I have learned to listen to my body when it speaks. Most of us have probably experienced signals we didn’t recognize for a while, before a significant event occurred. I was diagnosed with epilepsy a few years back and have been taking medication since 2012. They tell me I will need it for the rest my life.

Let’s see…

Although I was initially hesitant, I have now accepted it. I prefer to be safe than to be a liability to anyone. Although there have been only a few episodes, I can see that there were warning signs. Twenty years ago, when my children were in kindergarten, I suffered a seizure. I was getting ready to go to work.

My husband had taken the children to school, and when he returned, I was having a seizure in the bathroom. I had the curling iron in my hair, which could have caused me serious burns. I went to the hospital, but I didn’t want medication. I thought it was a random incident. I was sick that week and was taking antibiotics. I thought I had fainted from being weak. In 2009, I had a car accident.

Take into account

Fortunately, I was the only person in the car and there weren’t any other cars. My car was totaled. I was hospitalized for five days. They performed a sleep study. The doctor suggested that a seizure could have caused the accident. I was denial. I believed I had fallen asleep at my wheel. I told myself that if it happened again, I would get medication. In 2012, I had another seizure. I was getting ready to go to work.

My husband had taken the dog for a walk. He returned to find me in a pool with blood and had a seizure. I went to the hospital. It was obvious that it was happening again. I accepted to take medication. My mother told me that I had fainted in kindergarten and that I agreed to start taking medication. I was playing on the swing set in my back yard. She saw me lying on the ground when she looked out of the kitchen window. She took me to the emergency department, but while we waited, I woke up. She thought I was fine, and we headed home.

Final note

Looking back, I can recall the most important signs that I saw between 2004 and 2014. Those were my most active years working long hours and in stressful jobs. I would experience severe migraine headaches every few months. This was often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. I would have to go home sick. I’m now able to relax. My body was telling me it couldn’t keep up with what I did. I was great at what my body did. I have learned to listen to my body. I have slowed down, taken my medication, and am now researching essential oils and food triggers. It shouldn’t be a problem. Seek medical attention if you are experiencing unexplained symptoms. You may not be aware of the extent of your symptoms.