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How many of you work and what do you do?
Wed, 10/11/2006 - 12:37I have been diagnosed with E for 9 years but had them since I was at least 7. I have worked since I was able to work. Part time as a teen-ager. Then when I got married at 18 (8-S)
I worked full time and have sine then, besides a year for school.
I am to the point now, though, that I feel I am almost not able to anymore. I am having a hard time dealing with this. I'm being really hard on myself my husband and family says. I know I can't help having E. I know I have tried to work all these years with it. But now that is it getting worse and I am on more meds , I don't think I can hold on much longer. I feel so guilty about it. I'm messing up at work, and when I do that at my job, its a big deal.
I don't know, I guess I needed to vent. Thanks for listening. (((Hugs)))
Comments
Ok...I'll put in my two
Submitted by aquila316 on Mon, 2006-10-16 - 20:47
Ok...I'll put in my two cents. I'm 33, have had E all my life (diagnosed at 13 after a bad T/C) consisting of simple and complex partial, and tonic clonic. I have spent the last 6 years working in either dispatch or customer service for the local cable company. I was on a really good run and decent money, and it got me through my associate's degree in my late 20's and early 30's, but is also very stressful work with lousy hours and little thanks. I was laid off in March, and have been having difficulty finding something else.
My room mate found me a job as a receptionist at a tree service near my house. I live in Orlando, and don't drive, so being close is very important. It was actually really easy and stress free work, the hours were great and the owners were taking good care of me even giving me rides home.
I haven't had a grand mal in over 8 years.
I had one on my 5th day on my new job, and hit my head REALLY hard on a wood table in the office. Not only did they give me a full 40 hours to help with my financial situation, but had it not been for being in the hospital over a week they said they would have looked forward to having me back.
I scared the owner half to death with a sz lasting over 30 minutes, but he just wanted to get my worker's comp claim filed and get me back on my feet...really caring gentleman.
Susan
Re: Ok...I'll put in my two
Submitted by suebear on Tue, 2006-10-17 - 03:55
Was working at a mix of jobs for awhile then was settled into a programming position (my background) for a few years. I had a few issues but my manager and the few programmers around me knew how to handle the issue if it came about. The company merged with another and the UNIX position went elsewhere; I wasn't about to move as I'd just moved to where I am now so I went into a brief hiatus; after working 55-60 hr weeks at a time I needed it.
I'd planned on going back into the work force but ended up getting into a self learning curve pattern for small business and started a freelance business in web design then went back to college. I just graduated a few months ago with a bachelor of science in management information systems. Have been running the business for 8 yrs now and considering on what to do with the degree now that I have it; ideas but not sure just yet on following through with them due to other issues.
The epilepsy is one of the situations I've been able to deal with all my life and haven't had a problem with. My biggest downfall has always been the anxiety that happens; drives me crazy because whenever the anxiety hits I go into this freakish feeling an aura is right around the corner. I'm not sure if anyone else has experienced this sort of thing but that has been a big issue with me.
They're not as often as they were but when they do show it's at the most inconvenient times it seems.
Do the impossible today. For yesterday is gone and the opportunity of tomorrow may not be what you expect.
Re: Re: Re: How many of you work and what do you do?
Submitted by andy m on Mon, 2006-10-16 - 19:42
I've always worked since school apart from small periods between getting the sack from all sorts of jobs after having seizures at work. Whatever job I have done, and believe me I've done some crappy ones, I've always put far more effort in than my co-workers as if to prove to them and myself that my E isn't going to be a barrier to me working. At one point when I first began at my present job I was so desperate I was doing 70 hour weeks, I guess I drove myself so hard because I somehow thought I owed them it for giving me a job after having a seizure during my interview, after having lied about having E in the first place. Thankfully all that is behind me and although I still work for the same company I'm now a highly thought of member of staff plus I only do about half the hours now.