Hi Sue. I got information from the EFA around 6 months ago that
doctors and patients are trying a new medication in France called
delphikie, but I have not found it on any other web site or heard
anything more about it.
I'm taking that medication called "Depakote" and the bad things I've
found about it is weight gain. I cannot lose weight, only gain it, no
matter what I eat. It also has been effecting my sleep. Some nights
I've been up till 4-5 am. Do any of you take Depakote or Keppra? Blain



--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
>
> In a message dated 2/8/2005 11:08:22 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> shurmigel@y... writes:
>
> delphikie
>
>
> No - I did a search in google and it didn't pull anything up.
> Sue

Hi All! Sorry, been out of the loop for a few days.
  Congratch Blain on your job interview! I will keep you in my
thoughts and prayers on Friday. Let us know how it goes, okay?
  Blain, about your story: some people get someone to basically write
their story for them, with the person telling it to the writer. They
go through the process together to make sure the writer has the
details correct. Perhaps you could do this? I, too, think that is
wonderful about your music. We have a lot of musicians in my family.
It is a gift. Bet its lots of fun.
  Sue, sorry to hear about Chelsi's grand mal (generalised) seizure
two weeks ago. Sounds as if it went okay though considering. Good for
her for doing so well in school! That is a great acomplishment!!! Bet
you and Steve are proud as can be!
  About the trip to Seattle. No problem with last minute decisions
from anyone. Got the room, the vehicle, the map so anyone who wants
to come, fine. Sue, I am glad that you are taking care of yourself
and doing whatever you need to do. There are always one million and
one things to do it seems.
  I have gotten two new phone calls for epilepsy support. One is local
while the other is from Sunnyside. I will call them back once I get
off of here. Hopefully they have internet. I will keep you posted.
  Gotta run. So good to see the writings here. Soon I am sure we will
expand our group.
   Blessings,
     Sara

Hi everyone, this be Blain. Has anyone heard of a new medication
called, "delphikie"?




--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> That's cool, Blain...and sorry I keep putting an "e" at the end of
your  name!
> Sue

Hi Sue and everyone. I'm going to have to wait on giving my answer of
going too Seattle on the 26th. My Dad's birthday is on the 27th and I
may be having a job interview this friday at a place called Bruchi's.
If I get the job, I may have to work that day. Which me luck. Blain





--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> That's cool, Blain...and sorry I keep putting an "e" at the end of
your  name!
> Sue

Hi Sue...what I meant by not knowing who was who, was by your email
addresses on this group. Like, Mrmrssoso? I could not tell if it was
you or Sara. Now I can with your names at the end of the message.
The music. Some of my music I can play. But, some of it is to hard
and fast. I'm not a great piano player, I'm a bass player. I use to
play in the Yakima Symphony back in 1988 and I'm trying to get back
in, when there is an openning. Blain



--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> That's very interesting, Blaine!  Do you play it, too?
> Sue

Hi Sara...I get it now. I have a hard time understanding this
computer stuff. I mean, understanding what people are saying
sometimes. I'm hanging in there. All I've been doing is writing
music. My Dad is finishing his next symphony and then we are going to
work on mine. I've writing 3 piano peaces and a lot of others. I can
only write classical music. I'm not good at all with like rock music.
I'm really bored being on disability and not working. It is really
hard to find any job. But, I do write a lot of music. I got a great
idea for a book also on Epilepsy. It is a story that some of my
family wants me to write, but I'm not much of a story writer. Its
part of my life with Epilepsy and writing music since I was 15 yrs
old. But, all it does is stay in my head. But, maybe someday, it will
get out for everyone to hear. That is a dream of mine and its in the
story. I always wanted you all to hear some of the music I've wrote
at the group meetings. Maybe one of these days.  Blain



--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, "Sara"
<sitsnearbear7@y...> wrote:
>
> Blain,
>  Sorry that I wasn't more clear about the options back from  the
> Seattle meeting.
>  #1 just hang out with me the whole time (there and back)
>  #2 go with me, after the  meeting in Seattle, go to the Seattle
> Airport and catch their Shuttle Bus back to Yakima. The fee is
$37.00
> for the bus. It goes between Yakima Airport and Seattle Airport.
>  Let me know when you do.
>   Hope you are doing well,
>    Sara

