EPILEPSY CONTROL - Mind.fullness

[@DeannaMFR]

Congratulations Bryan. I've just discovered your channel and I can see you are becoming the person you aspire to be. I have struggled with epilepsy since my teen years grand mal and absence seizures. High doses of medications that don't really help and just make me feel terrible. I had a downward shift when I suffered a severe concussion due to a grand mal seizure 2 years ago. It took neuroplasticity to a whole new level. Everything was full stop. Learning to read, recognizing patterns, insomnia (go figure). I'm still healing from the concussion, but mindfulness has been so important during this time. I remember about a year ago I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I'm re-learning how to use my brain. Health has to be priority. Anything I'm in charge of I will do. Sometimes I push the boundaries and realize I have to ask for help. Knowing boundaries and sticking to them has been easier to learn during this time. As you said, you have to be grateful for the experience.

[@AurelioVazquezLucerga]

Greate video, love hearing and your experiences so close to mine. Learning from past but moving ahead in a new road.

[@nicolea4859]

Amazing video! Thank you for sharing and I hope Saturday went well!

[@srishtisingh761]

This made me tear up a bit ,god bless you bud

[@ryanfrick2250]

So, let me be the first to congratulate you on a job well done on getting into Grad School!! That's awesome!! Finally got the VNS surgery done! I've only had to activate it 3 times since the implant. Such a blessing to have this device. Two questions: (I forgotten if I've asked this in the past) But, what type of seizures do you have? Have you ever had a dream where you seized, immediately woken up, and activated your VNS? (Cause I have) Earlier today actually. With you talking about gratefulness.. I have a lot of things to be grateful for. I have a lot of goals and things to focus on. I think that Epilepsy is ..not a blessing per say. But I wouldn't not want it. Like, sure.. the seizures suck. But it made me understand everything better. I've come to terms a long time ago, that "Hey, I have Epilepsy. I can't let it hold me back anymore." which I have been doing for years. I was scared to step over that line. It's like Epilepsy was the bully that I was scared to stand up to. Then in turn, I was the bully of the Epilepsy. I always say (now, I don't know if you're a religious person) but.. "God wouldn't have let this happen, if He didn't think we couldn't handle this." Same thing goes for any disability. Everyone is perfect in their own way. You were saying look back in the past.. You wouldn't be where you were if it weren't for all of that. I completely agree with you. I can't really explain at the moment as to why.. I'm so tired at this point, haha. But, with the passion. You need to focus on what you're passionate about. For me, it's drawing. I hate to toot my own horn.. but I'm pretty great at it. Started one two years back, and never really gotten around to finishing it, cause (before VNS) I kinda just got really depressed, and tired all the time. Didn't really want to do anything. But, now.. I feel as if I can finish it. Start new drawings. I'm starting to go out and hang out with friends again, and be normal (as close as I can be anyways) The drawing thing, that's my goal to finish before the year ends.. For next year.. I still have to make a list. Or list three things.. Haha. But, this comment is way too long, I am deeply sorry.. I just wanted to try to acknowledge some/most of the points you made in this video. I think I did, but not sure..

[@bryanbaker9489]

Point Taken! Ryan, I'm so happy to see that you are doing well with the new implant. It's something new, but its not difficult to get used to change. Just be willing and I'm sure that this next year is going to be your greatest year ever. Without a doubt, whatever realm you decide to pursue will gain greatly from you. And never neglect making sure your body is healthy. Life isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. Be good to yourself!

[@ryanfrick2250]

Always try to be good to myself! I always pace myself! Started going to the gym again! Of course can't start out with what I've use to doing.. but I'm working up to it! Looking forward to new videos! =) Have a good night, Bryan!

