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Epilepsy and employment
Mon, 07/31/2006 - 19:30I had my first major seizure just five days after being terminated from a really bad job in November 2005. Needless to say, I have not been employed since then. At this point my epilepsy is not under control despite being on Lamictal and Keppra. I have only been on the Keppra for about 10 days. Yet I am concerned about being employable in the future. I keep reading about and hearing that people with epilepsy can lead "normal" lives. I guess that depends on what the definition of normal is. In the interim I am trying to figure out what I am going to do for money. I have even hinted at one doctor's office that by the time my next appointment came around, I would be living in my car. These doctors just don't seem to get it. I do not have unlimited funds. Where is the reality in all this?
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by Amara on Fri, 2006-08-11 - 15:44
Lisa,
I almost just emailed you, but decided against it. I hope you are still reading this thread.
I just read your last 2 posts now, and I sincerely hope I did not offend or upset you with my attempts to encourage, clearly I was not aware of the complexity of the issues you have to deal with. I can certainly see how your higher education level would make it hard to fit into work environments, and being a transsexual woman must make it a hundred, thousand times more difficult to find a comfortable job even without epilepsy. I really have no words of advice ... except that you seem like an intelligent, accomplished, talented and capable person, and not everyone out there is predjudiced or hateful. If I were you, I'd keep looking for doctors until I found one that could really, truly help with my epilepsy, and then tackle finding a job from there. But I am not you, and only you can decide what is best for you.
I pulled the plug on my job search as well and am going back to the company I quit from weeks ago ... I can understand that aspect, at least.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by wflisa on Mon, 2006-08-14 - 20:18
Amara,
There is nothing in any of your postings that could have upset me. Especially considering how upset I am at myself. On the slightly positive side, I now know that the Neurologist I met with this last February is the MD I will stay with. Long story that I will not get into there. He and I get along quite well and he knew, picked up on, whatever that I am very informed and intelligent and would not tolerate being lied to or screwed around with. He treats me very well overall. It is just that he is a very busy man.
I have no job to go back to and I doubt I could get a job anymore. The weird thing about my epilepsy is that "it" wakes me up at ungodly hours in the early AM. Both yesterday and today it was 4:10 AM, exactly the same time both days. Go figure.
I could write all night. But I will stop here. I would not dissuade you from sending an email, but it is certainly your decision.
Re: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by wflisa on Wed, 2006-08-09 - 14:28
Except for a few friends who are trans, there are no support groups. The only "support groups" are for people who are transsexual and having problems with that experience and nothing else. One of the things I attempted to make clear in my previous comment is my education level has made it difficult for me to fit in in MANY work environments.