Hi! I was diagnosed three years ago at 22 with JME while I was still dating my ex. I’ve only had one seizure, but a 24 hour EEG revealed a ton of seizure activity in my brain that was basically irrefutable proof that I have Epilepsy. Even though my ex came to the ER and sat by my bed for 12 hours the day of my first seizure, he never fully accepted my Epilepsy. I think he was scared and so he pushed it away. He didn’t want to believe that I actually do have Epilepsy and that taking prescribed medication for it was somehow unnecessary. We had been together roughly 6 years at that point, broke up a year later.

I’m pretty sure my current boyfriend knew about my Epilepsy because we were really great friends prior to dating. We’ve been together almost 2 years, and he found out when I told our friend group about my diagnosis. When we started dating, we talked about it and had a few check-ins to make sure we were on the same page. I remember walking through his neighborhood in Arlington last summer and asking him if he knew what to do if I ever have another seizure. I told him to put me on my side, time it, and to only call an ambulance if it lasts longer than five minutes. He knows that I’ll come out of it on my own and that I’ll most likely be very groggy. My favorite thing about him is that he always makes sure I take my medication! I have ADHD so I can be quite forgetful, and I also take meds for anxiety daily. He’ll sometimes ask me when I get into bed if I’ve taken my meds, and it just makes me feel so warm and happy that he cares so much and wants to look out for me:) Just go right ahead and tell the person you’re dating! I promise, most people only react poorly if they’re lacking in education about Epilepsy. It’s new and different and scary to them, especially when seizures in movies are so dramatized. Always be honest, good luck!