Healthy Living: Life with Epilepsy
World Epilepsy Day was celebrated on February eleventh. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. While it is common enough for you to have heard about it, the disorder is still highly misunderstood. In tonight’s Healthy Living we learn what it’s like to be diagnosed and live with epilepsy.
[Highlight of teacher in class]
Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
This is what an average day looks like in the upper class at Stella Maris School. For thirty-three-year-old teacher, Sherane Belisle, her concept of a regular day at work changed dramatically four years ago.
Sherane Belisle
Sherane Belisle, Epileptic Patient
“After having a strange feeling in my body for about three days, I finally went to the hospital having a seizure and it was at that time that they told me; that the doctors realized what was the problem. And they said it was epilepsy. When I was fourteen-years-old I was in a traffic accident and so the doctor and I, we sat down and spoke extensively about my history and everything that happened to me. And I did several tests and other things to help me and the doctors came up with a diagnosis and it was at that point they said that because the traffic accident that was the cause of the epilepsy. It was a real life changer. It was scary. I love life, I love living and I love being out. So hearing about epilepsy and not being educated about it, it came very frightening to me.”
Her doctor explained that the accident had left scar tissue on her brain and she was predisposed as she has family members with the condition.
Sherane Belisle
“We get up every day and we don’t realize how easy it is for some of us to get up and walk. And then one day, you wake up and you realize if I walk up the street, what is going to happen to me. Am I going to be okay? And then one day you get this diagnosis and it changes everything about you and it allows you to see life differently and you appreciate every little thing. Being out was difficult for me because I didn’t know when I was going to have an attack; I didn’t know if I was going to have a seizure and because of that, I didn’t want anybody to see me. I didn’t want anyone to know. When I’m having a seizure, it’s hard to tell the extent that it is going to come; if it is going to be a mild one or a heavy one. And so going to the shop, I would do that alone; coming to work, there are people on the bus so it is not a problem. But going swimming, things like that, I would not do that alone. The greatest misconception is that you are on the ground shaking, convolving and you are biting up your tongue, you are foaming and that’s not true. That’s not true for everybody with seizures.”
In Sherane’s case she has focal point seizures which she describes as feeling paralyzed within her body and not being able to respond to anything around her. As time progressed Sherane learned to identify her triggers and adjusted her lifestyle to minimize the seizures. She’s also takes medication daily. She admits that in the beginning she didn’t want anyone to know her diagnosis but had to face the fact that she would need to inform the school.
Sherane Belisle
“I was scared because I’m a teacher. I need to be around students every day, I need to be around my colleagues every day and my first thing was how do I go and tell my principal that I have seizures. So I thought about all the negative responses. Oh Miss Sherane, you won’t be able to teach anymore. So those are the things that were on my mind. Fortunately, she was a very understanding person and so I went to her office and I sat down and I told her. And she was so understanding and comforting. I’ve learned what are my triggers. I’ve learnt, well I can’t control it, but I have learnt how to deal with and so for me that is the big idea. And so I am very comfortable talking to anyone about my seizures. I’m fortunate to tell when I’m going to have one so I have this feeling that comes over me. So if I am in front of the classroom, if I am dealing one-on-one with a student, I quickly remove myself. I take myself out from that area and I go somewhere where I can have the seizures and when it has passed, I go back into the classroom. And because a seizure does not last long, I am able to quickly move away and come back when it’s over.”
Four years ago Sherane had seizures almost every day now its down to twice a month. She shares her story because she wants people to know that you can be epileptic and continue to live a normal life.
Sherane Belisle
“If we are disciplined enough, then we are able to live a normal life.”
