Since the last big fit I have forgotten most of a good 30 plus years of my life. I’m continually realising more things lost. Fortunately I have a very supportive husband who I can talk with & still have good language skills.
I didn’t know who many people were or their important life events. I talked to my GP, who assured me I knew about ‘the now’ – so my memory loss was likely linked to my epilepsy rather than altzhimers or dementia. I now know this is very different from other people’s experiences.
Our home is a voyage of discovery: photos of life events – most seeming new to me, craft projects I’ve started & have no idea how to finish, machines I had no notion what they are for or how they work…
Eventually I confided in my daughter who was very understanding & helpful. She assured me we’d make new memories. When we were talking to others she’d just say – ‘epilepsy, she probably has no idea!’ I’d been crying a lot. Her practicality helped me smile.
Christmas was an eye opener. I had to ask who many of the people on our card list were & how I knew them. I wanted to reconnect. Family & closer friends I met or rang, others I put a note in cards to try to explain.
When it came to buying gifts I knew zero about likes & idiosyncrasies – even for people close to me – fortunately I had support.
I’m re-learning, writing things down, labelling & ordering, started this course, etc. It’s very scary especially with side effects from drugs & needing to change meds & constantly hoping I won’t have any more fits like that.
