Update to an unfortunate blokes life...

[The999Kid]

Some of you might remember This Thread from a few weeks back. Well today was my private consultation with the neurologist... and its not looking good.

He has confirmed that the musculospasmic episode (theres a reason i said it that way) was epileptic in origin, but he does not know the cause. As of this moment i have to surrender my driving license for 6 months, which is a huge kick in the teeth for me. I now have to arrange a meeting with my course lead in order to put in place arrangements for the continuation of my study as an EMT and prospective paramedic. Possibly involving the belaying of my 2nd year clinical placements untill the third year when i have my driving license back.

I have an EEG and MRI booked for a months time.. with results coming in upto 4 weeks after the tests... this is the biggest barrier to date to my career.. and the wait is agonising...

So, to keep my spirits moderately high, and above depression levels...and to encourage other people to post aswell...

Post incidences of where you have overcome obstacles to get to where you want to be
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NDB 19/10/1989 - 1/11/2010 |Nowhere.Elyseum wrote: I get the distinct feeling that Tim should be our secret weapon for future trolling. I don't know many people that can rip the piss in Iambic pentameter

[Clanger]

Fingulars still crossed for you....

Obstacles I have overcome: After the accident I had on my bike 10 years ago, which left me with a squashed left leg/ankle/foot (subsequently damaging my achilles heel as well as muscles and tendons), and suffering a twisted pelvis. I learnt to walk again after 4 months, I was back on the bike when I could fit my foot into a boot (some three weeks after learning to walk, I think).

I try not to focus on the things I cannot do anymore, but concentrate on the fact I can still ride, I still have fairly good health, there are other 'hobbies' I still enjoy.

I recently bought an automatic car, and a 'back friend' seat which has given me MAHOOSIVE lease of life...I can now travel for long distances without pain!!! Which means I am no longer at the mercy of my injuries/illness. I'm almost kicking myself for not going automatic sooner...

Hope this helps?
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Handsome]

Nothing to add other than, chin up, fingers crossed for you and I hope it works out in your favour mate...


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Previous Bikes...Honda NSR 125 RR...Kawasaki Zephyr 550...Suzuki SV 1000 S...Yamaha FZ8...Current Bike...Suzuki GSX-R 750...

[Whosthedaddy]

[.....]

Best of luck to you, keep yourself busy and keep your eye on the prize

[Mudskipper]

Hope it turns out as well as it can for you.

Most people never expect to get seriously 'ill', it's always a shock.

My lass was diagnosed with MS out of the blue 4 months ago and we're still getting used to it. All serious life-changing conditions run the risk of causing depression, especially when it drastically effects the way you live your live.

As said, focus on what you can do, try not to be frustrated by what you can't/might not be able to do in the future. Lean on your friends and family, it's what they are there for. Make time to enjoy the little things that make you happy which aren't affected by your health.

Keep us posted if it helps as an outlet for your worries. Eat well and sleep well, the rest will sort itself out eventually.
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CBR125|||GSXR400|||CBR400|||CBR400|||CB250RS|||GSXR750|||CB250RS
"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

[Ben.]

your life doesnt suck that much, people get driving bans all the time, granted you did nothing to deserve it, but you have to get the bus everywhere, boo fucking hoo, some starving AID's ridden african has to run 50 miles for a glass of water every fucking morning.

Lukes got half a face, some bloke on here lost an eye, i know someone who was perfectly fine then got diagnosed with cancer and died a month later. Cry me a river coz you fall asleep every now and again.

Some sympathy but not enough to post a crying forum thread.
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Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[.....]

[tshort2007]

My life started going downhill from the age of 11. I was a keen athlete, and ran for my county in the under 11 catagory. Was tipped to be a olympic sportsman. At 11, i was diagnosed with Osgood Sclatters diesiese, where the tendons in your knees dont fuse with your shin bone, and ruptures, about 5 times a day.

