Dealing with epilepsy

Epilepsy and air travel

Codrin PO

Every person with epilepsy that has ever traveled by plane knows this: airport checks are “interesting“.

As I already mentioned in another post, I always travel with the pills I need for the duration of the trip plus an extra 10% as a provision (stored in another pocket/handbag). There’s no problem with this on short trips (1-2 days: city breaks or business travel) when you go through the airport security checks. It’s easy to say “I need 10 pills until I come back tomorrow afternoon“.

But things get complicated when you go on vacation (for a week minimum). Usually, in the EU, you can travel with as many pills you want if you have an explanation. But when you travel outside Europe things change. Continue reading “Epilepsy and air travel” →

Blog · Dealing with epilepsy

Epilepsy and blogging

Codrin PO2 Comments

When I changed the subject of my blog to “Dealing with epilepsy“, many people asked me why. Many were shocked about the fact that I have or might have (in some cases) epilepsy.

I actually wrote about having epilepsy last year, but it doesn’t matter now.

Changing everything was difficult. Creating new logos and social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter) was interesting, but getting content is far worst.

I had no idea that there were thousands of blogs dealing with epilepsy, but only a few with personal experiences.

I’m searching for tips on what to write on this blog and why. I got some really good insights on Twitter and I’ll write about employment and related issues soon, but what next?!?

Blog · Dealing with epilepsy

Epilepsy on vacation

Codrin PO1 Comment

It’s always interesting to go on vacation: the list-making, packing and unpacking, rushing to the airport, meeting relatives and friends and so on. Personally, I love the first two parts.

It’s even more interesting when you have epilepsy. You have to start your list with counting how many pills you need throughout the vacation, for the trip…and then add 10% to be safe. Continue reading “Epilepsy on vacation” →

Dealing with epilepsy

Normality for a person with epilepsy

Codrin PO

When I speak (online) with people with epilepsy, most of them say they are trying to live a normal life. Others say they want to feel normal.

So my question was: what is normal for a person with epilepsy?

For me, although I strive to become seizure-free, normal includes my meds, their side-effects, the “white gloves” and many other things. I can’t honestly say that I live and think the same way I didn’t before being diagnosed. Continue reading “Normality for a person with epilepsy” →

Blog · Dealing with epilepsy

My Chinese seizure

Codrin PO

Back in 2014, I attended a series of meetings in China at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). This was doing for multiple reasons in which I will not go right now.

I had an excruciating long flight departing from Brussels with a stopover in Turkey and onwards to Beijing. Overall, with the stopover included, it took about 15 hours. I slept a little in the plane, but the space between the seats was minuscule. Out of the 9 hours it took to reach Beijing, I slept, perhaps, 1 hour.

Going forward, I reached my hotel (the Friendship Hotel) at around 6 am and had a meeting with my friend Bi at 9 am (see photo below: she’s the one in the middle). In between, I took a shower and opened up my laptop for a quick chat with my wife to tell her that I’m ok. Everything went smoothly: chat, meeting, the entire day in fact. Continue reading “My Chinese seizure” →