Epilepsy Maine

Hello everyone!

Whew, there is a little bit of pressure to make this a fabulous first entry! Lets hope that this blog, and the words contained herein live up to their full potential. The rest of Epilepsy Maine is meant as a tool to educate, gain support and serve as a resource for those both living with and around Epilepsy in the state of Maine.

What the website itself lacked however (although the forums greatly add greatly to that lacking) was a sense of…personality. When the website is “done,” (and I put done in quotations, because with a project like this, it is never truly done. Information is constantly changing and growing with time) it will be jam packed with information, yet even with my name attached to…everything, it lacks human personality.

Information is wonderful. It’s so helpful and when everything I want is posted up on the website I hope that people find the information they are seeking when they type www.epilepsymaine.com or any of the other subsidaries (.net, .org, .info) into their web browser. However, the other big point I want to get across to Maine residents living with Epilepsy is that it is not something that they have to live with alone, or silently.

I started this blog with the intent of telling my own stories about Epilepsy, co-mingled with news from around Maine (and New England) that I am involved in that might be of interest to my readers. I also thought I’d include little website tidbits from time to time. (Like for example, that all the combined domains listed above have netted quite literally thousands of hits from people searching the 1st Maine Walk for Epilepsy we just had in Saco, to people searching for medical ID jewelry….even people specifically searching for me….that’s pretty impressive for a website that’s in it’s begining stages!)

So…that being said, welcome to my blog!

Allow me a belated introduction.

My name is Browen Mead. I am the creator of EpilepsyMaine. I’m 24 years old, and yes, I have Epilepsy. Specifically, I have a type of seizure known as Absence Seizures. I’ve had them, noticably, since I was 12 years old, however, I went undiagnosed until I was 20 years old. I am also a certified H.O.P.E. Mentor (Helping Other People with Epilepsy).

I’m currently on a cocktail of Topamax and Lamictal, trying to find the right dosage/combination that will completely stop my seizure activity, as I am currently experiencing breakthrough seizures.

I do normal young-adult activities. My Epilepsy does not hold me back nor does it limit me in most ways. (I can’t drive right now, so that’s an exception to that statement) I like to go biking, kayaking, hiking and swimming in the summer. I enjoy occasional nights out on the town with my friends to the Old Port. I travel (by the way, I highly recommend Jet Blue, they’re fantastic) and go to concerts…I have two jobs (one is for a non-profit and only one day a week) and my own apartment.

My point remains - and this is the point I carry forth with me and give to all Mainer’s living with with a seizure disorder. It’s tough as heck, there is no diminishing that fact. However, *I* am a person with Epilepsy. The Epilepsy does not have me. These are tried and true words. I cannot emphasize enough their importance in my life…and in yours.