Working with epilepsy

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Has anyone ever been in a position due to their seizures and treatment where they have had to step back and say "It seems to be in everyone's best interest if I leave this job."? I'm finding myself there right now. I'm full, overloaded, and tired. I'm weak and stressed and gaining weight. I have more to do than I can handle. My boss has been very understanding in giving me the time I need for appointments. Yet, when I go to speak to him to follow up with him, he sits and points out all the areas in which I am failing. It is hard. My brain is mush. I'm broken. How do you deal with this in the workplace?

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Working with epilepsy

Submitted by GodivaGirl on Sat, 2006-09-23 - 11:43

Moussie, One question for you - how long have you been working there for? I've been in IT for almost 10 years, but the current company I work for, really just over a year. My prior employer I worked for almost 8 yrs. I find seniority goes along way. Before joining SF (where I am now) at PCS (prior place) my job title was Sr.Analyst & Business Development. I was basically one below the 2 VP's. So, it was a lot easier to level with our CEO and my boss (VP of Dev) and say honest, I'm doing what I can, sometimes I'm just tired during the day, but I'll put in the overtime at night to make up for it -- and I usually did. If I ever felt off at work, I'd nap at my desk for a few min, then put in a whack of hours at night. The business plans there just were not working out, and I left before things folded. At SF where I am now, it's like I'm really replacable since I've hardly been there, really have no seniority, so they don't care. I leveled with my boss in consulting about so many things, but it came down to 70% billable, which I couldn't pull off (no license to travel) In marketing, he doesn't care awake, 1/2 dead or what - he wants 55 calls a day, 12 leads a month, if I soon don't start pulling that off, really I might as well start looking for a new job. The impact of Keppra means nothing to him. They were way more understanding at my old job, but then again I had a tonn of seniority. So, I guess what I'm saying is honesty can go along way if you have senority to back you up. Otherwise, find a plan to do the job to the best of your ability - even if it means working from home putting in OT when you are not totally 1/2 dead. Good luck. Erin

Re: Re: Re: Re: Working with epilepsy

Submitted by fzMousie on Sat, 2006-09-23 - 20:53

I am on a 10 month contract with 2 months remaining. The whole diagnosis thing actually went very quickly, between March (when we decided that whatever was happening, I couldn't put off going to the doctor any longer) and July. I had started to spiral downhill really quickly. I have tried so hard to put in extra hours to make up for the time I've lost. Honestly, I would rather they just not pay me for those hours that I am off. It's not worth the pain and pressure. Right now, I do not see why I should have to stay until 6pm, working late just to stay on top of my job. I do not have to see why I should push myself when I KNOW stress induces seizures. I do not see why I should have to work from home, taking away what precious little time I have with my family. I don't see why I should have to bleed myself dry for a company that would drop me in a split second if they didn't need me anymore. If they had to downsize, I'd be the first one out the door. I'm a contract employee. I mean nothing to them, and the bullying proves that. Why should I bleed for them when they really hoenstly don't care that much about me?? I find the last statment in your post completely confusing... "Otherwise, find a plan to do the job to the best of your ability - even if it means working from home putting in OT when you are not totally 1/2 dead." Why would you do that?? I mean a good work ethic is one thing, but why would you do that? Is work really worth your health? Maybe I have a different perspective because my husband and I both work and my income is semi-disposable.

Basically by saying do the

Submitted by GodivaGirl on Sun, 2006-09-24 - 07:20

Basically by saying do the job to the best of your ability - even if it means putting in overtime at home when I'm not half dead...what I'm getting at is, in every job I've had there are deadlines to be met, or there are quotas. I'm not contract, but my job isn't 100% secure either. I work Monday-Friday 9am-5pm in the office. If I can't get everything done at the office, then I work from home to make sure everything is done. Through terminal server or VPN I can always connect to work from my home PC if I need to, but often times it is a matter of reading a file or something from home. Why would I work from home - to get the job done or to get ahead. I need to be employed. It seems like you could just drop your income, but I am not in that position - we need my income. When I changed jobs we had to move and cost of living doubled. These days I'm actually looking for a new job in a city where they are more accepting of people who don't drive, but cost of living will go up more, so we need to save for that as well. Neither the person I live with or I can drop working even though he's not in his dream job & I'm looking to get back into more what I love to do (where I would enjoy 80 hour weeks) I'm pretty sure you live in Ontario right, just don't know the age difference. I'm 32 and among most of my friends for most couples both people work & do what they have to do, even if the job sucks. Cost of living is too high, it's tough to slide by on one income. Also, while you record 40 hours a week, it's almost the norm for a lot of places no matter what field your in that you work 50-60 hours, as I apply for jobs they ask the questions - percentage of travel acceptable, and will you work overtime? It's like travel & overtime are expected to get ahead. I dunno - maybe you've been in the workforce longer than me and have a secure stable career. The company I used to work for basically folded so I'm back at square 1, starting over again at the bottom of the corporate ladder & I don't want to be at the bottom forever. I want to get ahead. Health wise - I've come to learn my limits, it's not like I work 80 hour weeks any more. I don't like the department I'm in enough to pull that off, and I realize that's not getting me anywhere either. The most overtime I'll put in is maybe 10 hours (make up for appointments, rough days, etc.) Thing is, it's all from home and the person I live with works 2-9pm so he's not home at night, so for me to work on something from 6-9pm is no big deal really. Everything where I am now is judged by quotas & number of hours worked. My current place of employment doesn't seem to care about the impact of seizure meds. So, while I'm trying to search for something new. In the process if 3 hours extra at night gives me enough research to pull off a couple leads (which I get great comission on) then I'll do the research ahead of time. It's a tough juggling act, but it's a matter of doing what's gotta be done to meet targets at work while saving to hopefully get into a better environment. I do find though there was a huge difference when I'd been at the place I used to work for 8 yrs, versus living each day knowing I'm replaceable. My question to you - if there's only 2 months left on your contract & your income is semi-disposable as you put it, why not look for something new or take advantage of unemployment, welfare, etc. and just quit? I can take working 1/2 dead - been doing it longer. It sounds like you've just been recently diagnosed. I was diagnosed at 5, got a bit of a break but have been back on meds at 16. So, it's just a way of life I've gotten used to. Did university exhausted (from seizures and from partying) and have never known life in the work place without being on clobazam which knocks the heck out of ya! Perhaps my perspective is slightly different because I grew up having doctors tell me I'd never graduate university, I'd never do anything great, I'd never.... My attitude is - I'll do what it takes to get there and to prove people wrong. Been like that since I was 16. Seizures won't hold me back at all. 1 seizure every 3-4 months doesn't have to stand in my way. If extra hours is what it takes, extra hours they get. I do what I have to to get ahead and become less replacable. Sometimes, you just do what you have to do in life and go with it. I've toughed out enough that overtime 1/2 asleep from home is nothing compared to working kinda tired during the day. I actually enjoy the hours at night - listen to my own music as I work & get through it. Some people work different, I find between 9 & noon it's tough, but 5-9pm I'm awake & can get lots done. My job doesn't conform to when my meds ware off though, so I know myself and work around that. Either way. Hang tough & good luck.