This is a written piece but the photo is so that there is a bit more impact.
I’ve actually had several requests for advice on how to handle the pain of Epilepsy…which is when you’re body has a chemical misbalance and goes into seizures.
Please know? That when someone is having one..they are not always aware but when they are they are still completely out of the ability to control them.
Take anything heavy/hard/sharp/brittle out of the way…....put soft things around if possible. Often I’ve woken back up to find I’ve bashed my head on things like cement stairs/oven doors/toilet lids…....DO NOT! put anything in the mouth of someone having a seizure…they’ll bite right thru it and can possibly then choke on it. This includes? you’re fingers.
Please understand….....disabilities such as epilepsy are very painful and disorientating to those who have them…..we suffer from these things constantly…and when we aren’t? We’re worried ABOUT suffering from them.
We’re like everyone else…we just have our differences that set us a bit apart from each other.
If u see someone having a seizure? Anywhere from standing still…having our eyes roll back in our head…hopping up and down acting very weird…actually shaking/urinating/drooling or just falling over unconcious…........DON’T PANIC. GET HELP! Call for medical assistance.
The person having the seizure may not thank you? But then again…what if they did?
Lenny La Rue, IPA
Thank you ever so much for clearing up what I needed to know to help. I’ve never had a problem with seeing an epileptic as “different” than me, maybe because I had an epileptic mother and I have a chemical imbalance myself. But just knowing I know what to do makes it a LOT easier to do more than offer moral support. I can now help with the knowledge of how to do the most good.
You are a terrific person for writing this and sharing your story!
Jan Piller
Yah I agree very brave of you to share this and I’ve just learned lots!! Good to know this stuff. Thanks for writing it!
pat oubridge
A wonderful lesson Carla, I will keep this good advice tucked away in my mind, just in case.
I know it’s totally different, but my dog Max has epilectic seizures and I do have to help him occasionally, it can be really frightening and upsetting when it happens. The vet cannot give him medication as they only occur sparodically
Carla Jandelle... replied
i’ve often woken feeling ‘drunk’ (never been but always figured that wa the feeling).....have always wondered if animals felt the same.
thanx Pat for reading and the comment
ajax
Good on ya Carla I’ve got a few relos and friends that have epilepsy.There’s so many different forms.People are normally indifferent and scared cos they don’t understand.So thank you for sharing and helping people understand. XXXX
Carla Jandelle... replied
so often i get told how i’m SUPPOSED to be? as a diabetic and epileptic…......yet…people don’t realize…so many of us don’t fit the ‘normal’ when it comes to either disease. i appreciate u reading and commenting here ajax.
P3T3
I have just read your peice….I have a broken back, the facet joints on 2 vertabre, I have to take morphine…..and Tregratol, which is an epilepsy drug. I take it to stop muscle spasm in my back and I feel the effects in my head, drunken, blurred vision etc…..so I can only imagine what you must be going through for a drug like this to counteract the epilepsy. For 17 years I have battled constant pain and met many people in hospitals with a huge variety of problems and I have learnt to have empathy, not sympathy, as I empathy to me means I understand and wish I could help, where sympathy just means they are sorry for you and move on. So I do have empathy for you and sincerely wish I could help. You are very brave to put your problems out in public for the world to veiw.
Carla Jandelle... replied
that is DEFINATELY the word i’m looking for here! sympathy is just annoying to be sure at times? i put these words and image out so people might be aware more of what is in front of them instead of what happens behind. MY empathy for YOU’RE pain and issues…i too take tegratol…and it definately leaves me loopy by night time when i have to take the highest dosage. i stumble into walls…sometimes can’t tell if the doorway is THIS wide of only this wide…..not to mention trying to shower while under this dosage…i’ve fallen out when trying to just rinse my hair with my eyes closed.
i make a serious attempt to help ANYONE around me who needs it…be it a child wanted to cross the street or a person in a wheel chair trying to get thru a doorway…..it doesn’t hurt me to help someone else in need.
if only MORE people would do that….we’d be such a better world.
Thank you Pete for you’re words…and for sharing with ME you’re pain as well.
riverotter
Thank you Carla for your well written words and image.
dougie1
carla, thank you for the writing, i am going to send a mate to read this!
Carla Jandelle... replied
thank you Dougie….not so long ago I suffered from a low blood sugar (I’m diabetic also) while in a grocery store. i ended up sprawled on the floor TRYING to open a container of juice…finally did…finally got myself back up…picked up my groceries and keys…paid and left. i went home so upset because durring this whole time i KNOW people walked by me and no one helped. later…a friend went to the store manager where they stood and watched the whole scene that was caught on video camera. there were a total of 19 people, including 2 workers, who walked over/around past me!
if only? more people would be more willing to HELP rather then be by-standers and passers-by
dougie1
i ended up in hospital last christmas with blood sugars over 40! the hospital was disgusting and i checked my self out and drove myself home at midnight! never even felt ill!
dougie1
i have a pal who is epilectic. i will link him in!