How It Started
I didn’t always have Epilepsy. I didn’t start having seizures until 2011. I was a 30-year old woman. It was a normal day, and I was at work. I was at my desk, reviewing papers….I came to consciousness in the back of an ambulance, with the EMT standing over me. That was the start of a long 2-year period of having grand-mal seizures and trying to find a medication that worked for me. I would go to the E.R. four more times in that period. There would have been more trips, but I started refusing to go. I’d heard, “We didn’t find anything wrong,” enough times.
Starting All Over Again
And then, in April of 2013, a miracle…they stopped. Just as suddenly as they had started. I was getting ready for work; doing my makeup in front of the bathroom mirror. I woke up on the bathroom floor, and that was the end of it. Still with no explanation, I was off of medication and living a relatively normal life. Until March of 2021, in the middle of COVID. Another normal day, and I pulled out of the parking lot from work. That was the last thing I remember, until I became aware again…still driving my car and unable to control the wheel. I pulled into a plaza parking lot, parked my car and walked around it. The front passenger-side was missing. I freaked out. I had no memory of what had happened and there was no scene or people around me to give any kind of clue. I stood there for a long time, just staring at what was left of my car. I couldn’t believe what had happened. The police officer didn’t believe me either. If I hadn’t called the police myself; I probably never would have found out that I had driven through a red light, side-swiped an SUV and kept going. Yeah, I left the scene. I’d figured out that I’d had a seizure while I was driving….as that was the only time I’d ever lost consciousness. The Officer gave me the benefit of the doubt once he found out I’d called the cops myself and told them my location. Turns out there’s something called an Absence Seizure. It’s a loss of conscious awareness, and I’d never had one until that day. I didn’t even know they existed. Since that day, I’ve experienced every type of seizure there is. I’d had more trips to the E.R. Also, it turns out that convulsions can be so severe that bones can become dislocated.
Even though the seizures started again, I kept working. I didn’t want to deal with Social Security. I’d had a job working in Health Admin., and I was very aware of how Social Security worked out for most people. However, in January of 2022, I had a seizure so severe it dislocated my shoulder. After that, I couldn’t work. I was on leave for two months. I tried going back to work, but I was now seen as a liability. It wasn’t safe for me to be there. I figured that Disability Support was my only option, because now every time I have a convulsive seizure, my shoulder gets dislocated. I applied for disability, but got declined. I plan to appeal, but I need to be able to see a doctor. Without a job, there’s no money for doctor’s visits, medication, bill or rent. I’m looking for help with bills, with the continuing care and overall cost of living. I’m hoping for another miracle, and that this will stop again. Until then, I’m grateful for any and all support I can get to pay rent and seek further medical help.
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