Blain,
  Sorry that I wasn't more clear about the options back from  the
Seattle meeting.
  #1 just hang out with me the whole time (there and back)
  #2 go with me, after the  meeting in Seattle, go to the Seattle
Airport and catch their Shuttle Bus back to Yakima. The fee is $37.00
for the bus. It goes between Yakima Airport and Seattle Airport.
  Let me know when you do.
   Hope you are doing well,
    Sara

Hello Sara and everyone else. You talk about #1. ride with you,
after the meeting take the airport shuttle back (37.00). I believe
you mean take a flight back too yakima from Seattle for only $37.00?
I don't know much about flying...I have not been in an airplane in
years. If I could do that, that would be cool. Plus, what airline
flyes from Seattle too Yakima?
I am still looking and hoping to get a new job. If I do get one, and
have to work on the 26th, I'll let you know as soon as possible.Blain



--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, "sitsnearbear7"
<sitsnearbear7@y...> wrote:
>
> Hello Blain and anyone else who would like to travel to Seattle on
> the 26th together. I am spending the night at a motel to visit with
> my son while there but anyone coming along could either
>  #1 ride with me, after meeting take the airport shuttle back
(37.00)
>  #2 stay at the motel with me and then be on your own in the
morning
>     for about an hour while I visit my son. I will pay for the room
>     and if we get many people, we can bring sleeping bags or others
>     kick in on the up-grade for extra beds.
>    My son is a fireman at Boeing so he gets off of work at 6:00 on
> Sunday, the 27th. After breakfast I plan to drive back to Yakima
and
> can take anyone to their home that needs it.
>  Blain, the answers to your questions about my driver's license:
> Whenever I have a grand mal without at least two minutes notice,
they
> suspend my license for 6 months, which I agree with. Most of the
time
> I have more notice time than that. I never ever ever drive when I
> don't feel right. Its not worth the risk to others and myself. So
it
> has suspended a couple of times but like I said, usually I have
> enough notice so the Dr.s let me keep it. So far. I so appreciate
> that privelage. I believe that Dr. Sloop is a far guy and he will
do
> what he thinks is right in your situation. It must be hard for you
> being at 5 months w/o grand mals and wanting to drive. Good luck to
> you! Keep us posted, okay? we care.
>  Let me know your decisions anyone who wants to ride with me on the
> 26th to Seattle. If you can think of other options beyond mine,
throw
> them out there. It would be great if we had a group going!
>   Sara (sitsnearbear7)

Hello Blain and anyone else who would like to travel to Seattle on
the 26th together. I am spending the night at a motel to visit with
my son while there but anyone coming along could either
  #1 ride with me, after meeting take the airport shuttle back (37.00)
  #2 stay at the motel with me and then be on your own in the morning
     for about an hour while I visit my son. I will pay for the room
     and if we get many people, we can bring sleeping bags or others
     kick in on the up-grade for extra beds.
    My son is a fireman at Boeing so he gets off of work at 6:00 on
Sunday, the 27th. After breakfast I plan to drive back to Yakima and
can take anyone to their home that needs it.
  Blain, the answers to your questions about my driver's license:
Whenever I have a grand mal without at least two minutes notice, they
suspend my license for 6 months, which I agree with. Most of the time
I have more notice time than that. I never ever ever drive when I
don't feel right. Its not worth the risk to others and myself. So it
has suspended a couple of times but like I said, usually I have
enough notice so the Dr.s let me keep it. So far. I so appreciate
that privelage. I believe that Dr. Sloop is a far guy and he will do
what he thinks is right in your situation. It must be hard for you
being at 5 months w/o grand mals and wanting to drive. Good luck to
you! Keep us posted, okay? we care.
  Let me know your decisions anyone who wants to ride with me on the
26th to Seattle. If you can think of other options beyond mine, throw
them out there. It would be great if we had a group going!
   Sara (sitsnearbear7)

Hello Mineko. Thank you for the compliment however it belongs to Sue!
She has done a great thing by getting this up and running for us. We
were having a tough time for the past few months getting together at
our physical meeting so Sue had this idea and then set it up! She is
a blessing!
  I hope to meet you at the meeting on Feb.26th.
     Sara Earthdove-Tinker (sitsnearbear)

Hi Blain,

Here is more info about the advocacy training in Seattle.  Please e-
mail Melanie at mredman@... if you are interested in
participating.  Also, please include your address when you e-mail
her..it helps in figuring out which legislative district you belong
to.

