My story of how Alcohol destroyed our health & lives.

I will try to make this brief, but if you should have any questions, please let me know. To explain the years preceding our health deterioration, we both had been married twice previous, to individuals that we were not suited for. As most people do, we drank to relax & calm our nerves. And while that is a POOR excuse, unfortuantely, very true! Never had we heard or read or even been told by ANYone, of possible derogatory health effects from alcohol, so it all came as a real shocker.
Myself & my late husband were born to Alcoholic Mothers. We picked up the nasty little drinking habit quite well, in our late teens, when first employed. Being the youngest & newest recruit, you want to fit in, and be accepted, especially when you are hoping for a career in that field. Many lunch & after work drinks, were a ongoing way of life.
Both of us were well educated & hard working, therefore rose quickly in the professions we loved. This all came to a devastating halt for us both in our mid 40's. It is called 'Grand-Mal Seizures' somewhat related to 'Epilepsy'.
There are NO known cures! Prescription drugs are the only help, along with complete alcohol abstinence, permanently. The current medications have pages & pages of horrific side effects, and hit each patient different times, different ways. You must stay on these pills for the rest of your life though! And are expensive. I have a distant relative, who's baby girl was born with the exact same problem. So it's NOT really Epilepsy, but almost another FORM of it. While this tiny little girls parents have never consumed alcohol, suspicions are that her Dad's biological parents did. But being adopted, leaves the question unanswered.
When it first hits, our drivers license's were suspended, in addition to us both having to quit our employment, which is very horrible, when you have worked your entire life in a profession you loved, and are extremely well known & respected in the industry. Not to mention the fact that you've been accustomed to a certain level of income, which is now GONE!! Your license to drive may be returned after 6 months, without an attack, however it is like having a wretched poisonous snake , dwelling permanently inside of you forever ! The medication professes to hold it down, so to speak, & yes it does, however, it is always on your mind ESPECIALLY when your license to drive is returned and makes travelling costs to many Doctors/Specialists/Surgeons & of course Blood Tests, slightly affordable, (although now, even that is expensive!).
There is a little journal book ALWAYS here in our home, where it is noted, in dreaded fear of missing, then being served notice basically, by the PYTHON dwelling inside. He is very aware when he hasn't received Breakfast or Supper, call it 'Tranquilizing Medication'. Consequently you may or may not be served His Wrath! I trust you get the picture here. I never ever leave the house without checking this precious little diary, always sitting in clear plain view, as having a seizure while driving could cause a horrendous dreadful outcome! This is not Drunk Driving, so to speak, but the aftermath of drinking for years and years, not to mention the continual worry of it causing a fall, sometimes splitting your skull open !! (Which has happened twice!) A year before my spouse passed away, he had a seizure while negotiatng 2 steps, flew over 20 ft., breaking his hip, resulting in surgery, then a year long recovery process. This is for someone who at 6 ft 4" tall, in excellent physical condition. Previously he had broken his arm & ankle from the same cause! And ALL because of the ALMIGHTY drink !!
I am attempting to bring this to as many organizations attention as possible, as well as our Governments, Federal & Provincial. Hoping that along with AA, ALANON, MADD it will result in mandatory warning labels on ALL liquor containers, and purchase prices increased as well !!
Cigarette manufacturers have been forced to do both, but I don't remember ever hearing about a deadly traffic accident or severe fall, from smoking !?!
This type of life with a minor affliction is difficult. It does cause again, a great deal of stress, as your entire life is uprooted. Applying to receive CPP takes almost forever, and for one of us, we had to have a Lawyer complete the entire ordeal.
My lovely husband passed away, a year ago last month, from a perforated ulcer, and his reluctance to go into the hospital immediately, as he didn't want me to be on my own, I suspect, in case of an attack! (Well, my dear, I'm on my own now!)
Thankyou very much for your spending valued time with my story. I trust you will pass this on to others. I have been replied to by some, they absolutely convinced, seizures are only caused from ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL !! Well, not so, NOT SO AT ALL !! I'm no Physician, but have confirmed this with professionals and it is ONLY from continued DRINKing period ! AND having this wretched, horrible health defect, is like wondering of the (unwanted) Tenant inside, is dead, alive, pissed off with you, bored or HEY, maybe, just MAYBE, peacefully content, FOR NOW !?!

Sincerely yours, in deepest hopes of saving others,
Sheila Joyce Gibbs
sjgibbs@shaw.ca
402-720 Vancouver Street,
Victoria, B.C. Canada
V8V3V3
Ph. No. 250-995-1643

PS: Imagine if all BEER Cans had this message displayed:

WARNING: Any/All Alcohol, has the diffinent possibilities of causing severe Epileptic Seizures for life !!

(Think that would help ?)