Saturday 26 September 2015

Life after my first seizure

I was 10 when I had my first seizure and things did change afterwards. My parents decided not to start me on antiepileptic medication but the paediatrician did offer this option. Knowing what I know about these drugs now I realise that perhaps this was one of the most important decisions my parents ever made for me and I'm so thankful they left me drug free! The subject of side effects of medication deserves it's own space but needless to say I experienced some unpleasant ones.

So, anyway things ticked along as normal after the seizure except for a few minor alterations. I recall an outdoor pursuits trip just afterwards when I wasn't allowed to do any of the fun stuff! I was stuck with orienteering instead of climbing and sailing. However, I don't remember a long period of parents and teachers being overly protective. I was back in the swimming pool pretty quickly.

The paediatrician had said that if I remained seizure free for 2 years off medication then it was likely the risk of recurrence would return to that of the general population, so as time time passed so my family and myself worried less and less. I didn't suffer any other seizures until my early 20's and I know that I was very lucky for this to be the case.

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