Following my first seizure (aged 10y) I was blessed with around 10y seizure free. During this time I went to college, got my drivers licence, did a gap year in South Africa and started a University degree in medicine. Things were going in the right direction.
I was taking a holiday with my friend in Corfu when things went array again. We were at a lovely little resort called Kavos (I'm being sarcastic. I would recommend avoiding this place like the plague unless you are in your late teens and looking for a cheap place to party!) Anyways, we had a big night on the first night and were feeling a bit rough the next morning. My friend decided to set an alarm to go sunbathing so we both headed to the poolside. Turns out hangovers and lying in 30 degree heat are likely to induce seizures in people prone to such things. This time it was a generalised tonic clonic seizure which is what most people think of when they think of an epileptic seizure. My friend was understandably traumatised and got me to a local clinic where I was rehydrated. My Dad (the GP) maintained his cool, as ever and advised my friend that we could stay and enjoy our holiday though go a bit easier on the booze and sun!
It wasn't until I got back in the UK that I realised fully the implications of what happened. The main thing I mean when a say this is "Bye Bye drivers licence!" Often we don't take for granted such things until they are taken from us and I was devastated. I felt like I'd lost my independence and what followed was many excruciating years of public transport and begging for lifts.
At the hospital I saw a registrar in neurology who told me "I was not likely to suffer regular seizures". He clearly discussed my case with his consultant after the appointment as a few weeks down the line I got a letter from him basically retracting this comment.
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