[@bryanbaker9489]

To Reply to your question about seizures, I have Grand Mal's so I couldn't tell you many experiences other than waking up hours later usually having broken a computer screen or bick wall. The seizures are hard to deal with socially absolutely. I do think that this takes some time to build to. I have found myself in the same position but by the confidence you build in your good actions for others you feel stronger in other ways. I am at a point where I am proud of the device that is in my chesk because it tells a story from where I was once to where I am now. It is a reminder, every 5 minutes on the dot, that I am an epileptic. And being born as such. I can either work 2 times harder that the unhindered or I can just let them decide our fate.

[@ryanfrick2250]

I have Grand Mal's, and Partial Complex. I've had Epilepsy since I was 2, and right off the pat I had Grand Mal's. Wasn't till about 5 or 6 years ago I started having Partial Complex. This device has made such a difference for me! Even with me having this for what...2 and a half weeks thus far? I've actually cried.. because it's going to change my life for the better! So many more doors are open, I just have to walk through! Not just for me. But for everyone who struggles with Epilepsy, and have this procedure done. All they have to do is walk through the open door! For the Grand Mal seizures. You said you black out and either break a computer screen or punch a wall? I don't do that. Once I start a Grand Mal, it's instinct to literally just sit in front of my couch. This way, I can't lean backwards. But I black out as well. I think everyone does. Not sure. But, there was this one time, that when I came to.. the EMT's were right behind me, one was over me.. and all I remember was grabbing my head and screaming so loud! It felt like my head was going to explode! One of the EMT's thought I had an aneurysm. I mean, I could have. You only die if it pops. Dang, here I go again with the long comments.. Sorry!

[@JimMcCarrick]

Great video series, Bryan!

[@EmpoweringBABE]

I’m actually here because my niece had an Epileptic fit and I’m looking for answers. I want to know how to help her. She’s 10

[@maureenroy2145]

Hi Bryan, Thanks again for your encouraging videos. Congratulations on Graduate School!! And maybe the scholarship too. Sweet! The video started off with getting in the car. Was that you? Are you officially driving?

[@amysutherland81]

Currently in that year out of education, definitely agree with all you said

[@21joho]

Hi Bryan. I have complex partials and have recently been determined to not be a candidate for surgery. I'm on four meds at about their max and my small episodes still aren't being controlled. I'm considering VNS. I read in some posts from people with VNS that they could not run or exercise without taping the magnet to their chest because they had terrible shortness of breath or almost passed out. Do you have that issue? Exercise and running are very important to me. Thanks and congrats on your progress!

[@bryanbaker9489]

Joseph, I was a runner myself once. I have never passed out but bottom line, when the device goes off, you will experience shortness of breath. This makes running/endurance types of workouts more difficult than they would have been otherwise. Exercise is extremely import to me as well, and I do so 7 days a week. I have changed my exercise habits because of this. I limit my running to sessions to sets of sprinting so that when the device goes off I have a chance to breath, and I try to intensify my weight training sessions to Intense interval sessions so I get cardio in that way. If you are a long distance runner, VNS will affect you more since you can't just stop and take a break. I wont say that this means you wont be able to run at all, because I do all the time, but if you are competing to beat a certain time...It is likely that this will make it a challenge to run competitively. Hope this helps!

[@21joho]

Thanks for the insight. I did triathlons until recently when my episodes began to increase, and I'd like to get back to competing again.

[@AmanSingh-hd2pv]

My epilepsy control with medicine but 13 years of medicine sideffect is very bad can ketogenic diet help me to stop medication

[@cieraorion2589]

Congratulations

[@colmcoleman7136]

Bryan your very lucky to be able to drive and go to grad school and get to were you are my fits are so bad I had to leave high school half way through and never got to go to college I know for sure that I will never drive I live in Ireland and the law here states you have to be free of fits for 2 years solid before you can drive and even then doctors can be very strict so count yourself very lucky to be were you are today oh by the way Im getting the vns

[@FOXARUS]

Exactly what I needed to hear on a Saturday night. I am very grateful for only having Juvenile Myocolonic Epilepsy and nothing worse, checkout my vids if you are into fitness you might enjoy them. and no the reason why im commenting this is not to just get you to checkout my videos, thanks for this. Subbed