Beth walks me into the ER and sets me down at the check-in desk before she goes back out to park. I still can't talk so I'm really just a wallflower at this point. When she returns, the registration ladies are asking her all about my name, date of birth, address, social security number..... Beth doesn't know all of that! Normally, most of that information would be in my wallet/purse. However, Clarissa was being clever earlier in the day and had put her driver's license and debit card in her pocket! You see, I'd stuck those cards in my pants pocket in case I would need them that evening when we went out for FCS Friendship Night. Crafty gal, aren't I?
Meanwhile, back at the hospital- Beth tried to ask me what my birthday was and I would just respond with a confused smile. Sorry Beth, your guess is as good as mine! Even when I can talk again, I still didn't know the answers to these seemingly simple questions. It's kinda funny now but I was so frustrated at the time. I remember being so embarrassed! Normally, I can rattle off my social like it's my parents' names. Today though? I'm hopeless. "409...something?" I say. "Is that right?"....."No, shoot". I fold my hands over in my lap dejectedly and think "I promise I'm an adult and I know my address!"
I'm clearly of no help at this time so Beth takes me back over to sit in the waiting room chairs while she finishes getting me checked in as best she can. Beth joins me in the waiting area with a clipboard of paperwork. We are waiting for a while so I have some time to get my head back together. We start talking again and then, after a while, I miraculously remember that I have my cards in my pocket. Eureka! I AM an adult after all!
Eventually, they have a room ready for me and a nurse wheels me back there. Good thing too, cause my head is starting to HURT like a biscuit. Good ole Beth sticks around and answers questions for the nurse and doctor, even though it's about time for her to head out if she wants to make it to Friendship Night. She shrugs and says she's had enough excitement for one night.
Suddenly, a worried man holding a cowboy hat appears- Darl! He looks almost somber- like someone DIED. I mean, I still can't recite my social security number, but I feel fine now! I smile wave and say "Darllll! Hi!". Darl just stays for a minute to make sure I'm ok. He thanks Beth for calling him, asks about five times if I need anything and then leaves for the night.
Shortly after that, Matt arrives. Wait, Matt? It's like- way too soon for him to be here. Yet, here he is. Tears start again. We both have a shared sense of disbelief that we are here. In a hospital. Again. This wasn't supposed to happen again! The first one was supposed to be the only one! EVER! I'm not a person that has seizures! I'm a healthy person! Why is this happening?!
We chit chat with Beth for a while, I go pee in a cup, and then my parents come! They're pretty freaked out too. I'm pretty sure I cry when they arrive as well. (Sidebar- isn't it weird how this happens? I mean, I am not a crier. Buuut when it comes to people showing up for me when I'm scared I'm like a little child again when that horrible hunter shot Bambi's mom!)
Anyway, Beth takes off shortly after Allan and Deanna arrive. Mama hugs her and they express their gratitude for taking care of me. We wait at the hospital for a while, so that they can run the urine/blood tests and everything. Fortunately, I have a pretty cool nurse, nice doctor and fairly spacious room with a TV even!
We talk with mom and dad about everything that happen. I'm in denial that it was really a seizure. "I mean, I never lost consciousness, so could it have really been a seizure?". Welp- according to his fancy schmancy medical equipment, Dr. Walker confirms that it was a seizure. Jerk-face. I don't like this guy anymore.
Remember back to my follow-up with Dr. Sides after my first seizure, when he said it was up to me whether I wanted to start taking meds or not? I had said "No way, I don't need those! Those are for people who have seizures! I don't have seizures with an S on the end! I just had one! No big deal! I'm fiiiiine." Well, not anymore. Heh. Dr. Walker puts some Keppra in my IV that night and writes me a script for some before sending me on my not so merry way home.
We end the evening on a high note and grab dinner at Vista burger! You can always count on Vista for classic late-night comfort food. The parentals ask if there's anything they can do for us back in Burlington but I'm just sorta tired and defeated at this point."There's not really much you can do", I say.
