Am I disabled? Now what.

Posted by Dan Noyes @dannoyes, May 30 7:59am

There are two significant questions I think we all have to contend with. Am I truly disabled? If I am, then how do I live my best life despite my disability? For me, I might be going along well, and I think I can tackle the world, and then BAM, I'll have a terrible seizure. Yesterday, I was writing a scientific article about how climate (humidity, temperature, and seasonality) can impact the onset of seizures. I barely completed my article, and then BAM, I was seizing and badly hurt my arm. There are times I don't feel disabled, and then I'm reminded that I am disabled. Additionally, since I am unable to drive, I believe this is a clear indication of my limitation. Can you relate to this? Do you face those same questions? How do you manage it?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.

@krisleekay

You can live a normal life with temporal lobe epilepsy.

If you search ‘ Shining light on epilepsy and pregnancy on Epilepsy Awareness Day’ on YouTube you can find an interview I did with my neurologist on CBS News about living a normal life with temporal lobe epilepsy.

I was able to become a nurse and have a healthy baby even though I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. A diagnosis of epilepsy doesn’t always mean your disability will control your life. I hope this helps anyone who is scared

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Hi, @krisleekay, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thanks for your message of hope for a life with epilepsy.

Congratulations on becoming a nurse and having a healthy baby while you were diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy.

What would you say has helped you most to maintain control in your life, despite your diagnosis?

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