Are you that one?

Said "Are you the dizzy one? You should go to my naturopath"

As I have said before, someone with good intentions trying to help out. BUT if you don't even know the person's name, don't give them advice.

Good thing I was "the dizzy one" and not a woman who was drunk, stumbling around.

Should have said: are you (find out my name)? If you want to try supplemental medicine I have a good naturopath." Mostly, just learn someone's freaking name before you advise them.

Aspartame (insert frightening music)

Oh, so many here....

"Do you have seizures because of aspartame?"

"Your seizures would stop if you didn't have aspartame?"

"Aren't you afraid you're going to get cancer?"

Holy hell. At first I would tell people that I didn't have much artificial sweetener before my seizures started, but after awhile I just gave up.  When you have other conditions that may result in complications you aren't so worried about the "aspartame poisoning".  Worry more about kidney failure, neuropathy, blindness, alzheimers, heart disease, the fun keeps coming.

Random person giving me advice about this- I cannot eat or drink anything except water without thinking about what it will do to my blood sugar. I'll go with the artificial sweetener over glucose spikes.

Oh, and if you feel inclined to give someone nutritional advice.... unless you know their entire medical history, don't do it.

Doctors aren't immune

Believe it or not, doctors are not immune to filter malfunction. 

" Have you noticed an increase in seizures with increase in adipose tissue?"

*After my surgery I was referred by my neurologist to a psychiatrist practicing at the same hospital.  I went to this almost doctor aka resident for the increased depression I was having.  After he talked with me for a bit and I told him about my discouragement with seizures after surgery he gave me this gem.  

No, genius, my seizures haven't changed because I'm a fatty.  I came to see you for psychological help, not anything else. I did not hesitate to tell cute little resident that I have a neuro who treats my epilepsy, and that he should address the problems his patients come to him with. I didn't hesitate to go give his attending the same speech.

Even if you are a god, I mean doctor- watch your filter

Worrier

Since I was a child I have been a worrier. Unable to sleep (in the winter)  as an 8 yo worrying about taking swimming lessons. Worrying as a seventh grade student that I didn't get an A in every class.  Surprisingly (note sarcasm), after having years of seizures in the part of the brain that controls emotion and having part of that part of my brain taken out I had increased anxiety and depression.

Said: "You know, faith is the opposite of fear"

*A friend asked me if I had noticed difference after my surgery. I told her about increased anxiety and depression- she asked details and then gave me this. Yes, B#&$%, I am sure it has nothing to do with 20 years of seizures and the recent brain surgery- faith is the problem. I believe in the power of faith, but I don't believe in people diagnosing others as having a lack of faith.

Should have said: I hope that you find something that helps.

Under the knife

During my second pregnancy my seizure activity went up significantly- around 10 a day.  We (my doctors, my husband, and I) were thinking my brain would go back to normal after baby came.

That didn't happen and brain surgery was the only thing I hadn't tried that may help. After about one year of pre-op testing to make sure it was a safe option I decided to go under the knife.

"Are you sure you want to do that?"

"How do you know nothing will go wrong?"

"They are taking part of your brain out?? Doesn't that scare you??"

Thanks, guys.  I hadn't thought of any of those things. Yes, I'm sure I want to do it. If you had my brain you would too.  I don't know nothing will go wrong. Yep, it scares me, but thank you for reinforcing that.

It's not like in the movies

Said this: "Is it going to be like in Steel Magnolias?"

*A friend of mine when I was pregnant with my first son. Yep, I got pregnant knowing that I would go into kidney failure and die. NO!

Should have said: What is it like to be pregnant with your medical conditions?

I'll go ahead and brag- I rock. I had two babies with pregnancies full of complicated blood sugars, increased seizures, and changing thyroid levels. How did I do it? I told you, I worked my butt off and I rock. 

Just Buy a Car

I have driven a car off and on, depending on how often my seizures occur. During college I didn't drive.

Said this: "Why don't you just get a job and buy a car. Then you could drive yourself"

*After I asked a classmate for a ride to a clinical site that a bus route didn't access she gave me this advice.  Thanks genius, I never would have thought of that! Oh wait....  I told her that I could easily buy a car,  but I wouldn't be able to drive it safely or legally.

Should have said something like this: I noticed you don't ever drive. Why is that?

After this assumption I started telling people why I was asking for rides, or why I did anything else unusual. This opens up a whole other can of worms- the unwanted advice.