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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: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by Amara on Wed, 2006-08-16 - 13:36
Hi Lisa,
I'm glad you have a good doctor ... that makes a world of difference.
I actually accidentally discovered the idea of using "biofeedback" (although I never knew there was a term!); I just discovered that being acutely aware of my body and surroundings can let me know when one of my simple partials is coming - though I only recently learned that these were seizures. i can now tell that they're coming and recently realized I could actually stop them or shorten them. Definitely good advice, I'm going to do some reading on biofeedback as soon as I can!
Unfortunately, it won't work for the tonic-clonics because I've only had those in my sleep. I actually sort of (but only sort of) wish I'd have one when I'm awake so I would know what it's like.
Please let me know how you do at the hospital.
Amara
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by wflisa on Tue, 2006-08-22 - 06:02
Amara,
I also hope that you are still reading this thread. Due to the increasing number of "Re: Re:" things I am going to start a new thread. Right now, however, I need to tell you that I did not go into the hospital on the 16th as expected, Instead I will be going in on tehe 28th of August. When the nurse told me this, my first response was "great, i get to live with this crap for another 11 days."
On the 19th, the "aura" or whatever it is, woke me at 5:30, on the 20th at 3:15 AM (whew), and on the 21st at 4:AM. All three of these mornings I was wide awake at those times. Today, it was playing games with me, Initially I woke at 4:45, but I thought I could go back to sleep. I started to do that and about 20-30 minutes later it started up.
I will make one more post before the 28th.
Lisa
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Epilepsy and employment
Submitted by wflisa on Wed, 2006-08-16 - 06:25
Amara, Maybe this will help you, and since this is a "public" forum, maybe it will help someone else. If at all possible, make a mental note of what is happening to you before a seizure. Try to remember what certain physical attributes are starting before you have a seizure. The one thing I am pretty sure of is that your heart rate increases and things "speed up." At least it does (did) for me. Go to the newest dictionary you can and look up "biofeedback." If you can remember even some of the things that lead up to a seizure, you may be able to do something to slow down the heart rate and to slow down "everything" and either lessen the seizure or make it less severe. I have no idea if this will work for others, but it works for me. Of course I have a memory that picks up every little detail and can use that for just about anything. Let me know if this helps at all. I am going back in the hospital today (16th).