My first seizure

I guess the beginning is a good place to start.

I had my first seizure when I was 10 years old. It was a normal day at school and we were in the school pool. I can remember messing about with my friends and then I came round in an ambulance. They had strapped me to a stretcher so all I could see was the ceiling. I couldn't move my head as they had put me in a collar. I could feel the ambulance moving and hear it creaking. I had no idea what was going on. I was terrified.

Later on, I was told that I had suffered a partial complex seizure. I had suddenly looked up at the pool ceiling and started walking round in circles. I was unresponsive to my teacher's and classmate's calls.

During the ambulance ride to the hospital my Mum was there. She had been helping out at the school that morning. I was so glad to hear her voice but at the same time she sounded so frightened that I knew something serious had happened. I can't remember much about being at the hospital but they carried out a CT scan which was normal. I came round pretty quickly and was soon agreeing to partake in lunchtime fish and chips! They discharged me after just a couple of hours. I still felt rough but it was the bus home for me. Looking back I do think it was pretty tight of my parents not to pay out for a taxi given the circumstances!

My parents told me that I had had an epileptic seizure but that they weren't sure if I would have another one. They decided not to start me on antiepileptic medication due to the side effects. It's worth mentioning at this point that my Dad was a GP which was handy. The next day it was back to school as (almost) normal............