Living with Epilepsy/Seizures

My name is Terri. I had my first seizure when I was 21; and then a 2nd one about 2 months later; after seeing a doctor, I was diagionised with a seizure disorder. I was put on Dilantin and it controled my seizures very well for about 17 years. You can do the math but I will help, I am now 38 years old and my seizures are a lot more frequent and from a few of the stories that I have read, it seems to me that women’s seizures become more frequent around this age. (That’s another issue).

Anyway, over the last 2-3 years, I have had 3 accidents due to seizures, I hit my husband because I was driving behind his car coming home. We were in returning home from our stay with my sister due to Hurricane Katrina. I had no memory of the accident. When the police officer arrived I told him I had hit a piece of ice on the road and hit my husband’s car. (my husband had told me to say this- he is so smart-we will get to that later).

My 2nd accident was in FL. I was with my mother and she did not realize it was happening and my foot went down on the gas pedal and I hit the car in front of me and hit a police officer. This case is still pending. (I think they know I had a seizure-I was trying to be honest but now I am so scared because I am not sure what the law is in FL regarding seizures and I am afraid that I will go to jail). My last one was June 4th. I hit a parked car. I am just happy no one was hurt. I am afraid to drive.

I am on 3 medicines, Dilantin, Topomax and Lamictal and can not seem to get my seizures under control right now. My doctor says that sometimes seizures “flare up” as he describes it but I also do not think he is actually listening to me. I have an appointment with a different doctor which I think is good just to have another view of this (and she is a women).

Now, I can say due to Hurricane Katrina I have a lot of stress and lack of sleep which are factors for seizures. In LA, I am not supposed to drive for 6 months after having a seizure but the doctors have no liability to report medical records. Also, the police were not called after the accident so I have been able to drive. I do not want to hurt anyone, let alone, my kids, myself or someone else and end up in jail for vehicular manslaughter because it could happen. I saw a story on tv where a guy killed a pregnant women because he had seizures (but he was not taking his medicine) and he did go to jail. I drive only because I have to drive to get to work and get my kids to school or daycare in the mornings. Other than that my husband drives the rest of the time. I just hope I can get my seizures under control.