I am a mom who is an epileptic.

Melanie - posted on 03/17/2010

I'm a mom with epilepsy, Im 26 yrs old and had my first seizure when I was 19. The doctors say its a birth defect and I would have developed the epilepsy at any time in my life, because its a cyst I have on my brain. What I wanted to ask you ladies, because I see alot of you are from other parts of the world, Im from South Africa, how do you manage with your medication? I mean financially. I am on 2 different types of medication to control the seizures and they are VERY expensive. The Government hospitals dont supply them because they are so expensive and if I apply for a medical aid I have to wait a year before they will start helping me with the medication. And that just wont work, because I cannot afford to pay a medical aid monthly fees and still pay cash for my medication every month. So I would just like to know how it works in other parts of the world, if anyone would be so kind to reply. Thanx

Chanel - posted on 03/14/2010

I'm a mum with epilepsy,I've had it since I was 8yrs old. It runs in my family,thats why I have it. I'm not aloud to drive untill I'm seizure free for 2yrs!! I had 5 seizures during my pregnancy. Every time after my seizure my husband had to rush me to the docter to see if our baby was ok. Luckily my son was fine but the doctor told us that everytime I have a seizure the baby goes through exactly what I was going through,it broke my heart. I just thank God,cause I have been seizure free ever since my son was born,he is 13months old now. I really hope I don't get another seizure cause I'm a stay at home mom. Now all that worries me is if my son will inherit it. I really pray that he doesn't!!!!!!!!

Dawn - posted on 03/12/2010

hi i to am a mum with epilepsy and have a son with it. I took it when i was 18 threw lack of sleep and alcohal so i was told! i now have been fit free for 6yrs and can drive again thank god. My son took it when he was 6myhs old he is now nine and still taking fits i really think it really effects kids mentally as well because they cant do wot their friends do or go were their friends go. All we can do is explain the best we can and hope they understand. I dont no about anyone else that has epilepsy that has kids with it to do you feel responsable when u look at your child taking a siezure and suffering do you think this is my fault i gave them this. mabey its just me.

Misty - posted on 03/12/2010

I am also a mom with epilepsy. Mine is genetic and I have had it since I was 13 yrs old and I am 28 yrs old. I am on three different kinds of medication and I take them twice a day. My son is three yrs old and thank god that he didn't get it. I am almost 1 yr seizure free. My seizures usally happen when I'm in the shower and the epilepsy I have, I never get rid of it. It's through my whole brain and I have really bad seizures. They r very violent and they usually take 3 to 6 min seizures. I hope to out grow it and live a perfectly good life with no worries.

Laura - posted on 03/07/2010

i am also a mum with epilepsy. I hadn't had a seizure since 2006, i didn't have one all through pregnancy, the birth was fine, and as far as we can tell my daughter is healthy. I had one last week because i pushed myself too far, and had to send my driving licence back which is annoying but if all goes well i guess i can get it back in a year. I was quite scared for a few days of things like walking down the stairs with my daughter. I was told in the first place to change her on the floor and not bath her on my own. So far she has not shown any signs of epilepsy but she is only 3 months old, so it's hard to tell. I never had obvious seizures as a kid and they didn't even know anything was wrong with me til i was about 12; I had photosensitive epilepsy but i always stayed concious, i just looked like someone who had gone into a world of my own and lost the power to speak. Although when i look back on it now they were happening much earlier. i do worrying about giving it to my daughter, it's genetic in my family so the chances are at least one of my kids will get it. To be honest though i lost a baby before i had my daughter when i was still on epilim, then i had my daughter whilst on lamotrigine and i am just so happy that she's healthy, she's strong and alert. I remember opting for the tests for downs and spina bifida and i was petrified, i remember being petrified. So if she does have epilepsy then we'll just take it as it comes.



Can I just say I have said a few times that I don't know how women do it on their own. I find it so hard and i'm married to a man who does more than his fair share. So i just can't imagine doing it on my own. I'm sure you probably just get on with it, but i hold my hands up to all single mums, i think your all doing an amazing job.

Jean - posted on 03/05/2010

Yes! I can but if I have one seizure I need to report in and not be able to drive for 3mos. My doctor has to sign papers from the State of Minnesota every 4 yrs., the State of Minnesota is suppose to mail them to you then have your doctor fill it out and you have to fill it out also then mail it back to them asap or you don't drive until they get the papers. This is the law of Minnesota. Also you need to report anything that happens or if someone else is breaking the any kind of law or fraud (that is if you have proof) you need to turn that in to the police it the Law or you lose your driving priviledges for about 6mos-1yr. it could be for the rest of your life also if you don't follow these rules that is what I was told when I first got license when I was 16yrs.old so maybe things have changed, but that goes with the priviledges I have to do since my parents fought for me to get my diving priviledges back then.

Agne - posted on 02/26/2010

Hi Jean. I sopose we are friend by fate. :)) You live in usa? What about driving license? Could You drive a car?

Tracy - posted on 02/14/2010

I to am a single mom with epilepsy, my son has epilepsy also along with spina biffida and learning difficulties

Tracy - posted on 02/14/2010

I to am a single mom with epilepsy, my son has epilepsy also along with spina biffida and learning difficulties