How many of you work and what do you do?

Hi Wendy, It hasn't been the easiest road living with Epilepsy, but I keep on going. I started having auras at age 16. I graduated a year early from High School and went to work for a mental hospital here in Maine and then worked at a nursing home and got my CNA degree. I married and moved to Texas and had two children then went to nursing school and found out after graduating I was pregnant with the 3rd. I then knew something was wrong with my health cause I kept blacking out and having these seizures at about 28 and was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 30 2wks prior to having my 3rd child. I stopped doing my nursing career afraid I would have a seizure while drawing blood or giving medication. I went to work as a Kennel Manager/ Vet Tech while still in Texas. Then in 1996 I moved home to Maine and got on my disability after my divorce. I didn't work til 2000 when I remarried. I hated every minute of not working. I hated the label on my forhead of being disabled. I remarried in 2000 and my husband got work in a Medical Research Lab as a supervisor and he has a great boss. The company hired me part time and I am now working part time as a Laboratory Animal Technician in a Medical Reseach lab. I just had my RTL surgery almost 3wks ago and as soon as I get the go ahead to go back to work my boss has offered me a full time job working in shipping/receiving and then as a fill in in the Lab. He said that he would give me my full benefit package as soon as I start fulltime and that I won't have to wait 3 months as normal. I can't wait. I love the idea of working full time again and getting off the disability and living a normal life without having to report every penny to the state. I have always said "I may have epilepsy, but epilepsy doesn't have me" I will not let it ruin my life or keep me from doing what I want. So Wendy, just do what your heart tells you. If you can't work anymore then you shouldn't feel like you have to. See, I have a very supportive husband. If I wanted to stay home he would be the first one to say go ahead, since I don't want to he is the first one to have me work right along side of him in the lab and put his faith in my doing the job right. But you do what is in the best interest of your health and don't beat on yourself for doing it. Don't worry about venting, that is why we are here, to listen and to support. Hope things work out. Cathy

Hi Wendy, I'm 32 yrs old, a mother of a 3 yr old boy, working 36 hrs. at a convenience store called Kangaroo. I've had enough experience to be an ass. mgr., but my hubby's finishing school and I just can't commit to the responsibility of that position. I've had E since 1995, it came upon me from a head injury I recieved in 1993. I spent 1995 and '96 going to different docs trying to figure out why I was having tonic-clonic during my sleep cycle, and I was experimenting with drugs. Dilantin made me feel as if termites had invaded my skin, and Tegretol made me put the cereal in the fridge and the milk in the cabinet. I traveled to Idaho from my home state, TN in 1996. Went by Greyhound bus and had a seizure halfway there. It's a three day trip, so when they told me that I would be forced to enter an emergency room if I had another seizure, I was terrified of going back to sleep!! My mom drove from ID to Missouri to pick me up!! Once we got back to ID, I joined the Epilepy League there and we got some lawyers and sued Greyhound bus lines. I could've gotten money from them, but I decided to make them change their policies concerning Epileptics. Or, gain some insight on the fact that Epileptics do travel, and hospitalization isn't always nessesary. Anyway, I participated in a drug study done by the league, found the perfect meds for me, finished the study and moved back to TN from homesickness. 1997, home again, I didn't find help with my E, I ignored it for the next 4 years, abusing myself with alcohol and drugs. When I finally came to in 2001, I found the derivitave of the drug I had in ID, Trileptal. I got a car, a job, and ever since then my life has been moving on. I still have seizures now and then, during high stress times, (I am married and have a 3 yr old!!) but it's mostly under control. I did have a seizure at work after passing out from dehydration. Freaked some people out, but they all knew of my E, and now they don't treat me any differently. I do my job with pride, the best I can, so I think people are more apt to respect me. My only problem now is that I haven't had a period in 11 months, and I fear that I may not be able to concieve again unless I take birth contol pills, which is why I got pregnant before. I've read comments from many other Trileptal users about getting pregnant after taking the pill for a bit. It's hard to have this hormonal imbalance. But, it's either seizures or another baby... unless I can find a doc who will prescribe the pill to me, knowing why I want it. I will not lie about it. As to your stress, try to find a creative outlet, gardening, perhaps, if you feel the need for physical labor. Learn how to make stepping stones, or take some carpentry classes. My husband creates stained glass pieces for windows, etc. and it's a very interesting hobby! Remember that this life is for you, and you can answer all the questions you ask. Every challenge is a lesson, every lesson equals knowledge! Good luck to you, and your own!