My Story With Epilepsy
My name is Julie. I'm 29 and live in the heart of British Columbia's Lower Mainland. Most times my family and friends call me Jules. I've lived in BC since 1986. Due to my epilepsy, IBS and more, I am on a disability to help cover the cost of my meds.
I had my first Grand Mal Seizure when I was seven. Since day one I have been on Tegretol to control my seizures. My seizures are well under control as long as I take my medication. Along with Tegretol, I have been taking Prozac, Lamictal, Dicetel, Buscopan & Didrocal. I can be a sleepy head at times.
My first grand mal seizure was while my family was living in Bermuda. We were stationed there for 2 years because my father was in the military. I loved the weather and the scenery, but I hated their schools. Those days started to become real live nightmares.
Bermuda had the old British system. We had to wear uniforms, but the worst of all is getting hit as a measure to dicipline the kids. I was one of those who got hit mostly because of not getting homework done or not keeping my desk cleaned. Nightmare number two was getting teased by other students. The teachers did nothing. Zip, Zero...etc. Nightmare number three was of course, my first grand mal seizure....
One Big Headache One Day
The morning just before I had the seizure, I woke up with a huge headache. Unfortunately I was sent to school despite my urgent request to stay home. During the lunch hour, the teacher kept me from going out to play just cause my desk was messy. No one (including the teacher) was around me or even in the classroom when I went into a seizure. That afternoon I ended up in the hospital.
After spending a short time in the hospital, my mom and I were sent to Montreal Children's Hospital so that I could undergo tests, and cause of the fact we were Canadian. I loved the idea because we had family there on my dad's side. The big test was to have an EEG (Electroencephalogram). Test number two that I have always hated since day one is blood work. I hate blood work because my veins are small and like to hide. One time it took 5 separate needles just to find a vein in me.
All the tests I went through could only bring up the conclusion that a new chapter in my life was about to begin. Doctors had no answer to the cause of why I developed Epilepsy. After being diagnosed with the disorder, I was put on Tegretol to control my seizures. Thankfully it has controlled my seizures as long as I take it.
I was able to cope and accept the fact that epilepsy was going to be a part of my life. Sometimes it was hard from time to time, especially having to find out at the age of 16 that I could not get my driver's license till I was seizure free for 1 year. I finally got it when I was 18.
Home Sweet Home
After living close to 2 years in Bermuda, it was time to head back home. CANADA!!!! Thankfully we don't get much snow like they do in eastern Canada. Here in SW British Columbia, we mostly get rain during the winter. We're lucky if we get snow, which most times it does not last longer than 24 hours. After it turns into rain. Below are pictures of Canada's flag and a map of Canada.
One thing I missed while being in Bermuda was not having any snow. I'd always get sunburns in Bermuda. I couldn't wait till winter came around so I could make snow angels and build a huge snowman name FROSTY who had a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal.
My family moved to western Canada in the province of British Columbia. After summer, it was time to start going back to school. Most of my time in school was getting teased. If it was not the students, then it was from my own family.
Thankfully I did not to have a seizure during while I was in elementary school. I do recall a day that I stayed home from school because I had another huge headache. My brother and my sister stayed home that day as well. All I did was kept screaming at them cause I was scared that I would have a seizure. And you know, I was right!! That day I had gone to the bathroom and accidentally locked myself in there. My dad had to rush home and break down the door. The next thing I noticed again was being back in the hospital. I had spent a week in there.
After elementary school, it was time to move on to grade 7. I was lucky not to have a seizure during grade 7, but I did in grade 8 & 9. Before I began grade 7, I started to experience auras. I was not aware of them till my neurologist told me about them. Thankfully I get a warning before a seizure comes on. If it weren't for the auras, I would of hurt myself one day while I was in a woodworking class or injured myself really bad in the shower.
After passing grade 9, it was time to enjoy the summer. Unfortunately, it became a very hot and humid summer. One small job I did for many years was delivering papers. One afternoon, the temperature reached a whopping 37 degrees celcius. While trying to deliver papers that day, it felt like my brain was cooking in a hot oven. I decided to go home till the temperature cooled down. That evening, my mom went out with me to help finish deliver my papers. About 40 minutes later, I started to have an aura. Rather than taking the aura seriously, I just continued to walk till I ended up falling into a customer's rose bush. Thankfully the owners were home to help. Unfortunately my mom was not aware that I had a seizure till I came running to her. The next thing we heard was sirens which meant that an ambulance was coming. I spent a few hours in the hospital, but then I was released.
Most of my seizures were due to the fact I missed my medication. Others can be stress or heat related. I always have a huge headache after as well as vomit. Plus, a good LONG nap is also important. One time I had slept for 24 hours!!
I was lucky when I was in secondary school. No seizures!!! At the end of grade 10, I received an award along with 3 other students for having the least absences. In grade 11, I got another award. My driver's license!!! To get it, I was required to go a year without having a seizure. Although I had my driver's license, I didn't have my own car.
I did go all the way through to grade 12 and graduated with other students, but I did not receive a high school diploma. I don't feel guilty or sad about it, nor do I miss school. The school system is so bad out there. There are now more teen suicides, drop outs, school shootings, etc.
Sad Times Arrive
Before I ended grade 12, I was heartbroken to find out my parents were going to get divorced. Sad to say, my parents divorced in 1997. In January 1998, my mom, my brother and I moved into a townhouse. In June, I finally got my own car.
After taking a year off from school, I made plans to attend Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford. I was only able to attended there for 1 semester. While attending college, I was lucky to survive a car accident. On September 29, 1999 I was rear-ended. The impact was enough to push my car into the car in front of me. I was thankful to not have any broken bones, cuts or bruises, etc. But, for months I suffered back pain. Still do....
In February 2000, I got my own apartment. I lived there for 3 years till the British Columbia Government wanted to cut me off disability and I felt I had no choice but to move back in with my mom. After 3 months my worker helped me stay on and I even managed to go on a higher level of disability which means more $$$.
More About Me
I'm the youngest of 3. My family likes to call me 'Boo' as a nickname. The most I liked about my childhood life is that I was very lucky to have my first boyfriend while I was in kindergarten. The most I hated about my childhood life is the many years I spent getting teased in school from classmates and family members. (still do)
You'll think that I'm French Canadian after I tell you that I was born in the French Province of Canada. QUEBEC!!! Quebec is Canada's largest province. I was born in the small community called St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Here is a map of Quebec as well as it's provincial flag.
The truth is that I'm English speaking. I am not very well with my French speaking skills. Plus, I have no memory of when my family lived in Quebec. I was around 2 years old when we moved out of the province. I've lived most of my life in British Columbia (20 years).
Updates
November 26, 2007 - I am successfully got the job I had worked hard to get. I now work there full time and part time at my old job. Busy as a bee
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The most I hated about my childhood life is the many years I spent getting teased in school from classmates and family members. (still do)
