HEATHER

Diagnosed:  1991 (age 12)

Seizure Type: Absence and Complex Partial

How would you describe your seizures? 

I had severe grand mal siezures until my brain surgery in 2001. Now I have small petit mal seizures that affect mostly my face and my speech and hearing. They last aboutt 30 seconds to two minutes. I also have absence seizures where I just zone out for a minute, I do not even realize it is happening till I realize I have lost a small period of time. If you do not know me you would think I was daydreaming.

Is there anything that triggers your seizures? If so, what? 

My seizures are triggered by lack of sleep, stress, and my period.

How did you react to the diagnosis of epilepsy?

I was really freaked out. As a teenager the last thing you want to be is different.

What if anything does epilepsy prevent or limit you from doing? 

It prevents me from driving, but that is about all.

What medications do you take? Does the medication control your seizures? How many seizures do you current have a month? 

I currently take trileptal and keppra, they usually keep it fairly weel controlled. I have about two seizures a month, usually during my period.

Do you find it hard to fit in with others? How do other people respond when they hear you have epilepsy? 

I found it hard when I was younger, but by the time I got to high school, about two years after my diagnosis, I had become comfortable with my disability and freely discussed it with anyone. I figured if they did not like me because of it then they were not really my friends. Some people are scared when they hear about it but I just clearly explain the situation and how they can help and they usually become more comfortable. 

What would you like people to know about epilepsy? 

That you can either learn to accept yourself and be comfortable with your disability or you can let it control you the first is the harder of the options but it makes your life alot better once you are comfortable with yourself, not to mention it makes others more comfortable with you.

What would you like people to know about you?

I am college graduate. I am alsohappily married and about to be a mother.Don't ever let Epilepsy stop you.

What is the hardest thing about living with epilepsy? 

For me it bothers me that I have to depend on others to drive me around.

Do your seizures affect your memory, learning, etc. If so how? They did when I had really bad ones and took like thirty five pills a day because I had trouble concentrating and was always tired, not to mention I was so drugged it was like I was drunk. Now it hardly effects me at all. 

Where do you see yourself in the future? Being a good mother.

Is there anything you would like to say to other people who are newly diagnosed? 

Don't let it scare you. The more comfortable you are the more comfortable others will be.