The wonders of life and nature never cease to amaze me. On Monday morning we had snow showers and today we are basking in the warmth of a beautiful spring day. Last week Carol was progressing exceptionally well and yesterday we were back in the ER following a seizure at work. We have since realized that, like the weather, Carol's seizure activity can be, to some degree, predictable. Since last Saturday, she has been suffering from bouts of nausea, culminating with a seizure at work on Tuesday afternoon. We now recognize the signs and symptoms of potential seizure activity.
The doctors advised us that the seizure was likely caused by a combination of factors including stress and sleep deprivation. Carol has been busy at work and at home. We have been entertaining family and guests for several days and getting to bed late. All this activity lowered her seizure threshold. Since we now recognize the nausea as a precursor to seizure activity, we can immediately work to eliminate those activities that pose the greatest risk in contributing to the cause of her seizures.
Obviously, her latest seizure came as a disappointing surprise to us all. The good news, however, is that we have identified the pre-seizure indicators and what actions to take should they reoccur. This most recent seizure was similar to the others but she has bounced back much quicker this time and she is in good spirits. Her memory has not been impacted and she recalls everything up to the point of actually having the seizure on Tuesday. She will rest a couple of days then return to work.
We have also come to the realization that Carol's brain injury as a result of the infection may be more long term in nature. It is quite possible that the scar tissue created by the virus may be everlasting and continue to be a focus for seizure activity for some time to come. We will be meeting again with the neurologist next month and should have a better understanding of the prognosis for recovery. In any event, we now live with her seizures as part of our everyday lives. While this presents some challenges, we are certainly relieved that we can effectively control her seizure activity by maintaining compliance with the doctor's recommendations.
As we have seen just this week, Carol's condition can change as suddenly as the weather. We learn to appreciate the beautiful days just as we learn to respect the stormy ones. Each day is a gift from God to be cherished no matter what may come. We continue to be blessed with the love and support of family and friends. As always, we thank you for your thoughts and prayers.
