What do you say if you have an episode in front of someone

Hi Elsea - Wellllll, I used to say too much when I was first diagnosed. Part of my educate the public when I'm postictal fiasco program. The big variable in your post for me is that it sounds like you're waiting on customers? That would change what I say. But in my life if I have a blink out where I am obviously lost in the conversation when I come back or my body does something weird? I just say "sorry, that was a small seizure" and I keep RIGHT on going. If I have an atronic drop in front of someone, for about 10 minutes or so I can't talk and people usually think I've fainted. I'm whisked out of a store so fast I don't think I say anything. But yesterday I got my hair cut by the second time by a very good hair dresser. She used to be an LPN which gives me some confidence and I told her the first time she cut my hair I had epilepsy because the chair she put me in headed me right in a direction of the cash register with a shimmery digital display and I knew that'd knock me out. That day and yestesrday when she used an electric razor to trim a little bit over my ear? Both times I went into a prolonged absence I think from her description and my head fell to the side or forward, but anyway, it fell. I didn't know what had happened. I felt like a buzz saw had gone thru my head and grabbed both sides. The first time I reassured her I was ok, the electric razor apparently stimulated a "small seizure", reassured her I was fine. Yesterday after it happened again she apologized, remembered, and we just went on with what she was doing. I'm not sure though your employer would be too wild about you telling a customer you had a small seizure tho. I and other members of my family have epilepsy and we haven't had real understanding that we even have epilepsy with employers. What do you think about this? Don't say anything. It could very well be, very frequently is with me, that what I'm feeling is a lot more intense than what anyone else is observing. I have simples that draws up the right side of my face because I have some nerve damage there. I can REALLY feel it and used to always explain to people after it was over what happened and almost everytime they were perplexed what I was talking about, didn't notice it. But I sure as heck felt it. Good luck. Hope fully when you're treated with AEDs it won't be a problem at all - I'm assuming you're not on them yet? Gretchen

I have two questions for you. First, how understanding is your boss? Second, can you tell in the morning if it is going to be a good day or a bad day? I would be inclined to make sure your boss knows you have a problem that you are in the process of having diagnosed. I had a very understanding boss, mind you, so my perception of public response to epilepsy is very different from what a lot of people here have experienced. I think that for safety reasons, someone at your workplace should be aware of your condition. The other thing is, if you know you may have a bad day, or if you have an aura sufficiently in advance, find someone and ask them to keep an eye on you. Finally, if you DO have a seizure in front of a customer, find a way to brush it off. There was a thread going a little while ago about excuses we use to dismiss a seizure. <a href="http://my.epilepsy.com/?q=node/962562">It's not a seizure, it's...</a> I don't lose consciousness, either. Most of the time, I don't lose awareness. "Sorry, I had a little brain tickle," is becoming my new phrase.