Hi everyone,

I don’t think that this board really has a “host”. At a development board I frequent every so often the host will ask for roll call and then a related question to the board.

There are so many good people here that I thought maybe it would be a good way for everyone to meet each other. Maybe an introduction (name), age, type of seizure and meds. You might want to include what you do for a living, if you are on the board for yourself or someone you care about.

I guess I’ll start and if it works - wonderful - we’ll do it again in a couple of weeks with a different question.

Question: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you because of E. If you find that nothing about it is funny and you can't relate, let us know why.

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My name is Lisa; I’m 39, I live in Tampa FL with my husband and 3 kids, and work in Internal Audit. I’m here for my son Jake (17 months). Jake has complex partials, tonic/clonic and absent seizures we’ve been at this for the past 7 months. Currently he’s on Dilantin, Tegratol and Trileptol and he’s behind developmentally because of seizures, meds and low muscle tone (Hypotonia).

The funniest thing to happen to us because of E: In the grocery a few months ago, I am waiting in line at the Deli. A little boy named Bradley, age 4 was tired of waiting with is Dad (Dad clearly had his hands full, 3 kids in tow from maybe 7 to 1 yr). So I didn’t mind talking to Brad and Jake was loving the attention, the boys are playing peek-a-boo and patty cake.

During our conversation Jake shows his aura and I knew that we were going to have one within the next 60 seconds or so. The line was long so what do you do?? I take Jake out of the seat and lay him down all the while lil Bradley was taking in the whole thing (I kind of forgot I was speaking to him).

As I’m sitting in the corner with Jake; waiting for it to start, Bradley asks what I’m doing. I tell him that Jake is going to have a seizure and I asked him if he could count with me. Jake’s head turns to the right, then his eyes and he starts to change color (turning blue) as his body stiffens out. Poor Bradley’s eyes were huge, but he was counting with me, very quiet and never taking his looking away from Jake. Luckily this one wasn’t too bad, 40 seconds and no convulsions – just lots of twitching, and he comes out really quick –all smiles and patty cake!

About that time Bradley’s Dad notices and comes speeding our way yelling, “Brad, get away from there – you might catch something”!! But, Brad doesn’t notice he's being spoken to – he’s just watched something that he’s never seen before and doesn’t understand... He’s sitting on the floor with us and looks up and says “Wow, Daddy, you shoulda saw it. Why can’t our baby do something fun, why doesn’t Ashley change color?” At this point Dad realizes what’s going on (Jake’s still a little glassy eyed and a bit twitchy) and starts apologizing, pulling Brad by the arm away from us.

I get up, sit Jake back in the cart and pick up this other little boy, look him square in the face and tell him what a big help he had been, that I didn’t think I could have handled it on my own. I also tell him that Jake’s got extra energy or sparks going in his brain and Dr.s call it epilepsy. I asked him to remember Jake, that someday they may ride the school bus together and if Jake had a seizure he could need somebody that’s not afraid of epilepsy to help him, cause even though his eyes are open he is kind of asleep and doesn’t know what’s going on around him.

I sit Mr. Bradley on his feet while his dad is throwing me daggers and yelling at this little boy to mind his own business. As they walk off I can still hear this little guy telling his Dad that Ashley needs to learn to turn blue, why doesn’t she spark? The last thing I hear was Dad telling Brad he doesn’t know why Ashley doesn’t spark or turn blue, ask your Mother..."

I laughed all the way home, our first public episode wasn’t that bad! And a wonderful little boy learned that just because someone is different doesn’t mean they’re not fun. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/cool.gif

Hugs all round!

Lisa and Jake

my name is jessie i live in iowa with my husband and 3 kids i was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1997 i am currently taking topamax but have yet to get my grand mal seizures under control i am currently going through the testing process to see if i am a surgery candidate but i guess one day at a time. i am currently looking into seeing about maybe getting a seizure alert dog or a seizure assistance dog thats about all i can think of right now i havent had anything funny happen all of my seizures have happed at home in the evenings or late afternoons and always while im having my period too ok now i think thats it sorry really spacy just took my meds a little bit ago

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mother of 3
ages 4,3,and 1
my pride and joy

live life to its fullest you never know when it may be to late to do all the things you would have done tomorrow

