Lakesha’s Story

My name is Lakesha Floyd am 50 years old. I was born in Nashville Tennessee and raised in Georgia. 
   
I was diagnosed with Epilepsy officially in 2020, even though previous years I had been having seizures but was told I suffered from sinus and anxiety. When I was diagnosed that day I remember I was working from home it was during Covid and luckily I was still staying with my parents. I remember just getting this strong smell of gas and my head floating, I could not get rid of this headache the smell or the feeling of an out of body experience that I could not control. The next thing I remember seeing is my father on his knees calling my name but it was not clear as to what happened, my head was so foggy. I was bleeding out my mouth (where I had bit my tongue) the side of my face was hurting from where I hit my face on my desk. My father then rushed me to the hospital himself because he said the ambulance would not get there fast enough. Once at the hospital I had two more seizures and I was admitted. I was scared because although I had what they said was anxiety attacks I never had this many in one day. I was bruised, had a busted lip, black eye, my tooth had broken and now the doctor said that he was going to have to refer me to a neurologist. The only thing I really knew about a neurologist is that my mom had a brain tumor when I was younger and I thought that I was having the same issue.

I then made an appointment and about a week later was my first appointment. Of course my dad even though he was getting over cancer, he never missed and still to this day does not miss any of my neurology appointments. I was thankful to be referred to one of the best doctors in Georgia. He went over my scans with me, my blood work and he was talking about this thing called  Epilepsy (I had heard of it but did not know anyone who had it ). I remember saying to him “You think I have Epilepsy?" He said "no, you do have Epilepsy" and it felt like that is all I heard … like me Kesha has Epilepsy. I think I cried all the way home. I started to look it up and I think I just went into depression when I saw the word death I said I’m not gonna read it anymore I’m going to act like it was never told to me, I’m not gonna tell anyone because I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me and I been living my life this long without this medication I will only take it when I feel like I’m sick or gonna get sick. Every time my parents would ask me if I was taking my medication I would say yes, but then I was at the hair braiding shop and I had a seizure. Heading there I smelled the gas, my head was floating the same as times before (which I learned I was having an aura) but I thought if I was to just calm down not over react it would go away but it did not. I came through in the hospital again - busted eye, tongue bitten, and bruised face this time. When I went to see my neurologist the first thing he asked was "are you taking your medication correctly?" and my answer he already knew was no.

After I started taken the medication I also started to be depressed and sad. I cried a lot and though people checked on me they could never understand being scared not knowing for sure if a headache was a headache or if I was about to have a seizure. I was scared to go out because it was always embarrassing to have a seizure in front of people that I only felt comfortable at home. Then I started to drink a lot which I later found out can cause seizures also. It  was like God came to me and said you have Epilepsy it does not have you. I started to put that negative energy into positive and focus on him, research Epilepsy, know my triggers and take my life back. I wanted to be able to help somebody else that was told they had Epilepsy and show them you still have your life it’s just adjusted.

I honestly still have days, especially those when I do have seizures that I am like "why me?" I'm sad but then I pray and say to myself “Everyone has something, your something is Epilepsy." I am so thankful that I was scrolling though instagram one day and I saw Epitome of Epilepsy. Finally people who can relate and understand. Their page has truly been a blessing. It gave me a voice for people who don’t know, who are scared and who just need that shoulder. 

I’m Lakesha Floyd I’m 50 and I am an Epilepsy Warrior. 

Connect with Lakesha:
Instagram: @keshathatisall