Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Has this affected my ability to study?
Mon, 12/11/2006 - 11:58Hi there
This my second post since being told two weeks ago I was having partial seizures by my neurologist.
As i don't really have any symptons other than being unattentive ocassionally I'm still dubious as to the diagnosis, but hey ho maybe its denial or lack of understanding on my part or something.
Anyway my question is, supposing they have got this right and I do have this condition, I want to know how this may have effected my personality and ability to do certain things in the past?
I basically have take a route career wise that suits my skitty personality and lack of focus, I left school at 16 and went into sales, have since owned my own business and now work in IT sales, financially I'm okay and new boss extremely supportive.
However I probably would not have chose this area if I could concentrate enough to study academically. I seem unable to focus when studying, even when interested in the subject. I realise this could be because I'm a lazy git or just not that bright or determined however I have i think above average intelligence, according to IQ tests anyway and what people around me seem to think. My elder sister is an Oxford graduate (I'm not that clever but we have same parents!). Also when started business I was doing 2 jobs for a year working 7 days per week so I don't think I can really be lazy or unmotivated?
What I'm wondering is could this be the reason I underachieved accademically because seizures made my brain tired or unfocussed or something?
If so will mdeication change this limitation and make studying more achiveable for me? Does anyone have experince of this or heard of this happening or am I just looking for a positive in this that just aint there!?
I wouldn't change my job but would probably start an Open U degree if I thought I'd be able to for my own satisfaction.
I look forward to your responses.
Justin
Comments
Re: Re: Has this affected my ability to study?
Submitted by justpounds on Tue, 2006-12-12 - 09:26
Hi and thanks for your reply.
I was diagnised recently but think these seizures have been happening since childhood.
I am not on mdeication but think I will be soon (only diagnised two weeks ago) If they make my focus any worse they won't be worth taking as effects of "seizures" are not of sever nature of your own.
Well done one the BSc!
Re: Has this affected my ability to study?
Submitted by scorpio on Wed, 2006-12-13 - 06:26
If it is any encouragement to you, I have had Complex Partial TLE all my 53 years, and have, at one time or other, taken Phenobarbitone, Phenytoin/Epanutin (UK)/Dilantin (US), Carbamazepine/Tegretol, Clonazepam/ Rivotril) and most recently, Lamotrigine/Lamictal, the only AED that has controlled my epi 100%. Of the above, only the Phenobarbitol caused serious learning difficulties but I stopped taking that around the age of nine or ten. The Clonazepam might have caused some tiredness at times but it was really the seizures (mainly absence -) or, rather, the tiredness that followed them, that caused any problems. Still, I managed to pass through two universities, Oxford (I see your sister made a similarly sensible decision) and UCL. Like you, I am easily distracted, but found that working eg. in the quiet atmosphere of a library, surrounded by other people doing the same, a lot more productive than working on my own.
Go for it!
Chris
Re: Has this affected my ability to study?
Submitted by catfud600 on Mon, 2006-12-11 - 16:13
Justin, Sounds like your "focusing disability" problem is similar to mine. I've been on Dilantin (phenytoin) for 23 years and I've always believed that it is the cause of my lack of focus. I did earn my B.S. degree and have made other achievements but my work seems to suffer. ARE YOU ON MEDICATION? I don't quite understand if your partial seizures BEGAN recently or was simply DIAGNOSED recently. If they truly began recently, this would likely not be reason for lack of focus. I'm not really familiar with partial seizures-I have gran mal tonic-clonic seizures that cause convulsion and major headaches. Still, I responded to your message because of your LACK OF FOCUS comment. Many AED medications cause confusion/mental slowness/inability to focus/... Some do not though. - Jason