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Elementary Teacher with Epilepsy

Mon, 01/19/2015 - 14:07

I am seeking some advice or resources for teachers with a seizure disorder. I am having a few issues, and I am not really sure where to turn. Every time I try to find resources, I am innundated with resources for teachers that have STUDENTS with epilepsy, but that is not what I am looking for! I am a teacher with a seizure disorder.

I was diagnosed last year after having 2 stress-induced complex-partial seizures in school while working, on separate occasions (though I did not know at the time they were seizures). After the second time it happened I went to the ER, where I had another complex partial seizure, followed up by a grand mal seizure, and was admitted for a few days and tested, tested, tested! I was sent to a neurologist, given 2 weeks off, and recovery time.

I am back at work now, medicated (tried Keppra- allergic, then Tegretol- made me dizzy, now Zonegran), but still having occasional seizures. No more seizures at work (thank goodness), but I am horrified it could happen in my classroom while teaching (and I am concerned that the stress of the thought alone could lead to a seizure). We don't really have an official plan in place if it were ever to happen. I am wondering if any other teachers (or anyone with a job where they are in supervision of others) has any suggestions for me! I have 20 elementary aged students for whom I am responsible. What should be the protocol if I were to have a seizure!?

I am very luck to have an amazing principal and school nurse on staff that have been so supportive, but I am trying to find resources for teachers with seizure disorders, but have not been able to find anything. I can't possibly be the first teacher to ever have a seizure at work! 

My primary concern is if I were to have another seizure at school, especially in my classroom. Though both of my seizures happened at school, I had an indication that something was off, and was able to send my class to the playground with another teacher the first time it happened. I would like to come up with a plan for what to do if... I am in my classroom with my students? In the hall? I feel preictal? Should my class leave the room? Where should they go? Do I have to go home after a seizure? How do we know if I am ready to return to teaching? 

I'm having some trouble. My principal and school nurse, while incredibly supportive, are both fairly new in their jobs, so I visited our employee resource office for the district. I left extremely upset, and not assisted! She was very uninformed about my condition, and seemed to be hung up on the idea that I was having convulsive seizures. I kept explaining to her that I have a seizure disorder, it's diagnosed. I regularly see a neurologist. I have complex partial seizures. I described and explained complex partial seizures but she did not seem to understand! She told me that if I had a seizure in school, they would have to send me to the hospital. She said it would be incredibly traumatic for my students to witness me having a seizure and she was very concerned about it. She kept bringing up different potential lawsuits, parents suing the district, me suing the district!? I was mortified when I left her office and when I got home, actually had a seizure, she stressed me out so much! 

My secondary concern is privacy! Because this all happened in school, it's not exactly confidential, and every single staff member is aware of my seizure disorder (though I was not the one who told them)! As whispers started happening, people were saying crazy things, so I spoke with my coworkers at a staff meeting about the importance of keeping my medical information confidential and not sharing it with anyone, particularly parents and students. This has settled down a bit, but I am still very concerned about parents finding out about my seizures. I teach in a district that does a lot of gossiping so I am very lucky that they did not find out already. They simply thought I passed out and was home sick for a few weeks. What would I do if I had a seizure at school and parents were to find out? 

Anything would be helpful!

Comments

Hi Vanessa.  I realize you

Submitted by micakath on Fri, 2017-09-15 - 10:30
Hi Vanessa.  I realize you wrote your post quite a while ago, but I've been recently diagnosed and just came upon this site.  I am a middle/high school teacher currently going through some of this, and would love to hear back from you about what has happened and how you're doing.  Thanks!

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