Living alone

[Charlie90]

Hi everyone

Newly diagnosed epileptic following a brain injury in 2019

Just wondering if there are many people out there who live alone completely independent.

I have already read all of the information on the epilepsy action website.

Guess I am just looking for some tips and reassurance.

I seem to claw back some independence following my brain injury then have a seizure which is so upsetting & frustrating. I

[GillyA]

Hi there, I have epilepsy and live alone. Fortunately for me my epilepsy is well managed and seizures are infrequent, so I’m not sure how similar we are. Funnily enough, I’ve never had a seizure at home! At work, tick, in hospital, tick, at Waterloo Station tick, many other places, including most recently in front of a couple of hundred senior colleagues and contacts (not my best moment).

I take some simple precautions at home: shower not bath, avoid stepladders, a bit of care when cooking, wear an alert bracelet everywhere and am meticulous about taking my meds. I have also arranged life to manage without driving: live on a decent bus route, walking distance to the shops, use supermarket delivery service and have given myself permission to use a taxi regularly.

As I said I don’t know your situation, so can’t compare, but for me a big part of the process was an active decision to live my life and not allow the epilepsy to stop me. I have a high pressure, very public job and travel extensively including to remote parts of developing countries. I’m lucky enough to have an employer that takes diversity and disabled rights seriously (although they aren’t perfect). I hope you can find a way of life that works for you and your situation.

[Grammy80 in reply to GillyA]

To GillyA and to you Charlie!! What a wonderful spirit you both have and Gilly I love....active decision to live my life and not allow epilepsy to stop me. PUT THAT ON THE REFRIGERATOR . I lived a full, bump free? NO, independent and good life. I am 81 now and recently had to up my meds because I now must take steroids....I was diagnosed at age 15. I fooolishy married at 19, though I got two great sons in the bargain, divorced at 31, ran our home and raised my boy before marrying again in my 40s.

In my mid-thirties I had one of those 'star' moments of having a seizure in my employer's office, an orthodontist. When I woke and asked what happened he just said, oh nothing much, you had a seizure. What a saint.

I never felt limited in any way...that was my mindset. You will do fine Charlie!!💕💕

[wxy123]

Hi Charlie, you've already got good advice from GillyA. Can I just add a couple of possibilities. Consider a Telecare service and try a combi oven. The microwave cooking avoids hotplates and the timer means cooking doesn't get left to burn.

Good luck with your independence.