I'm new to the board a few weeks ago, after having my first seizure in several years. I am 38, diagnosed with tonic clonic seizures when I was 19, have been on 100mg of Phenobarbital since diagnosis. Dilantin and Tegretol were tried but I was allergic to both. I'm currently considering seeing a neuro because it's been forever and there are so many new meds. I am an RN and a Director of Nursing full time in a nursing home. I have been married to my husband for 17 years and have a healthy 11 year old daughter and healthy 15 year old son.
The funniest thing,,,that's tough. If there was ever a desperately whispered prayer to God it has to be the one's I've whispered when I've been in public the few times I felt a grand mal coming on..."oh, God, please no, not here, not now...."
The one funny thing, and I mentioned it in another post: When I was first diagnosed I was living in the dorm in college and one of my dormies took a tongue depressor, padded it with gauze, drilled a hole in one end and put a string through it to make a necklace. They presented it to me as my "get well present" when I got back from an evaluation. I thought it was funny as hell, and it hung on my bulletin board for the rest of my years in college.

my name is Robin, I am 31, with 5 year old twin daughters. I started getting seizures in Nov due to viral spinal menigities. tonic/clonic, I just started taking depakote because tegreatal wasnt taking them away as much as i would of liked. at first I didnt think anything funny happened because i have seizures. but i guess one thing did happen that is funny to me, becasue it freaked my mom out, lol. I was in San Franscico with my girls and I had a seizure and i wouldnt stay down after one because I didnt want to go to the hospital so this homeless man was helping me walk to a cab and he was kind of freaking out, and there were people following us because they wanted me to get medical help,

Why didn't we ever think of this before???? Great idea!!!

My name is Lisa... i live in ohio with my two children (Danielle -6 Dylan -4) and loving husband. I have had seizures now for 2 years..doctor has now just said the E word.. had to prove i was having seizures for two years!!! I work at Target (the best place in the world to work, they are so understanding!!)
Funniest thing....... i have had many at my job, but this one is amusing to me.....it was almost time to go home and my boss told me to go clean the plant area (least favorite job) as i was walking to the door to go do it i fell and began seizing....it was a mild one and i came to pretty quick... there is my boss (first one he had seen up close) knealing beside me.... first words out of my mouth was i told you i didn't like to do that..... he assured me he'd never have me do it again, poor guy i think he actually thought for a second it was his fault!!!! Boy could i have had him eating out of my hand http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dance.gif!!

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Angels are real! When you need them most they come. My angel is my daughter who saved me from drowning in our bath tub. She's my hero and my life!

Hello everyone,

My name is Leigh Ann. I have 3 kids (14g-11g-8b)and a wounderful husband. I have had "E" for about 1 year now. I didn't find out right away. I went 7 months with some very disturbing deja vous(simple partial seizures)and I didn't know what they were. We were moving at the time so I thought they were stress related. For those of you who have the deja vou thing you know that you feel terrable but how do you tell anyone without them thinking that you are crazy. I always figured if I told someone they would think that I was too sensitive and it is just a deja vou like anyone elses. Hmmmmmm?! I had my first complex partial seizure shortly after moving here during a job interview. Most of you know the story I am sure but that was the one that sent me to the hospital. I was freaking out!


I have 2 funny stories but I will tell the one that has never been told on this board so no one is sleeping by the time it is done....ha ha.

First I have to give you a background of my area...We live in a town of 40,000 people. Big town but with a small town atmosphere. We live in AZ and on the boarder of CA. The thing that seperates us from CA is a lake formed from the Colorado River. There is no gambling here so everyone takes the fairy boat across the lake to gamble. (This is a HUGE tourist spot by the way) One night my husband and I had a night with no kids so we thought we would go over and gamble a little with the slots (we doubled our money by the way)but then trouble. More than half way on our relaxing 20 minute boat ride across the lake I feel the aura happening. I realize after a few seconds that this one isn't a false alarm. I look over and tell my husband, "This is it, I'm going 'out'". He helps me to sit down and sure enough...OUT! I woke about 5 minutes later and we are docked at the casino but I have no clue where we are or what we are doing there. It usually takes me about 10 minutes to remember what was going on if I have a seizure that lasts longer than 3 minutes. It all started coming back to me when the driver of the boat came to us and said, "Is she ok now? Can we start loading the boat for the return trip now?" I asked my husband what was happening as we exited the boat. As we set foot on the doc all of the people that were waiting to get on the boat were all patting me on the back as we walked by saying, "Good for you girl! You hold that boat up all you want. We all get sea sick from time to time." I looked at my husband and he shrugged his shoulders. I then turned to them and said, "I have never gotten sea sick in my life! I just had a seizure!" The looks on their faces was priceless. Shock, disbelief, and the ones that were just starting the mental picture of what took place on that boat. It was funny. It may not be funny to you guys but I wanted to die laughing at the time. The boat crew knew what was happening because my husband told them I was having a seizure and not to kick us off right away. They offered to call medical to meet us at the dock but my hubbie said that I would be ok just as long as we didn't irritate me while 'out'.

