Introduction
Hi there everybody. I have just joined today and my name is Violet. So going through all the information I am supposed to provide...I was diagnosed as having a seizure disorder in 12/06 although I had started having complex partial seizures in 4/05. I was 28 when diagnosed and I am 29 now. I was misdiagnosed as having panic attacks and I continued to drive until I ran my car into a tree last December. I broke my leg and had a concussion and that's when they discovered I had a brain tumor. It was only then that I met with a neurologist and she diagnosed me.
I was actually relieved to hear that I was having seizures because I had felt so exasperated by them, thinking they were related solely to my thoughts and feelings. This was especially frustrating because I was getting my M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the time. I had surgery to remove the tumor on January 30th of this year (my birthday) and it turned out to be a grade two oligoastrocytoma. Seven months after the surgery I still have the complex partial seizures without much change in type or frequency. I started out taking Dilantin and then started taking Trileptal as well. I am photosensitive and I also seem to have them after I exercise - so lately about once a week. I have gained about 30 pounds since the accident.
I have sought out a community who understands because I am struggling with how to go about my life with the changes that having seizures has brought on; mostly not being able to drive. I take the bus everywhere and am fairly independent, but it takes so much more energy. It has also thrown off the balance of my relationships. Where I used to be somewhat introverted and able to seek out the company of friends at my leisure, it now takes a good deal of planning. Riding the bus sometimes takes all of my "people energy." Anyway...it feels tremendous to write all this down and feel understood. I haven't had this yet and realize I should also seek out a local group to talk with. Thanks for reading/listening and I hope to learn more about you all as well. Oh yeah, and I am originally from Oklahoma but am living in Duluth, Minnesota right now after living in Minneapolis/St Paul for nine years. Okay, I'm done now.
I was actually relieved to hear that I was having seizures because I had felt so exasperated by them, thinking they were related solely to my thoughts and feelings. This was especially frustrating because I was getting my M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the time. I had surgery to remove the tumor on January 30th of this year (my birthday) and it turned out to be a grade two oligoastrocytoma. Seven months after the surgery I still have the complex partial seizures without much change in type or frequency. I started out taking Dilantin and then started taking Trileptal as well. I am photosensitive and I also seem to have them after I exercise - so lately about once a week. I have gained about 30 pounds since the accident.
I have sought out a community who understands because I am struggling with how to go about my life with the changes that having seizures has brought on; mostly not being able to drive. I take the bus everywhere and am fairly independent, but it takes so much more energy. It has also thrown off the balance of my relationships. Where I used to be somewhat introverted and able to seek out the company of friends at my leisure, it now takes a good deal of planning. Riding the bus sometimes takes all of my "people energy." Anyway...it feels tremendous to write all this down and feel understood. I haven't had this yet and realize I should also seek out a local group to talk with. Thanks for reading/listening and I hope to learn more about you all as well. Oh yeah, and I am originally from Oklahoma but am living in Duluth, Minnesota right now after living in Minneapolis/St Paul for nine years. Okay, I'm done now.