EEG said I have abnormal brain waves although they are unsure if this is what caused it. I’m currently stuck at home doing a 72 hour ambulatory EEG to find out if this is the cause, but it’s making my fear even worse for some reason. My head is wrapped up like a mummy and it’s a constant reminder that’s something is wrong with my brain. I’m afraid of collapsing, cracking my head open, or having a seizure alone and dying. I don’t know if I should get on medication of some kind! Help!

Comments

Hi Kristin! The first thing

Submitted by kbferris on Thu, 2018-06-07 - 23:04
Hi Kristin! The first thing you want to do is find a neurologist & set up an appointment with him or her. Your neurologist will run some tests, (EEG, blood work) and also your neurologist will put you on anti-seizure meds because of you having a seizure. Don't be scared if you have another seizure. For all you know this could be a one time thing.Take it from someone who has lived with epilepsy for over 20 years, I had my first seizure when I was in elementary school. When I first started having seizures, I had no clue what was going on. My sister saw me have my first seizure. Talk about scary for a little kid. If you continue to have seizures Kristin, you will need to find a neurologist that you like and stick with them. I've been given the gift of being able to have the same neurologist for as long as I've had my epilepsy. A neurologist will put you on anti-seizure meds that work for you. My neurologist had me on 2 different meds before my seizures got under control.The first one wasn't working for me then the second one I was allergic to, now I'm on a combo of 2 different meds and they work. If you ever get scared again you can always turn to God and ask HIM to help you to stop being scared. God is always with you.

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