Matt drives back by the hotel to get my stuff and then we drive on home to B-town (well-he drives, I sleep). It's been a night and a half at this point.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital- Beth tried to ask me what my birthday was and I would just respond with a confused smile. Sorry Beth, your guess is as good as mine! Even when I can talk again, I still didn't know the answers to these seemingly simple questions. It's kinda funny now but I was so frustrated at the time. I remember being so embarrassed! Normally, I can rattle off my social like it's my parents' names. Today though? I'm hopeless. "409...something?" I say. "Is that right?"....."No, shoot". I fold my hands over in my lap dejectedly and think "I promise I'm an adult and I know my address!"
I'm clearly of no help at this time so Beth takes me back over to sit in the waiting room chairs while she finishes getting me checked in as best she can. Beth joins me in the waiting area with a clipboard of paperwork. We are waiting for a while so I have some time to get my head back together. We start talking again and then, after a while, I miraculously remember that I have my cards in my pocket. Eureka! I AM an adult after all!
Eventually, they have a room ready for me and a nurse wheels me back there. Good thing too, cause my head is starting to HURT like a biscuit. Good ole Beth sticks around and answers questions for the nurse and doctor, even though it's about time for her to head out if she wants to make it to Friendship Night. She shrugs and says she's had enough excitement for one night.
Suddenly, a worried man holding a cowboy hat appears- Darl! He looks almost somber- like someone DIED. I mean, I still can't recite my social security number, but I feel fine now! I smile wave and say "Darllll! Hi!". Darl just stays for a minute to make sure I'm ok. He thanks Beth for calling him, asks about five times if I need anything and then leaves for the night.
Shortly after that, Matt arrives. Wait, Matt? It's like- way too soon for him to be here. Yet, here he is. Tears start again. We both have a shared sense of disbelief that we are here. In a hospital. Again. This wasn't supposed to happen again! The first one was supposed to be the only one! EVER! I'm not a person that has seizures! I'm a healthy person! Why is this happening?!
We chit chat with Beth for a while, I go pee in a cup, and then my parents come! They're pretty freaked out too. I'm pretty sure I cry when they arrive as well. (Sidebar- isn't it weird how this happens? I mean, I am not a crier. Buuut when it comes to people showing up for me when I'm scared I'm like a little child again when that horrible hunter shot Bambi's mom!)
Anyway, Beth takes off shortly after Allan and Deanna arrive. Mama hugs her and they express their gratitude for taking care of me. We wait at the hospital for a while, so that they can run the urine/blood tests and everything. Fortunately, I have a pretty cool nurse, nice doctor and fairly spacious room with a TV even!
We talk with mom and dad about everything that happen. I'm in denial that it was really a seizure. "I mean, I never lost consciousness, so could it have really been a seizure?". Welp- according to his fancy schmancy medical equipment, Dr. Walker confirms that it was a seizure. Jerk-face. I don't like this guy anymore.
Remember back to my follow-up with Dr. Sides after my first seizure, when he said it was up to me whether I wanted to start taking meds or not? I had said "No way, I don't need those! Those are for people who have seizures! I don't have seizures with an S on the end! I just had one! No big deal! I'm fiiiiine." Well, not anymore. Heh. Dr. Walker puts some Keppra in my IV that night and writes me a script for some before sending me on my not so merry way home.
We end the evening on a high note and grab dinner at Vista burger! You can always count on Vista for classic late-night comfort food. The parentals ask if there's anything they can do for us back in Burlington but I'm just sorta tired and defeated at this point."There's not really much you can do", I say.
Matt drives back by the hotel to get my stuff and then we drive on home to B-town (well-he drives, I sleep). It's been a night and a half at this point.
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Next time on This Epi(lepti)c Life: The moment we've all been waiting for! My first neurology appointment! Finally! We'll talk about that, humble pie and a whole lot more. Stay tuned!
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