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Kathy781
Do your seizures make you feel useless?
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Do your seizures ever make you feel like you are useless? The reason I ask is last week we found out my husband has to have surgery and needs someone to drive him for about 6 weeks give or take. Due to my seizures, I am unable to drive and can't help him out. That by itself wasn't so bad but I also have a short term memory problem. One day last week, one of our daughters called and made a comment to me that due to my memory problem, she thought she and her sister should be at the hospital during the surgery. She made it sound like the memory problem was the only reason they would be there. In other words, they think I won't be able to remember what the doctor says after the surgery so they should be there. Also, she told me I needed to take a pad to write everything down so I won't forget it. I haven't been having to write anything down so why start now? Well, that was like a slap in the face because my memory isn't that bad! My husband will tell you that. Yes, I have short term memory problems but not that short! I can remember things that have been said to me today, yesterday, last week, etc. These girls have not been around me since I started having memory problems enough to know how it really is. We don't see them but once every two weeks and don't talk to them in between either. I may forget some things that was said a few weeks ago but not a few days ago! They treat me as if I have Alzheimer's. Yes, I understand they may want to be there for their Dad but that wasn't the way she came across. All of it put together made me feel so useless as if I'm no good for nothing and that's what they think. I can't drive him anywhere and they think I can't remember anything! Have your seizures and everything that goes with them made you feel this way?
Recent Comments on this Discussion
Kathy,
I take calls all the time from people who have just had surgery or their loved one has and they do not remember the discharge instructions. Most I have seen are very vague, even the ones that I have had given to me. I think it is a good idea for more than one person to be present for any hospital proceedure and for some one to write down as much of the discharge information as possible. We all forget things, and health care workers are no different, so they some times forget to write down what you really need to know regaurdless of any memory issues or not. It is a stressful time under the best of circumstances and it would be unrealistic for you to remember EVERYTHING. Besides having family there is always nice. Try not to take offense or think that it is all related to how you function. They may just feel the need to heol in any way they can. Take advantage of it.
Yvonne Lara
Hi Cathy! I know how you feel, you see I have had seizures for 32 yrs. now. Except for almost a year now I have been having gran-mals. I use to drive, work, and I went to college as well, but since I have been having these I haven't been able to drive, as well as what I use to. A couple of months back my parents were going out of town, so I needed a place to stay, because I'm not able to stay by myself anymore. They left me with my brother, and sister-in-law, except my sister-in-law got mad when my parents got back from the trip because she expected us to pay them because of my stay. This has been over 6 months ago, and still she holds a gruge because of the insadent, I am upset with her as well, but what upset with the most is because she has a younger brother that had 2 srokes. She has no problem doing things for him, everything that they do for him they do for free, including adding him to their family plan for a fitness center, but when it comes to me they expect a reward in return. I'm upset with my brother because he doesn't speak-up for his family like my sister-in-law does for hers. My brother hardly ever comes to visit us if ever to see how things are going for us, you see my parents are already getting old, and you would think that he would give us a little concern. They act like they don't want to come around because they think I'm useless, and I need to be watched all the time, but I'm still capable to do things on my own, and I don't need a baby-sitter.
i was wondering new here would the seizures themself cause the short term or the meds i had the short term even when i stopped myt meds and im on dilantin 400 mg ext tabs went thru a time of denile and stopped my meds and kept having more seizures in my sleep;;BUT I ALSO GOT A SCARY REACTION I TRIED TO DROPPED MY MEDS TO 300 MG sorry hit the tab and i woke up choiking and a terable headach and this happened like 3 times so i went back on my 400 anyone have this happen in thier sleep..
I had a photographic memory until I started having seizures. I worked for a car dealership a few years ago where I had to write down specific information about cars, engine size, milage, VIN#, etc. I could remember many things about the cars and I knew these things had to be specific because these numbers had to be written on sales orders and if they were wrong, there could be problems with registration, titles and bank contracts. It never bothered me to write these things down before so now, writing things down is just part of my day, I'd rather be right than sorry. I write things down now, and if someone says anything about, I just tell them, I have Epilepsy, and a bad memory goes along with it. I have more going on in my life than letting someone bother me about my memory problems. I'm on disability, and that helps with rides to Dr's appts. Not being able to drive has been the hardest part for me to deal with because of my epilepsy. Sometimes, I just look at it this way, I don't have to come up with the money it costs to drive. Like car payments, insurance, gas, repairs, and all the other expenses that come with owning a car.
I cannot express enough how I agree. I have 5 grandkids and 2 daughters that could REALLY use my help. I am useless to them. I also cannot do any babysitting, driving, walking dogs, ect.., type jobs. That makes me feel like a burden to my family......
We might have Epilepsy, but it doesn't have us
Yes yes yes! I'm in college, I'm a semester away from getting a 2 year degree....... after 6 years! my epilepsy makes me feel useless all the time, in school (still) cant drive, cant work at the present time. this sux.
My boyfriend got into a serious accident in June riding his motorcycle acoss the state, I had to wait a week to see him cause I couldn't drive to be with him at the hospital. it was awful for both of us. I cant help drive him around when he feels like crap. so yea I feel useless, but he dosent think I am. I know I have my talents and that it may take me longer but I'm good at what I can do. And yes there are people that will automaticly underestimate me because of my epilepsy but thats their mistake!
So I guess what I'm saying is you have to remember who you are and what YOU CAN DO. dont let the epilepsy or memory loss take you over. so you cant drive your husband to the hospital, you are still going to be there for him and thats what counts.
and dont let the kids get to you, because they are kids and kids think they know everything until they grow up and realize that they dont. ;-)
So I hope this helps you a little, and I hope your husband has a quick and safe recovery.
~Amanda Lynn~
Happy Daze Ep does suck but it's only a part of ur life. Don't let it beat u, Sep. 11th wus a disaster and people still went on with their lives. Im a newyorker and my hubby nearly died there. Don't let it get u down, ur worth more than u think, yea my memory sucks, but life still goes on. Wake up to the sunshine and smile, things always could b worse, ducky eppy mom