I Am Living With Epilepsy
Today my boyfriend is driving us both to stay with his parents for Christmas. His sister, her husband and their two kids will be arriving today as well. His brother and his girlfriend are coming on Christmas day.
This is my first time meeting his family. We haven't even been together all that long, although I feel as though my epilepsy has made us much stronger than any other couple would be at this stage in a relationship. When his mum found out I was spending Christmas alone, she invited me to tag along. I was reluctant but I knew it would make boyfriend happy.
I was really worried that he wouldn't have told his family about my epilepsy. I don't know why. That was a ridiculous thing to be thinking. Turns out his mum has known almost as long as he has because he'd told her about one of the seizures I'd had.
But basically, his mum and dad have been fully briefed on my seizures, what they look like and what to do. His sister and bro in law know I have epilepsy. The kids haven't really been told anything because they're kids and that's up to their parents to decide what they get told. We haven't spoken to his brother but his mum said she'll mention it next time she speaks to him.
I feel marginly better knowing that they're all in the know but I'm still nervous. I still have the remnants of the bruising from the seizure where I bashed my head into the pavement. I'm going to be in a place that's different, with a different routine, different eating pattern, sleeping pattern, I'm gonna be anxious and stressed. I'm like 75% certain I'm going to have a Tonic Clonic seizure during the time I'm there and I'll definitely have a complex focal seizure because I never go that long without them anyway.
So yeah, I'm freaking out a bit right now. I've been googling their local hospital and the ambulance service. I've been thinking of excuses for leaving the room as quickly as possible. And verbal signals for "I'm gonna have a seizure" that don't involve me saying it. I know I'm overthinking. I do that a lot.
Right now, boyfriend is loading up the car and I'm supposed to be resting on the sofa but I'm stressing so much! At this rate, I'll have a seizure during the car journey and arrive a post ictal mess. That'll make a good first impression!
This is my first time meeting his family. We haven't even been together all that long, although I feel as though my epilepsy has made us much stronger than any other couple would be at this stage in a relationship. When his mum found out I was spending Christmas alone, she invited me to tag along. I was reluctant but I knew it would make boyfriend happy.
I was really worried that he wouldn't have told his family about my epilepsy. I don't know why. That was a ridiculous thing to be thinking. Turns out his mum has known almost as long as he has because he'd told her about one of the seizures I'd had.
But basically, his mum and dad have been fully briefed on my seizures, what they look like and what to do. His sister and bro in law know I have epilepsy. The kids haven't really been told anything because they're kids and that's up to their parents to decide what they get told. We haven't spoken to his brother but his mum said she'll mention it next time she speaks to him.
I feel marginly better knowing that they're all in the know but I'm still nervous. I still have the remnants of the bruising from the seizure where I bashed my head into the pavement. I'm going to be in a place that's different, with a different routine, different eating pattern, sleeping pattern, I'm gonna be anxious and stressed. I'm like 75% certain I'm going to have a Tonic Clonic seizure during the time I'm there and I'll definitely have a complex focal seizure because I never go that long without them anyway.
So yeah, I'm freaking out a bit right now. I've been googling their local hospital and the ambulance service. I've been thinking of excuses for leaving the room as quickly as possible. And verbal signals for "I'm gonna have a seizure" that don't involve me saying it. I know I'm overthinking. I do that a lot.
Right now, boyfriend is loading up the car and I'm supposed to be resting on the sofa but I'm stressing so much! At this rate, I'll have a seizure during the car journey and arrive a post ictal mess. That'll make a good first impression!
41-45, F
