Dear Group,

Until about two years ago, I never gave any thought to an epilepsy
clinic having any kind of agenda when I sought help. I certainly
never went to a clinic with any kind of pre-conceived expectation.
Besides, it was almost always the same ordeal for me - whether I was
in New York, Missouri, Florida, or Georgia. My side vision got
tested, along with my ability to walk a straight line. I got the tap
on the knees to test my reflexes. I had blood levels checked for the
amount medication in my system. (Was it too high or too low? I
suppose that was the question on the doctor's mind.) Occasionally, I
had an EEG done. Even rarer for me was an MRI. But, in my 36-year
soujourn with epilepsy, I have only run across one clinic which
actually had stated goals for their patients such as:

Restoring personal dignity
Self-esteem and self-confidence
Increased cognitive ability
More productive life
Ability to hold a job
Ability to drive a vehicle

Those goals come from the web site of the Andrews-Reiter Clinic of
Santa Rosa, CA. I wonder if there are other epilepsy clinics out
there that have stated similar goals for their patients? Based on my
own personal experience, I cannot help but wonder if most doctors
realize that simply bringing a seizure disorder under control with
drugs or through other means may not in itself be an adequate
solution?

I would like to know if my experience is typical to that of others.
Does your doctor have stated goals for you to achieve? Does your
doctor focus on "the big picture" of your overall health and quality
of life? Or, is your doctor focused solely on bringing a seizure
disorder under control?


Lamar Morgan