Ollie, Prince, Leroy, Walter and Co...

[coastergirl]

We were out of space so I thought I'd do the honours

Yes - a priest rescued me. We both wailed at the injustice that I ‘wasn’t even drunk’. Scouse clerics are the best 😂

Oh god this bring back memories...

Back of an ambulance following a seizure in public (prior to diagnosis), paramedic asks if I'd had anything to drink. So I real off a list of everything I've had to drink - 2 cups of tea, a glass of orange, that kind of thing. "That's fine" says paramedic.

Alcohol. He meant had I had any alcohol and I only figured that out a couple of years ago! 🤦🏼‍♀️😱😱😱🙈

I have done that 3 times. 😱🙈

It's like the couple of times I've had to have paramedics visit in the last couple of years. They ask for my medical history - 30 minutes later , with glazed over expressions, they say they didn't really need to know about childhood illnesses, my twice broken nose, my shoulder repair, my giant embedded cyst removal etc etc etc!

They just want RELEVANT medical history, e.g. why my uninjured leg (previously shattered) is much more swollen than the injured one they are there to examine (not broken thank goodness), or anything that may affect why I have screaming internal mid-section pain (gallstones that time).

I have a note on my phone with diagnosis and medication/dosage, consultant names ... it's when they ask if you have any pre existing conditions/medication and they're still trying to spell filgrastim. It's easier to give them the phone a doctor in a&e actually said "I wish all my patients did this"

Yep, I have my info on my phone too. Unfortunately I started suffering from seizures when I was 17, not diagnosed 'til 24, and even then it was a shit show 'til I was about 28 🙄 Mobile phones were somewhat uncommon in back in them olden days.

These days I just accost random people in M&S and say "I'm terribly sorry but I have epilepsy and I think I'm going to have a seizure" 🤦🏼‍♀️

Pelo, that’s genius! I’m going to copy you as it gets old having to list medications and diseases.

Yes, in case any of us ever needed to help someone with epilepsy - what are you meant to do if someone says this to you? Do we call an ambulance or do you need to lie down? I have no idea and I’d love to know so I could help properly.

I’m awake early (been up for ages) as DH (the cat bitch as he’s known at home) is away so I was kissed awake (it moved onto biting rapidly) so that I could let them out.
Thankfully the cat flap man arrives today to put one into the double glazing back door. Only took us 4 years to get to this point.

Yes, in case any of us ever needed to help someone with epilepsy - what are you meant to do if someone says this to you? Do we call an ambulance or do you need to lie down? I have no idea and I’d love to know so I could help properly.

This ^

ISTR when I had a staff member who had epilepsy the advice was to clear the area around them so they couldn't get hurt on random chairs etc, and call an ambulance if it went on for more than a couple of minutes (or if they'd injurted themselves or hit their head obvs). But I understand that everybody is slightly different e.g. some people get warnings others don't, some you call the ambulance if it's longer than 2 minutes & others 10 mins is nothing to really panic about. So general advice very welcome!

I want to know too. My mate had a fit when she was the bridesmaid at a huge wedding - all we could do was get her in front of the bar cos it had carpet.

You must be exhausted afterwards, I would have thought.

Good point about chairs - if it’s a fainter they need one slid firmly under the bum.

I’m so tired. Two cats is a lot. We’ve being going since 903 am and we’re still only on first breakfast.

How does anyone get time to dress and put the washing out? It’s a daredevil bobsleigh challenge here, jackknifing from pouch to treat to chicken legs to serving the drinks order. Hi-speed but marathon.

Then there’s the cuddle. I do it with one hand on each cat for democracy.

With any luck one of them might fancy a nap shortly.

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I salute you - pmed too. @TheLongRider ✊ Respect, grrrl.

Ollie has had two breakfasts already and retired to his teepee

Awww... that is so lovely that you want to help! I am genuinely touched 🥰

I think I'd go for - help them to lie down, move anything that they could hurt themselves on and call an ambulance. Let the paramedics know exactly what happened - especially if they hit their head - and also how they fell. A seizure will have you keeling over backwards, a slump is more likely to be something else.

Unfortunately there's no quick answer - it depends on the person and the seizure.
Some people are absolutely fine and can just get up and carry on!
The person I approached yelled for a first aider, I remember them lowering me to the ground, I know they called an ambulance and used my phone to call DH and give the paramedics basic info.

Seizures can vary wildly - I don't jerk. I just go vacant, then rigid then keel over backwards. Afterwards I will be crying my eyes out, confused and probably throwing up 🤷🏼‍♀️
Some people will get a warning/aura like me, some won't. Some are fine after, some aren't. Some can become extremely combative so make sure you're safe yourself.

Don't Panic
Make sure you know where your towel is. (If you know, you know 😁)

Thank you so much Yes. That’s really good info. I wouldn’t have known what to do and would have panicked so this is great.
But not great that you have to go through them 😞

My seizures are due to a benign brain tumour rather than epilepsy, Yes, and tend to be in the evenings, probably linked to tiredness and stress. Do you find that too?
I've never had one in public, thank goodness, but have frightened a couple of friends by having them mid phone call. Sometimes I just stop talking mid sentence, or say something that doesn't make any sense.
Sometimes I've just keeled over with no warning, and hit my head.

Where is Havelock's slave, Lana? Has he just moved in with you?

@YesItsMeIDontCare
Many thanks for the advice, really useful. This kind of commentary is one of the reasons I like H2G2 Mumsnet.

Yes same as you Paper - tiredness, stress... but add supermarket lighting too 🤦🏼‍♀️

I have 3 types - the one I know as an absence seizure (vacant, snap back, absolutely fine after), the "aura" (blood sugar drop, everything goes flashy staccato-y like), which may then go full on tonic seizure (I'm going down 😁).

Sounds bad but I probably have an absence once every couple of months and a full on hospital job seizure once in a blue moon.

Unfortunately Dh passed away on Monday morning. When I left Sunday night I said don’t do anything exciting overnight & he was obviously listening.

Just Me and the Pudster now.

Oh jeez Fluffy I am so so sorry.

Sending you loads of love and strength sweetheart 💐

I'm so so sorry. Sending a very MN giant hug

@Fluffycloudland77
Hi Fluffy - I really am very sorry for your loss - obviously aware of your DH's long illness. Hope you've got support around you to help at present. We are all here for you. 💐

Oh Fluffy I am so desperately sorry.
We are all here for you 🐈‍⬛🐈❤️❤️

You and your family are in my thoughts Fluffy. 💔Offering a small fluffy paw hold from here.

I am so, so, sorry Fluffy.

@Fluffycloudland77 I'm so very very sorry for your loss 💕

Lots of love and prayers from me to you 💕