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Working.

Sun, 02/25/2007 - 07:58
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been having seizures now for two years. In the beginning it was two a week then it went to one month then to nothing. I had to quit my job at the time cause the medication was making me so tired and I was not able to concentrate at work and my memory was getting bad. I was a pharmacy tech. so I needed all those to be able to function at work. Six months later I was starting to feel better and stopped my medication completely. (I know now that was stupid) I went four months though with no seizures and feeling great. I went back to work recently working for Bell Canada. I have been there now for four months working full time and doing good till about a month ago I had a seizure at work. This was my worse one yet, I went by ambulance and was not able to respond for a good hour or more after my seizure. The doctors in the emergency room got me really scared about dying from seizures that I went home and called my Nero. He has started me on Tegrotel today I was on Topomax and epival before. My biggest fear now is being able to go back to work tomorrow. Does other people on here work ok and function? He suggested disability to me but that scared me I feel too young for that, but again I really know that I could not function last time at all.

Comments

Re: Working.

Submitted by quirky on Mon, 2007-02-26 - 09:04
Hi Hoddinott, I work Monday to Friday supposed to do 37.5 hours a weeks, but I usually end up doing a lot more because of the demand in work. I also have to go to college 2 nights a weeks - I am studying part time which is for 3hours and 15mins each night in the college and there's travelling from the house to work to college to house etc. The answer is Yes! I work okay and fuction just fine as long as I dont over do it. I am well aware of the fact that being epileptic you must get your rest, not get stressed out as this can trigger seizures etc. It is not easy what I am actually doing to be honest, but I am doing it because I know I can as long as I am careful and just because I'm epileptic does not mean I cannot work or achieve certain goals in life just life everyone else out there! I am on Tegretol Retard and Topamax daily and I do get tired and find it hard to concentrate on college work more so than work really, propably because I'm tired after work for college to focus on college :-) But I try! It can be done! I believe one can function and lead a normal life as much as possible apart from having the auras or seizures of course if the meds are not controlling 100%, but then again I suppose it just depends on the individual. I can only tell oyou from my own experience and my own opinion, I dont know if I helped or not but maybe if you really cannot function like the way you describe here, it could be just that you're on the wrong type of meds? There are lots of meds out there to suit everyone. Maybe a change is what you need? But hey I'm not a doctor, I'm only guessing here. I hope things get better for you Good luck! Quirky

Re: Working.

Submitted by gwen48 on Tue, 2007-02-27 - 08:12
Hoddinott: Let us not throw in the towel yet! Apart from trying to play super human, you can live a normal life and achieve some of your goals. I am fifty this year and have been living with seizures for almost thirty years. I tried the same experiment back in my twenties, quit my meds and all hell broke loose. Now that you have taken off the cape, find a middle ground and approach life realistically. Disability? Even with the slim chance you might get approved, you want to live on nothing?? Do not let fear create the atmosphere of entitlement that has engulfed our society. Be a contributer. I work 40 hours a week, not easy, but rewarding all the same. Oh, I take Dialantin, and yes I have to concentrate extra hard, and put reminders evreywhere. Hang in there, you can do it! Gwen

Re: Re: Working.

Submitted by Hoddinott on Tue, 2007-02-27 - 11:19
Thanks I am going into work today trying to see if they will allow me to work part time for a little bit. I'm not so sure how they will react to that. Bell Canada is not the greatest with employee's. I was off since Thursday and I do want to work, I begged my doctor to let me try part time and he allowed me to try it. Well they told me on Friday that I might have a tumor that is causing my seizures so I think thats why he wants me to be careful. But your so right, I can't imagine not working never mind being bored but money too. My husband has a great Job but we live good cause we both bring in a income. thanks for everyones advice and support.

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