This Is Me — The Untold Side of Epilepsy
This is uncomfortable to talk about. That is exactly why I am talking about it.
When I have a seizure, I wet myself. For me it is not a “maybe”. It happens with my seizures wherever I happen to be.
That might be at home, outside, in a shop, in a taxi or somewhere completely unexpected. I have even been sitting on the toilet already urinating, had a seizure and fallen off.
The seizure itself is only part of the problem. Afterwards there can be wet clothes, cleaning up, finding somewhere to change and trying to get home while I am still recovering.
If I am away from home, it can affect practical things too. I may need clean clothes before I can get into a taxi. It means thinking ahead for something I cannot predict.
I use protective covers on my bed and settee. That is not embarrassing to me. It is practical. My epilepsy already takes enough control away from me; being prepared gives a little of it back.
Why say this publicly?
Because somebody else may be dealing with the same thing and thinking they are the only person who has to plan around it.
I do not think bladder control should determine somebody’s dignity. It is something that happens to me during my seizures. It is not who I am.
This is my experience. Epilepsy looks different for everyone.