Thanks for the reflection time. You guys have some pretty good stories. This was a TERRIFIC idea.

God Bless you all,

KittyMom

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Mother of 3 beautiful kids and wife to a Great husband! I love helping others...it helps me grow!

Hi, first off, I know my screen name is negative but I was angry when I joined this board. Apparently I can't change it so please forgive me.

My name is Beth and I'm 27yrs old. I'm married and have 3 children ages 4, 2, and 6mo. I was diagnosed with E in Dec. 2001. I have grand mal and complex partial seizures. They are not under control yet. I was on Epilim, Lamictal and Rivitril but those didn't work. I'm now on Frisium and Rivitril which was working much better to control the grand mal seizures but I'm having more now so we have to rethink things. The Frisium also causes depression and aggression which dh thinks we need to fix. He used to work for years at the Epilepsy Assoc. of Australia as well as other jobs caring for people with disabilities including E. He decides on most of my med combos since he knows more about them than the drs. Our dr supports this and gives him scripts for whatever he wants. She still monitors me.

Anyway, I can't think of anyhting funny but the closest I could come to it would be when my mum visited from the states. She doesn't believe I have E. We even showed her all the boxes of meds with my name of it but she still thinks it's bs. One day I had a seizure right in front of her. Dh knew it was coming and told us but she still didn't believe me. Let's just say she does now. We were in public and dh gave me an injection to stop the seizure. We do that instead of going to the ER. I guess some people just have to see it to believe it. Considering she lies all the time, it was "nice" to be able to prove her wrong.

To Epilepsy Sucks:

I love your screen name, I only wish I would have thought of it first! I have always had an anger issue with this disease, oddly enough, my family always believed I "had" the disease, it was me who needed the convincing. Unfortunately, after cutting my dose down and having my first grand mal in six years, I'm pretty much convinced I'm not going to "outgrow" this!

Hi,
My name is Garry and I live near York.I am 48 and although having Temporal Lobe Epilepsy since 8 yrs,I was only diagnosed in 1999.I don't know how I managed to hold my job as a Fitter,but I did (until diagnosed).I haven't worked since.I am married to Gillian,and have two grown up kids,Mark and Emily Elizabeth.Mark has left uni but can't get full time work.Emily has just this week finished uni (Archaeology),fingers crossed.
I was on tegretol,400mg,but they made me ill.I am now on lamictal 200mg,these are very good.I have numerous other ailments but I won't bore you with them.
Take care everyone.
Garry

Hi everybody,
My name is Trina. I am a 27 year-old teacher. I have a wonderful husband and 2 beautiful boys - 3 years and 10 mos. I was diagnosed with mesial temporal sclerosis after a 25 minute tonic-clonic 2 years ago this July. I have had simple partial seizures since I was about 16, but thought they were panic attacks. They usually popped up at stressful, sleep dreprived times. I was on zonegran until 2 weeks ago. I just started lamictal. So far so good. It is nice to be out of that drugged state I was in as we increased my zonegran. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/round.gif

The funniest story I have was with my 2nd and last tonic-clonic sz. As I started to come out of it and found all of these people in my living room, one of the paramedics asked me how far along I was in my pregnancy. I got scared and and said, "What do you mean I'm Pregnent? " http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif I was 6 1/2 months pregnant. They laughed a bit as they then decided to take me to the hospital.

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No one can make you
feel inferior, without
your consent. ~
Eleanor Roosevelt

Wonderful idea! I'm Dori 42 yr. old mother of three, grandma of twins. We live in Palm Harbor, FL. My hubby, kids and I used to live in Minnesota. Too cold for a Texan!

I had a fractured skull 17 years ago and have had SP's and CP's since then. I didn't know what they were until last July when I had a GM. I always thought they were 'flashbacks' or something. I am on 500mg Dilantin and 200mg Zonegran. The GM's are controled(only had 1 that I know of anyway) but the SP's are still around.

As for funny things, they are more of an on going thing. I have problems with word retreival. I have gotten pretty good at pantomiming what I am trying to say.

Hi Dori,

I guess we are neighbors. I live in the Westchase area and work in St Pete. I curse thru Palm Harbor a couple times a month on my way to Honeymoon Island!

Nice to meet you! I'm here for baby Jake. He's had E since Oct. 02. Still not controlled - working at it, but not there yet...

Lisa and Jake