4 years of physio, anti-inflammatries and jst about every form of painkillers possile later, i ended up with a codine addiction, poor heart from the asprin, and no effect from ibuprofen or paracetomol produts, so i had to give up all pain relief, and basically live with it.

At the age of 22, i stil couldnt run far, i couldnt do any physical sport for more than a few minuites, and as a result of this, my general health was poor, due to lack of excercise.

At the age of 21, i split badly with my love of my life. I ended up having a stress induced heart attack at the wheel of my car, and ended up in hospital. 4 days later, i had another heart attack (again, stress induced) at work (on the toilet having a No2!!) and another about a week after that at home.

I left my job, left my partner, and gave up just about everything. They started treating me for anxiaty and depression immediatly afterwards, and the heart attacks stopped. about 6 months later, i was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.

I'm now nearly 25, and i am far from recovered from my ill health. I finaly have some decent use of my legs, and can start being more active. My bi-polar is relapsing slowley, and i am generally in better health. Its been a long, hard 14 years of problems, but the end is in sight, and i know one day, i will be clear of problems.

I've missed out on years and years of my teenage and adult years, but i eventually realised that the only thing i can do is ride with it, and try and get better, not worry about how bad its going to be, or how long for. 6 months will fly by.

Stay strong my friend, and keep yer chin up.

People are around every corner willing to help. You just have to ask.

[Blau Zedong]

[Mudskipper]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[baldy]

There's one good thing, you will be able to give the bike a good clean for when you get your license back.

Keep your chin up, you will get the pink square back eventually.
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[chris-red]

Aunty BCFer

"My Dads just died, I have no Idea what to do"



Half lyfe

"Stop moaning some people hae there whole familys die. Look at the fucking Jews in the halocast thousands of them died and your crying over one dead person"
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[.Chris.]

Hope all the tests come back OK for you.

This whole episode, however, is precisely why I would not go to a doctor if I thought I had something that might prejudice my driving licence.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[baldy]

You would go if your life was at risk. What would you do if you had a fit and crashed?
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One day i will rule the world, just not today.

[lostboy]

Its not all bad news mate, I am a sufferer of epilepsy and I use my bike everyday now. I was diagnosed at 28, and you just have to be sensible, my doctor banned me from driving for ages, the thing is how many seizures have you had in the last few months? I went through times where I would have fits in clumps and then be clear of fits for up to a year at a time thankfully my last fit was over a year ago and as soon as I was cleared to drive I got a bike.

The trick is managing your epilepsy, and by this I mean...

If you're medicated staying off the beer - its a pain and although the doctors won't officially sanction the odd 2 pints every now and then it won't kill you,

Obviously getting sleep is important a decent sleep routine keeps your body under less stress,

If your on medication take it cos the doctor will be more inclined to helping you back on the road if he sees you making an effort.

Avoid stress as much as you can, try and be more laid back in your attitude towards life, stress makes your brain over active avoid it.

Don't over do things at work try to keep your hours at a manageable level no 90hr weeks that sort of thing. I know in some companies you may get days off at different times of the week (eg. like a monday and thursday you know what I mean) if this happens to you try and get a couple of days off consecutively give the batteries time to recharge,

Your tests may not show any signs of brain tissue damage or dysfunctional electrical brain wave activity, do not take this lightly but it is a good sign that your fits may not be massively severe in the respects that they are actually causing damage to your brain.

As regards driving, if you feel unwell even if its nothing to do with the epilepsy don't drive, the problem is you don't always get a warning of when a fit is due. Illness causes stress to the body and to the brain,

I get warnings when I'm going to have a fit I smell burning, hear sounds differently and get an involuntary muscular tick in my neck usually in that order and then I black out and fit. this may not happen to you but if you do get any early warning signs then don't ignore them especially when driving pull over somewhere safe and sit down away from your bike if possible with your helmet removed. If you don't then you may endanger yourself and other road users and i say sit away from your bike cos the last thing you need is for that to fall on you, the helmet thing is to let your head to be from obstruction in case you have a seizure and means that anyone trying to be of assistance can see if you may be swallowing your tongue.

also because you are off the road for an ongoing medical condition you may be entitled to a free bus pass, a prescription fee exemption card if you are medicated and you may also be entitled to any working disability benefits that may exist, (but you'd have to check that last one out cos I'm not sure if there's anything out there in respects of a working disability benefit).

