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PA school and seizures while sleeping
Sun, 01/11/2015 - 01:08
Hey everyone,
So I found out relatively late I have epilepsy (absence seizures) at 16. I am 23 now and have progressed to grand mal seizures, and I feel like I am getting more and more susceptible. My main trigger is lack of sleep, but I have a very hard time sleeping at night since I was young because of dreams/insomnia/ etc. Within the last year I have noticed myself jerkin or making strange noises as I am dosing off, and if I'm really tired I shake and I have having mini seizure episodes losing track of time, ticking, etc all day. It is miserable and I am worried I will have a full blown seizure at any moment. I am an aspiring PA and I was wondering if this will keep me from my dream. I'm on depakote, I've done sleep studies and tried melatonin and nothing works. I REALLY want to be a PA and make good grades, but everyone talks about the lack of sleep in the medical field. I've passed out at the wheel and still have no real answers. I can't tell though around me because they worry enough, but I've never been more aware of my seizures like I am now with lack of sleep. I was hoping someone had experience in this area and could help or at least tell me if I can even make it in the health field despite my epilepsy. And also when I apply do I have to tell them about my condition?
Thanks!
Kate
Wecome KateI understand what
Submitted by just_joe on Sun, 2015-01-11 - 18:53
Wecome KateI understand what you are saying. I had hopes of doing other thngs but at times we have to change our dreams/ Driving a race car is not logical when I can't even get a drivers licesne. Nor is flying a plane. Both of those I really wanted to do. I was yanked out of shop because the school didn't want a law suite since back then I was having grand mal and focal motor epilepsy and seizures. I would suggest you call the 24/7 hot line and talk to people who can discuss this issue with you. You also might want to check with the schools administration to find more information on requirements listed in the jobs you are wanting to go into. Taslk to your doctors about your goals and see what they are saying. When I lost my dreams and shop I was determined that if I couldn't make it I would draw it so that is the direction I went off in. I learned how to take a motor apart and put it together on paper. I could do it physically too. Your college has a person that deals with assisting handicaped people with their courses and they might be able to find out some things and actually get your name near the front of the list when it comes to schedualing I hope this helps Joe