Hi, i have TLE, my little cousin has it and my uncle has it. My uncle had substantial change in personality and I think that was very difficult. He lost everything including, I think, his mind. My baby cousin and I haven't had so much change. I know my mood swings are more difficult but I think the TLE has kept me from accomplishing so much.
My father had maliginant hypertention before I was born my mother had ocpd while I was little and I have just always felt that everyone has something illness-wise. We all do and we all will at some time of life or death. It is difficult when a persons actual essence seems to be gone with a brain disease though. But I have always found that this illness to be something like looking for beauty in the desert. life's beauty is abundant but sometimes you have to get on your hands and knees to see it. I just try to be happy with the little things and I really try to forgive myself and my uncle. I haven't noticed my immediately family seen to care much one way or another. They deny I have anything wrong with me even though I have a fairly severe history and a big deal Dr. in Boston who says I definatlely have it.
I have given my cousins who are interested books on TLE. I have told them they need to be the watchdogs and if thats the meaning of my life that will be OK. My little cousin was hardly affected because she was caught in the very begiinning and it did not have a chance to get bad. nipped in the bud so to speak. That is the good news for the future generations, if they get it they can be caught before it gets bad.