Thanks!  Have a great day :)

Mineko

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT! ADVOCACY TRAINING

Seattle: Saturday, February 26th 10a-3p @ Swedish Hospital
Spokane: Saturday, March 5, 2005 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT! Advocacy Training

  The purpose of the SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT! training is to prepare
people affected by epilepsy and their families to share their stories
with legislators.  It is so important that people in Olympia know
about epilepsy so they can make informed decisions about issues that
affect your lives!

  We are also using this training as a launch point for our grassroots
advocacy network to respond to emerging issues that affect people
with epilepsy.

We plan to host a legislative reception in Olympia later this spring
to educate our legislators about epilepsy.  You will be strongly
encouraged to attend.  Travel stipends will be available to assist
those who are in need.

No experience necessary!  We want you to come and learn how to be an
advocate from our special guest, Bill Murphy.  Bill is State
Government Relations Consultant with Epilepsy Foundation America and
has been teaching people affected by epilepsy around the country how
to be advocates.

We hope to have representatives from every legislative district in
Washington State in attendance.  An RSVP is required so we have the
appropriate amount of food (FREE LUNCH) and participant packets.

  Please RSVP for one of the trainings no later than February 17th.
We will mail you directions to the training of your choice (Seattle
or Spokane), along with an agenda for the day.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Melanie Redman, Associate Director
mredman@...

  Legislative Reception in Olympia: Wednesday, March 23rd 5p-7p

Hi Everyone,

My name is Mineko Sterling.  I work for the Epilepsy Foundation
Northwest as an epilepsy services specialist.

Sara, what a great idea to start an online group like this!  It's
24/7 and you can always keep track of what is being discussed.  Since
it's local, it is more personal than the online groups through the
national epilepsy foundation site.  Thank you very much for taking
the initiative to create the group.

Please let me know if you guys need anything from the foundation.  We
can send brochures, posters, videos, etc.  (Free of charge, of course)

Have a great day :)

Mineko
msterling@...

www.epilepsynw.org
*click on "SPEAK UP! SPEAK OUT! Advocacy training" for info on
opportunities to share your stories with legislators

Hi Sara and Sue,
   It is hard to tell which is Sara and which is Sue. I've been a part
of another group since around, I think it was the beginning of Jan. I
want to go too this gathering in Seattle with you. Can I come along
for the ride?? I can't drive yet.
  That is one question I have for you two. Its about your drivers
license. How are you able to keep your license even though you may
have had a seizure or two, say last month??? I have to be seizure
free for six months to even, or even maybe get my doctor to write a
letter for me to get my license. Do you tell your doctor that you've
been having seizures but still driving? After my first surgery, in
1997, I was seizure free for nine months and got my license back.
But, after my seizures came back, my license was taken away faster
then you can say "me". I've been seizure free now ever since I went
off Zoloft, but I have a feeling that Dr. Sloop is not going to
believe me when I go see him on March 5th. Which in fact, if I'm
still seizure free, it will be 6 months. But, how do you two do it
with out getting your license taken away??
   But, I do want to go to that get-to-gether in Seattle. I am waiting
for a phone call from a place just a block away called Bruches' for a
job interview. I'll let you know if I get the job. Blain




