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Adjusting to an Epilepsy Diagnosis

Kristine’s Story

I am 40 years old and was recently diagnosed with Epilepsy. A few years ago I was at the beach and began feeling “sick” I decided to leave and stopped at a drive thru to get something to drink….the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital.

It turns out I had experienced severe anemia which triggered a “seizure like” episode. I didn’t dwell on it and went on with my life.

Later that year, I was grocery shopping with my family and began feeling dizzy…..next thing I remember is waking up in an ambulance terrified. My husband recalled that I froze, began shaking violently and without warning I hit the ground hard. Both he and my son thought I died.

The Patient Journey Begins

This time my experience was not so simple. I began a long journey of doctors and trying to decide if I needed medication to manage my seizures. I tried two different medications and neither one worked. Both medications also gave me awful side effects.

I then went in to denial, this was not fair and I didn’t want to deal with it I just wanted to live my life and be happy. Which brings me to this an episode where I was shopping with my family again and basically had a seizure in Walmart. I apparently shut the store down. It is nice to hear how people helped my husband and son but I have no memory of the episode just of waking up in the hospital.

The emotional toll sets in

This is really taking a toll on me emotionally, and my doctor does not think I should drive for three months. I began a new medication which I am tolerating well this time, so I do have some hope. But adjusting to this diagnosis is still a challenge.

Challenge of adjusting to an epilepsy diagnosis

I am not the same person, and do feel scared every time I am alone, and that is just not me. I hope to develop a network of support, I have a feeling I am going to need it.

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