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:drinks:
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

[shredder]

Epilepsy runs in my family too. My mother and my son both have it. Grand Mal seizures happened to them both but medication made it a non issue for them both too. I wish you best health and a speedy recovery. Now that you know, you can begin to deal with it and get your life back.

[popper]

Prayers for healing and control. Had a boy in my class that had a couple Gran Mals, scared the bejebers out of us 1st graders when we saw it happen. Teachers told us to put a pencil in his mouth if he had an attack & try to restrain him. Good luck with that, he was a big kid.

[jonp]

Sorry to hear that, Lloyd. Epilepsy can be controlled as we are now light years beyond what we were a few decades ago. Once you hit the right dosage and medicine you should be good to go.

Scary stuff but doable. Your in my prayers.

[Tom W.]

Popper, that was the wrong thing to tell you. The procedure is to move stuff out of the way so a person doesn't injure their head. Keep sticks, spoons and pencils out of the mouth. Especially your fingers. And no, the afflicted person cannot swallow his tongue.. altho he will chew it up pretty bad.

The last time I was in the hospital for a seizure I noticed several tongue depressors with thick gauze pads taped to them and stuck on the wall over my bed. I asked the nurse why they were there. I then told them to remove them and never attempt to stick anything into my mouth if I was to have another seizure. Patients Rights worked well at that point. I did suggest that they brush up on current procedures.

[mold maker]

" Just another pill in the pile I already take for old age"

Boy, isn't that the truth. I take so many I rattle in the mornings, and again at bed time. And a side effect of most of them makes me drowsy. The rest contribute to a lack of energy or cause pain, but there is another pill for that.
The only thing I can for sure say they fix, is the thickness of my bill fold. But than I'm not one to tempt fate by stopping them.

[Lloyd Smale]

saw the shoulder doc and had a brain wave test yesterday. While kind of saw the shoulder doc. As usual they give you a PA that cant make decisions. First the emergency room xray wasn't good enough so they wanted another one. Then that one isn't good enough so I have to go in tommarow for a ct scan. She said it looked like I might need surgery and plate to fix the shoulder but I have to see the doc first. Now why couldn't I see the doc the first time. Why if they couldn't read the xray didn't they right away do a ct scan. Its just bs to make money. Same thing goes for the brain scan. Never saw a doctor once. A kid with a high school diploma and on the job training does the test. Now ive got to go back for another appointment to have it read by the doctor!

[mold maker]

If you have ins, especially good ins, the tests and evaluations never end. It is the reason our health ins is in such rotten shape. Between the ambulance chasers and the Docs covering their butts, the health industry has become a racket.
Loyd, my grandson had seizures since birth. He (now 17) has been on medication for the last 14 years and has had only one mild episode. It took quite a while to regulate the meds, but with adjustments as he grew, they work.
It's another case of a once dreaded disease being brought under control.

[skeettx]

Watching this thread
Mike

[Tom W.]

In the olden days people with epilepsy were thought to be possessed by the devil and subsequently " disappeared".

[Lloyd Smale]

my wife might actually agree with that one!!!
In the olden days people with epilepsy were thought to be possessed by the devil and subsequently " disappeared".

[Lloyd Smale]

well heres where I am now. CT scan showed the shoulder is broke but its broke in a place that has lots of muscle attached and the surgeon thinks its better to try to take it easy and let it heal without cutting. Brain scan showed some abnomalitys on one side and a small bright spot. The neurologist wants a mri but to do it I have to have the metal spinal stimulator in my back removed. I don't use it anymore anyway and if its not a major ordeal wouldn't mind it out anyway. So as it is I have an appointment to see the back surgeon next week to discuss it. Are we having fun yet?????:Fire:

[Rick Hodges]

Lloyd you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[buckwheatpaul]

Lloyd....sounds like your plate is still full.....I am praying for a positive outcome for you brother....you sure could use some relief!

Father, Please bring relief and comfort to Lloyd. He is in need of the kind of help that only You can supply through the medical doctors can supply. Please guide him down the right path so that Lloyd can get the help that he needs so that his problems can be properly diagnosed and that Your will be done through the doctors. AMEN

[MaryB]

They tried to implant the leads for one of those spinal stims in my back. Couldn't get past the bone spurs...

[Blackwater]

Wow, Lloyd! That's tough news! You're in my prayers, and will be for at least a while. Like Smoke said, life throws things at you, without your consent and, in accord with the infamous "Murphy's Law," right when you need it the least, or at least seemingly so. Sure keeps us older folks humbled, doesn't it? When I was a kid, I noted older folks seemed pretty uniformly humble. I noted it but didn't have a clue, and thought it must be from attaining "the wisdom of old age." How little I knew! It's from EXPERIENCE! But how could a little kid know, without that experience???

The meds they have now seem to usually do a very good job of minimizing the effects. And long term epileptics tell me they generally get some pre-episode "signals" that they're about to have a relapse. And most of them I know still DO drive, so ...... keep on keepin' on. There's really not a lot of choice, is there?

[Lloyd Smale]

I don't know if its MI law or fed law but the doc said I cant legally drive for 6 months. They don't turn my name into the dmv or anything but if I get in a wreck I can and will be prosecuted and would open my self of to law suites. told my wife I will play the game and do everything the doctors say for a while. But come November I'm heading to hunting camp one way or the other.

[Wayne Smith]

It will be your State law that determines that. Six months seizure free is pretty common in the states for resuming driving. Don't take the chance, grab a ride to camp with a friend, and have someone with you when you are out in the woods. Probably not necessary, but at this point it's wise not to take chances when it's not necessary.

You are in my prayers too.

[buckwheatpaul]

There are a number of reasons for your doctors restriction....you dont want to have an episode and hurt or kill someone.....I for one want you around for all that you contribute to our Cast Boolits family! If you dont have anymore episodes you should be restored and you have protected your family, yourself, and your community. I know this does not help....but like I said I count you as a friend and I want you around.....Paul

[Tom W.]

Stay out of tree stands for a while. A box blind or pop up blind will be better for a while. You sure don't want to fall!

[MaryB]

I have been looking at the pop up blinds for deer hunting, how are they for entry/exit? With a bad back/knees/hips I am not as flexible as I used t be so need easy entry. Has to be portable because I hunt public land. Looking at it for bow(crossbow in my case) season.

[DLCTEX]

Hang in there Loyd!

[TXGunNut]

Wow! Sorry you're having such a tough time, Lloyd. I hope they get you straightened out enough to go hunting. I know you're tougher than what's aggravating you now, you'll get thru it just fine.

[Lloyd Smale]

thanks for all the well wishes guys. Saw the surgeon yesterday. Hes going to pull the spinal stimulator out of my back on the 6th of sept. so that they can do mri's on my brain. Sounds like a pretty routine surgery. Said id be home that night if everything went as it should.

[skeettx]

Good
Thank you for the updates
Still praying
Mike

[MaryB]

Ask for the leads! They are platinum or gold!


thanks for all the well wishes guys. Saw the surgeon yesterday. Hes going to pull the spinal stimulator out of my back on the 6th of sept. so that they can do mri's on my brain. Sounds like a pretty routine surgery. Said id be home that night if everything went as it should.

[Lloyd Smale]

Ill check into that that mary.