Navigating Motherhood with EpilepsyI want to preface this article by stating that there are more than just mothers who care for children. I focus on mothers in this article because of my personal...reactionscomments
Make Yourself Comfy: My Hospital Packing ListAs with any chronic illness, epilepsy can often require us to end up admitted to the hospital for days, weeks, or even months at a time. When you are already...reactionscomments
Overcoming My Seizure Fears and Hiking With EpilepsyFor as long as I can remember, one of my goals has been to go hiking. However, due to my epilepsy and dystonia, I have been too scared to try...reactionscomments
Epilepsy Scars: And How I Respond to "What Happened to You?"Scars are something that mean something to me. Why? Because each of them has a different story. One of my favorite philosophical quotes is, "Scars are tattoos with better stories...reactions4comments
Not Being Able to Drive Is a Loss of IndependenceObtaining a driver's license is a significant milestone that brings a sense of freedom to teenagers. However, for those with epilepsy, the regulations and health considerations surrounding driving may be...reactions8comments
The Pivotal Moment I Realized My Purpose for Having EpilepsyI'd experienced all of epilepsy's weapons for nearly 40 years – lost jobs, car wrecks, humiliating pharmaceutical side effects, broken romances. But in 2002, I was engrossed in a "reconstruction...reactionscomments
Epilepsy and Hot WeatherAs an epilepsy patient, I have learned to live with my condition. I take medication regularly, and I am careful to avoid my triggers. But there is 1 trigger that...reactions5comments
Epilepsy Killed a Friendship, but Different Than You'd ExpectI grew up in Sullivan, Illinois, a small farm town which obviously limits the number of prospective friends. The smaller the town, the mightier the reign achievable by individual bullies...reactionscomments
Financial Challenges of Epilepsy: Medication CostsHigh medication cost and availability have significantly impacted medical care. Unfortunately, increases in drug prices have made it difficult for many people to afford life-saving medications. Even with insurance, the...reactionscomments
Can Stomach Problems Lead to Seizures?This article is definitely gonna be for niche group of individuals, but these are things I wish I had known among a mix of diagnoses. When the purple giant meets...reactions3comments
Epilepsy Needs Proper Representation in the Entertainment IndustryRepresentation of epilepsy in movies, television, and media has been a complicated and misunderstood situation, fraught with misrepresentation. In the entertainment industry, individuals with epilepsy are often depicted as having...reactions4comments
"When Life Give You Lemons": Finding the Sweet Spots as a CaregiverYou likely have heard the statement, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." As a parent and caregiver to someone living with epilepsy, along with many other medical challenges, we...reactionscomments
Finding My Self-esteem as a Young Woman With EpilepsyBeing a woman is multi-faceted and complicated. Especially when it comes to absurd and ancient gender standards pervasive in our everyday lives. Imagine that. For women with epilepsy, our experience...reactionscomments
Adventures With Epilepsy: Hitting the Water ParkMy last visit to a water park was about 9 years ago, when I was 17. Unfortunately, I developed a seizure and severe body aches when swimming there. So I...reactions7comments
Tips for an Overwhelmed CaregiverMy son, Matthew, was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 6. It took a few months, but we finally achieved seizure freedom with felbamate and the modified Atkins diet...reactionscomments
My 5-Point Strategy to Winning the Epilepsy War"All we have to fear is fear itself," spoken by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, America's commander-in-chief during World War II. Wise words to follow when neurologists diagnose someone with epilepsy. Their...reactions3comments
Supporting Others With Epilepsy as a Peer MentorIn a recent article, I spoke mainly about the benefits of support groups, and I touched on how I'm now my state's Peer Mentor Ambassador. While the official peer mentor...reactionscomments
Unwanted (and Uninformed) Comments About Your EpilepsyDid a person ever say something insulting, irritating, or ignore what you were saying when it comes to your epilepsy? It has happened to me with a professor in college...reactionscomments
Preparing for Neurosurgery for EpilepsyNeurosurgery may be a doctor's recommendation after trying multiple medications but seizures are still happening often, particularly if it's more than once per day. A lot of progress has been...reactions2comments
An Interview With My Boyfriend and How He Copes With My EpilepsyDating with epilepsy can really be hard to maneuver at times. For some people, it can be a dealbreaker, and that's okay. However, if you meet the right person and...reactions2comments