heck of a day yesterday

[Lloyd Smale]

4 am I got up delirious. Don't remember a thing till I was on the way to the hospital in the ambulance. Spent a few hours being tested in the hospital an don't even remember most of that. Doc came in and told me he thinks I have epilepsy but wont know till the specialist looks at me Monday so he sent me home. Got home and was laying on the couch napping and had another. Another half delirious trip I the ambulance and another 3 or 4 hours of testing. This time the doc says hes about sure of it. I about bit my tounge in half and tore an ac joint in my shoulders the second time. THe shoulder is just killing me. Anyone here knows my opinion of narcotics but I'm taking them today!! He gave me some epilepsy meds too to get me by till the doc sees me on Monday. My dad came down with it at about the same age and I have one younger sister that got it in her 30s. Both have it controlled with meds so it isn't a giant deal. Suckiest thing is I cant drive for 6 months that that's going to cut deaply into the shooting and hunting this fall. Oh well, it like I told my wife. They could have told me I have cancer!!

[6bg6ga]

I am so sorry to hear this Lloyd. If I were closer I would drive to your place and see that you were able to get out and go shooting. I will suggest one thing and that is to get a second opinion on the diagnosis. Like I said I am so sorry to hear of this my friend. If there is anything I can do give me a call or if you want someone to talk to I will PM my number.

Best,
Joe

[Lloyd Smale]

Joe I go in tommarow to the specialist for testing to see if this prognosis is correct. I do know that my father and sister that have it had about identical sympoms when they had attacks. Both are seizure free with the meds the docs have them on but have to take them for life.

[dverna]

Sad news Lloyd. Hopefully meds will control it. My fiancé has a 2 year old granddaughter experiencing seizures. So far, they have not be able to address them. It can be heartbreaking.

[buckwheatpaul]

Lloyd, Sounds like your plate is full and I am sorry that you are feeling bad and having the problems. It is good that your sister's epilepsy is controlled through meds and if in fact you have it you should be able to have it controlled through meds as well....life just has all sort of good and bad surprises as we age....get well brother.....Paul

Father, Please come to the aid of Lloyd and help him to get past the illness that he has. Please guide him and hold him by the hand as he journeys through this mystery. Father, I know we pray for a lot of people and I know that Your will be done but I am praying for relief and healing for Lloyd. AMEN

[lightman]

I'm glad your bad news was not terrible. This is treatable and you can live with. Not being able to drive sucks, especially with fall just about here. Take care of yourself and do what the Doc's say.

[smoked turkey]

Lloyd I am praying that this disease won't be in control of your life. It is great that medication can control it. I have taken blood pressure meds for the past 20 years or so. It keeps it in check for me and allows me to be relatively worry free. Sounds like you will have a similar result. Getting old isn't for sissies.

[mold maker]

Not being in control sucks. Hope your next Dr. visit has good news and will allow you to again be in control with meds.

[Echo]

Tough luck, LLoyd. Hope everything works out well. Dilantin and phenobarbitrol (Sp?) were the meds of choice 70+ years ago when my sister came down w/epilepsy, age 1 year. And I believe that dilantin, or a derivative, is still the med of choice. Works, but there may be side effects - said the Non-Medical Non-Doctor...

[xs11jack]

Tough news, Lloyd, but then you are tough too. Hang on to the Lord and he will take you through.
Ole Jack

[NSB]

Lloyd, sorry to hear this. You're a pretty focused guy and I think you'll overcome this speed bump on the road of life. I got two unwanted diagnoses myself recently but still take the time to thank the good Lord for letting me enjoy life regardless. Hang in there buddy.

[MaryB]

Sorry to hear, one of my sister in laws has it and she is triggered by stress. She had to stop hosting large family gatherings because of it(prepping food for 30+ people is stress!). Might be time to interest the wife in shooting and hunting... go out together in case you have a seizure in the field.

[Bzcraig]

Sorry to hear of the not so good news! I too will pray this doesn't control your life Lloyd!

[Lloyd Smale]

the emergency room doc called me yesterday at home and told me that he was looking closer at the xrays and my shoulder is actually fractured. As far as I know from the others that were here I never fell so just the muscle contractions must of broke bone!!!!!!!!

[MaryB]

Yikes broken shoulder means no shooting for awhile! Are they going to stabilize it in a brace or just let it heal?

[waksupi]

Lloyd, ask your doctor about a low carb diet. It was one of the main treatments for epilepsy long before it was touted as a weight loss program. Apparently it was pretty effective.

[Tom W.]

Lloyd, I have both epilepsy and cancer. I've been living with the epilepsy since 1962. Dilantin and primadone are what I've been taking. The primadone will knock you for a loop until you get used to it. It took a while, but I had been seizure free up until a year or so ago, when my doctor said it has been 25 years since my last seizure, and to wean off the meds and see what happens. Bad decision. I remember getting loaded up on a gurney and out the back door to an awaiting ambulance. My wife was terrified. We went across the Chattahoochee into Columbus and the ER doc told me what I already knew. I decided it was best not to tempt fate and resume my meds. I was told that I wasn't going to be allowed to drive for six months, but beings that the hospital was in Georgia and I live in Alabama I kinda shrugged that off... I just rode with my wife in Georgia.

I've found that the primadone is more important than the Dilantin, altho both are necessary for what I learned were Gran mal seizures. They have a new name now for the same thing.

I'd rather have the epilepsy than undergo the chemotherapy.

[Smoke4320]

Well let's interject some good news here.
You were not in a car wreck dead or dying or killed someone else when you found out about the epilepsy
You were not deep in the woods and couldn't get out.
Your still alive and have great hope for meds to keep the epilepsy in check.
Life deals you another curve
Keep your head up and keep fighting

[Lloyd Smale]

I go today to find out what they will do with the shoulder. My guess is just sling it and let it heal. At least its my left shoulder so shooting can still be done.

Yikes broken shoulder means no shooting for awhile! Are they going to stabilize it in a brace or just let it heal?

[Lloyd Smale]

that's sure the truth smoke. It scared my wife more then me. Probably because I don't remember a lot of it. I even worry that I could hurt her when having one. I did get real confrontational with the ambulance driver or so I was told. I know it sure isn't the end of the world. My dad and sister have lived with it for over 20 years with meds to control it. Just another pill in the pile I already take for old age

Well let's interject some good news here.
You were not in a car wreck dead or dying or killed someone else when you found out about the epilepsy
You were not deep in the woods and couldn't get out.
Your still alive and have great hope for meds to keep the epilepsy in check.
Life deals you another curve
Keep your head up and keep fighting