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epilepsy and college
Tue, 01/13/2015 - 16:28I am the worried parent of a 17 year old. I would like input from current college students or parents.I can learn a lot from both groups. My son, is 17, and was diagnosed with epilepsy at 15. He has a tonic clonic seizure every 3.5-4 months. All of have either been right before bed or when waking. He has been taking college classes since he was 15 as a dual enrolled student. This upcoming fall he plans to live on campus of his college instead of commuting. The thought process here is it will teach him to be responsible for himself, and it will teach me not to worry so much ( I am not sure I will be successful.). He is signed up to live on the Honors hall at the college with three other young men. Roommates have yet to be assigned. I am worried they will freak out if he has a seizure and treat him differntly. I am also worried he won't get adaquate sleep, as sleep deprivation is his main trigger. Please share any encouragement or experience. Thanks.
He can see the administration
Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2015-01-14 - 12:03
He can see the administration office. They now have a worker that helps with anybody that is handicaped. They can help him get the courses set and he can get a lead of others wanting in that class. If he is going to stay there then he needs to inform his roomates he has epillepsy and tell them what they need to do if they see him in a seizure. Inform them that epilepsy is common. Epilepsy is more common then Parkinsons, Strokes and AZ combined.I know about sleep and epilepsy but I have had few peoblems since when I was a teen I had a paper route and only got 5-6 hours of sleep a night. I have been that way since I was 13. As for mothers and worry____ Mothers are wonderful. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for a mothers prayer. I know Mom worried and I did my best to keep her worry down. Even today I know she wants to know how I am doing. Relax all he needs to do is use common sense and think before acting. Now for a kid his age I know it isn't easy. He also needs to make sure he takes his meds. If 2 times a day then those dosages need to be 12 hours apart unless otherwise told by his doctor. A difference of a few hours can cause breakthru seizures. I hope this helps and he gets the education he wants. But please do check with the office since they do have someone that can assit in getting things taken care of. Joe