I know this sounds like a bit of an idiots guide but I hope it has been helpful. Epilepsy is not the end of the world it just means you may have to alter your life a little and one fit does not always lead to a second, you may be lucky in that respect, but I keep my fingers crossed for you and hope your back on the road soon so chin up.
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Never invite a vampire into your house you silly boy!

[Mr Hammers]

Despite never really actively taken care of myself, the most pain or inconvenience I've really ever endured was probably a bad toothache or leg cramps. I've never had to go through anything disruptive as this, so I can't help with an uplifting anecdote, I'm afraid. But I wish you well anyway, and hope the test results won't stop you from carrying on with your intended career.

And blimey, tshort. You really have been through the mill haven't you?! I hope it all works out as best it can in the end for you too.
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[Mr Nice Guy]

[The999Kid]

thanks for the messages of support... today is brand new day... and the first time i've caught a bus in 10 years....
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NDB 19/10/1989 - 1/11/2010 |Nowhere.Elyseum wrote: I get the distinct feeling that Tim should be our secret weapon for future trolling. I don't know many people that can rip the piss in Iambic pentameter

[Mr.Everready]

Good luck with it fella, hope everything works out for you.
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[BelleBot]

My Dad was epileptic and still rode his bike and was able to drive his car. Fortunately they established a pattern with his seizures and realised with medication he only had them during the night, so he was allowed to keep his license. Eventually he didn't need the medication and was seizure free and medication free for 15 years. Just had to keep an eye on his lifestyle, get plenty of sleep, a regular routine and avoid any potential triggers for fits such as strobe lighting and very stressful situations.

I can have absence seizures from time to time, though I can usually tell when they're about to happen so I avoid doing anything like driving, and they're nearly always triggered by high stress, sleep deprivation and also certain lighting like strobes, so I do my best to avoid them. Fortunately I never got a diagnoses of epilepsy, just went through several years of MRI scans, EEGs and heaven knows what else and a lot of doctors shrugging their shoulders. So I got to keep my license, I just have to be careful with certain aspects of my life, so I have to keep on top of my sleep and no clubbing

Good luck, all the best, epilepsy doesn't necessarily put an end to driving and riding.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Everything that lostboy said is a surefire way to control epilepsy It all sounds so simple and it can be aslong as you keep being pragmatic, and in some cases realistic. i.e maybe different career choices and lifestyle. The best thing is it is manageable once the right drug for you is found. Also as it's the brain it's not uncommon for it to stop at some point..err the fits that is

Take each day as it comes.

Pat
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[TheDonUK]

Unlucky, My mum has night epilepsy. She lost her licence too.

Althought it can be controlled with various meds (lamogatrine), stay away from epilim.

Will you still be able to be the non driving paramedic or is that it for you job wise?

Goodluck
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[TUG]

I dunno what to say really, I guess you have to do that waiting thing I crashed my bike last year and still havent been back on the road, I broke my hip and damaged my nerves in my arm as well as puncture my spleen, im on anti-biotics perminantly. My arm recovered after alot of pain, struggling, the docs didnt know what was wrong with it, it was basically dead, am sure they mentioned removing it. My hip has recently given up its ghost, i've had my pins out of it now an it feels a bit better but eventually i'll have to have a hip replacement.

You cant let anything stop you from doing the things you love, you have to adapt and overcome, and you will.

Is there no meds? Ways of controlling it?
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