Grand Mal Epilepsy Seizure Disorder
The Gigantic Brain Fog
Julie and Maraika - Two people sharing a common bond. Having family members as well as self suffering from the seizure disorder of Epilepsy. And now seeing and feeling the relief from the symptoms, by using the same natural treatment, and given back the joy and quality of life once again. Our stories are shared so that others may benefit and to give information to anyone looking for the same great results.
This is Julies’ Story
Epilepsy started in my life in the early teen years and I am now a grandmother so have had epilepsy for many years. I could write a book if my memory would let me but that brain fog has taken a good part of that away. The multitude of grand mal seizures and all that the ‘shoe-boxes’ of medications left me with was one ‘fuzzy cotton filled brain’. In medical terms this could be referred to as “long” or “short term” memory loss. I along with many others call it the Big Brain Fog.
During any Brain Fog, if you asked me my name, I knew who I was but I could not think of it quickly enough to be able to tell you. The same went for everything else. Inside the brain it knows the answer very well BUT it can not get the words out past that, and if it did I would be replying back to you with 6 different subjects all in one sentence. If someone spoke to me, I would know very well what they were saying but again would sometimes just stare, look at them in a strange manner as if ‘did you say something?’ This may be a clue for other parents when coping with their child. First you must learn to speak in short, slow and precise terms (leaving out all of the, and, or, buts). You may find when the fog is really deep you often need to repeat yourself a few times, saying their name at the beginning in order to get the attention of the person first. When that fog is really bad, bringing the object to them, like putting the food on the spoon and guiding it to the mouth while saying ‘Julie….eat’ will help.
The Grand Mal Seizures (nocturnal) which would happen towards morning were the most prominent although I did have a majority of other types as well. To name just a few types of seizures: Absence, Auras, Petit Mal and Non-epilepsy (Pseudo). Myoclonic jerks were really common usually in the evening before the Grand Mal would attack. With the Neurologist not telling us much but giving us the name Epilepsy, which we had never heard of before, all those other types were just signs to us that something was coming….get ready.
In the years to come, they only got worse and so did the fog. The hospital became my ‘home away from home’ for the most part.
My husband would keep his own little diary of how many I had, how often, what they looked like, and what he thought may have triggered them. This list and charts would assist the Neurologist to once again try another type of AED (anti-epilepsy drug) on me. I would only go to the Neurologist every 6 months as I felt “what was the use”. Nothing would change, except for another long stay, another group of tests, and multiple changes of drugs and amounts till they found one a little better than the last so they could send me home. Mostly those hospital stays were all a complete blank and can you just imagine the FOG!!
The Grand Mal Seizures for me would go in a cycle, just like clock work. Every week I was guaranteed at least one. The day before I would get really excitable, my speech would become very fast and have no sense to it at all, as well as being unaware of anyone else in the room. My right arm would start jerking and by this time Glen (my husband) knew it was time for bed. Get me to safety!
The morning after was like ‘the morning after’! I knew nothing at all; the symptoms would be very obvious. I would wonder why the black eye and who punched me a good one. Why my muscles would be so sore, or my two front teeth chipped in half. The migraine was horrible and all I wanted to do for the next 2-3 days was sleep in the darkest, quietest place I could find. When I did feel a little hungry and would get up to fix the problem, I didn’t know what to do when I got to the kitchen or why I was there. This heavy fog would stay until just before the next seizure the following week, providing I didn’t have another seizure in-between. This was THE EPILEPSY FOG!!
All of this is hard on the rest of the family and friends. The hardest part for me now is I can not recall much about giving birth to any of my 5 children and very little about raising them. When I do, it makes me stop and think: Did it really happen that way or was it just a dream that I had. Sometimes I have to ask Glen to seek the truth. It saddens me also to know that my oldest daughter was the one that ended up having to (with the help of wonderful friends) raise her siblings.
BUT: All of that is now gone, the past is behind me. How? Even though we didn’t have a penny to spend, after all the drugs and hospital stays, a friend got us in touch with a great doctor who with his many years of practice had now studied ‘preventative medicine’ and had found it changed so many lives without all the bad side effects from all the drugs I had been on…which was a big part of the Deep Fog I had lived in. We were willing to try anything just to get rid of these symptoms. He put me on high quality vitamins and supplements and even though a bit leery at first about taking something different, what did I have to lose.
Within days the fog lifted just like a huge load taken from my shoulders. It was something I could never explain. The energy was unreal; I could now find the kitchen and even know what I was doing in there. I might not remember how boiled eggs were cooked but it didn’t take me long to figure out. Slow and easy did it.
Previously at my Neurologist or Doctor appointments my husband would have to accompany me, as I was just that person sitting in a chair beside him. My next appointment after starting these nutritional supplements I walked in by myself. My Neurologist was dumbfounded and asked where Glen was. There was no need for him to be there as I knew exactly what to tell him and also wrote things down so I wouldn’t forget later what he had said. Above all he could not believe the change in me and asked what I was on. When showing him these supplements and after reading the ingredient list all he could say was ‘why didn’t I think of it? We will see you in one year’s time and possibly at this time we will be able to start decreasing your drugs.’ That is exactly what happened.
Today I am a part time working mother, the fog is gone, some days the memory is better than others but it is coming back. I watch the things that can trigger my seizures very closely, make sure I take my supplements regularly and could not be happier. My life is finally in order once more. Do I still take some of my drugs? Yes, but only for insurance sake. My Neurologist did tell us at the beginning that ‘Epilepsy that is under control is like a cancer in remission.’
Seizures can cause major changes in your memory, stigma feelings you may have, migraines, your emotions, goals, not to mention having an effect on all those you love around you. Learn how to accept the fact and life will be a lot easier. The brain is a mystery in many ways but is the most important organ of our body. Our thoughts, emotions and ability to reason and communicate with others are all there. All of that is in danger should something happen and damage our brain. Keep it protected at all cost.
If you would like to speak with me about how I turned my life around please feel free to contact me . I will do whatever it takes to help you as well.
For more information use this link
or go to www.2betrhealth.com
Julie Hope
Saskatchewan, Canada
1 306-648-2642 (CST)
epilepsyhealth@sasktel.net
Don’t let Epilepsy Seizures, nor living in a “Great Brain Fog” control you!! You can take control over them!!