--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, "sitsnearbear7"
<tomsara1@c...> wrote:
>
> --- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a...
wrote:
> > Hi Sara,
> >
> > As soon as we get more people on the list, we'll do sort of a
roll
> call so
> > everyone knows who everyone is.
> >
> > Take care and be well!
> > Sue
>
> Hi Sue and Blain,
>  Glad to meet up with you both here. I sent out letters to all of
the
> other members today telling them of our new support method. So
> hopefully they will join up soon too. How long have you been a part
> of this way of getting/giving support Blain?
>  There is a gathering next month given by the WA.State Epilepsy
> Foundation. Melanie Redman sent me an email asking if I want to go.
> Its Feb.26th (Sat.) in Seattle from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. An alternate
date
> and place is Spokane on March 5th. The goal is to learn how to
> discuss our epilepsy issues effectively with legislators.I am going
> to go. I told Melanie that I would see who else from our group
would
> be willing to go. Please let me know.
>   How is everyone doing? I'm improving. Its been a rough 6 months
but
> things are looking up now. Bye for now!

--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> Hi Sara and Blain,
>
> We must be the only ones here so far, eh?  Setting up an account
in  Yahoo
> can confusing, so hopefully is someone needs some help, they will
ask.
>
> Thanks for extending the offer for the Seattle meeting.  At this
time,  I've
> already bitten off more than I can chew for the next couple of
months.
>
> Take care,
> Sue


Hi Sue and Blain,
  Thanks for the quick response Sue. Sorry things are so busy for you.
I meant to ask you in last email how is Chelsea (sp?) doing now in
school? Have things leveled out for her? I bet she has really gotten
big now! They grow so fast!
  Blain, sorry that I didn't catch your up-date before I last wrote. I
have never been a part of an on-line group so this is a little
confusing to me but I am figuring it out. So that is FABULOUS that
you have not have a seizure in 5 months! I am so happy for you! Too
bad about the job ending for you. Good luck to you with that. Please
keep us posted. Did you know Starbucks takes a special interest in
hiring people who have Challenges? Might give them a call and see.
Grocery stores do sometimes too.
   I had better go fill up the horses troughs and then get ready for
work. Talk to you soon. We should be getting new members soon as I
sent the letters out yesterday. Blessings! Sara (sitsnearbear)

--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> Hi Sara,
>
> As soon as we get more people on the list, we'll do sort of a roll
call so
> everyone knows who everyone is.
>
> Take care and be well!
> Sue

Hi Sue and Blain,
  Glad to meet up with you both here. I sent out letters to all of the
other members today telling them of our new support method. So
hopefully they will join up soon too. How long have you been a part
of this way of getting/giving support Blain?
  There is a gathering next month given by the WA.State Epilepsy
Foundation. Melanie Redman sent me an email asking if I want to go.
Its Feb.26th (Sat.) in Seattle from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. An alternate date
and place is Spokane on March 5th. The goal is to learn how to
discuss our epilepsy issues effectively with legislators.I am going
to go. I told Melanie that I would see who else from our group would
be willing to go. Please let me know.
   How is everyone doing? I'm improving. Its been a rough 6 months but
things are looking up now. Bye for now!

Hi Sue, this be Blain Nott. I've been in a group on Yahoo for
awhile but its nice, like I told Sara, that I know who I'm talking
to. But, I'm here...blain




--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, Mrmrssoso@a... wrote:
> Hi Sara,
>
> As soon as we get more people on the list, we'll do sort of a roll
call so
> everyone knows who everyone is.
>
> Take care and be well!
> Sue

Hello Sara, this be Blain Nott. I've been on another group threw
this Yahoo, but its nice to have it with people I know. I do have
some good news and some bad news. Good news is that I have not had a
seizure for almost 5 months. This started ever since I went off of
Zoloft. The bad news...I lost my job. I was laid-off because the
company that hired me did not have enough $$$ do to a lot of kids at
the YVCC Dorms getting kicked out for drug or alcohol. I'm still and
have been looking for a new job since Jan. 4th, but with no luck.
I'll talk to you all later. Blain




--- In Cent_Wa_Epilepsy_Support@yahoogroups.com, "Tom and Sara
Tinker" <tomsara1@c...> wrote:
> Hello All! I am so happy that this email support group is up and
running thanks to Sue! This should solve transportation problems we
had with our gatherings as a physical group.
>  I miss connecting with all of you. I will write more soon!
>     Sara Earthdove-Tinker (sitsnearbear7)