Professionals with epilepsy?

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Hi, I'm a 37 year old female. I've had idopathic epilepsy for years (simple partials with mostly psychic/cognitive clinical signs; can generalize secondarily). I've been on several drug therapies over the years, and mostly have suffered from cognitive drug side effects, then later cognitive signs from seizure activity. I'm on Keppra monotherapy now, which was extremely effective initially (1st 3 months?), but lost effectiveness. I'm working on incremental dose increases in the hopes of regaining effectiveness, but I'm worried, because I've a return to cognitive clinical signs that affect my performance. I'm interested in speaking with medical, science, or other professionals with a higher education that rely on "higher order thinking" for their day to day professional success. Has epilepsy created disabilies that have affected your academic or workplace success or performance, and have you found mechanisms to compensate? I'd love to hear from you! Thanks so much, Lilian

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Professionals with epilepsy?

Submitted by liliansabina on Wed, 2006-06-21 - 21:32

Hi everyone, First, I want to thank all of you who have posted your experiences. It feels really good (in a wierd twisted sorta way) to know there are other people out there who are affected with cognitive signs like I am, and I empathize SO much. Still, I think, in a sense, I have it "good". With Keppra monotherapy, the most I can complain about is "confusion" (to put it easily). I'm a second year veterinary medical student, and my issues affect my academic performance only to the degree that I go from "A" student to B and C student. I have had problems in clinical practice, though, due to poor attention span, comprehension, and memory. I suspect that executive functioning is also impaired quite a bit. So, my main concern is "what about when I'm done with school and am a doctor, having to synthesize lots of info and spit out diagnoses, plans, and prognoses? On my "clear" days (those days when the confusion is minimal- it never truly goes away), I have no problems, and in fact do really well "reading" patients and problem solving. But I worry about decline and novel tasks (I'll be faced with many VERY soon!). If I am able to function, but slower than others, is that ok? Is it ok for me to set more workload limitations than others in order to function well as a doctor? All things I think and worry about. My doctor has ordered a long term video EEG. We'll see what that pans out, but according to my "only minimally abnormal EEG" I am a bilateral frontal lobe person. He's a leader in the field, and specializes in women with epilepsy, but he still continues to doubt that my cognitive signs are seizure-derived. I was off meds completely for 2 years, and the worst that came were motor seizures concurrent with major confusion (along with wiping out my language comprehension until I got caffeine into my system). My extensive journalling shows a strong association between motor lurches, menses, and extreme cognitive signs (confusion). It's relatively black and white to me how the pattern goes. Explaining to others is really difficult though. I'm scheduled for a Neuropsych evaluation next week. My main hope is that she'll give me a tool with which to measure and describe my cognitive signs, over time, so that I can, for example, compare times when I'm ovulating (MUCH sharper mentally) to times around my period (big time signs). I see a regular, monthly pattern of signs, and would love to document them better. Still, I have to count my blessings. Others have it far worse. I'm lucky to be in vet school. I still have avenues of treatment to explore. My worst case scenario (I think), is to go into a sub-field that requires minimal multitasking (like clinical pathology? ). Still, the option is there. I'd be doing very repetetive stuff that I'd get really good at, and wouldn't have to worry about making the wrong snap decision with a patient. Still...to have to even think about limitations like that is daunting, and I appreciate all of you pouring your hearts out. I apologize for the delay in posting, but I had finals to deal with. I got through them, heavily confused, and slipped by in 7 classes with only 2 C's by sheer determination. How, with all this confusion? I have no idea. That creeps me out as well...to know that I'm high as a kite, have little memory and attention span, have a hard time comprehending (inevitably do)...yet still am able to jump their hoops. What's up with that? Wierd, I say, but I'm so grateful. Have any of you had a neuropsych eval done? Did it help you get a better handle? What about video EEG? Warm regards, Lilian

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Professionals with epilepsy?

Submitted by gretchen1 on Thu, 2006-06-22 - 00:52

Congratulations getting into vet school. One of my daughters is a vet. We learned during her application process it's harder to get into vet school than medical school. The neuropsych evals? I've had several by different people. I was given standardized testing such as the MMPI II, I can't remember the others and was interviewed by a psychologist. Went back in to have the test results read to me. My neuro/epileptologist ordered these and it was my impression that they only did what they were asked to do - test me. IOW not help me with cognitive impairment that I obviously have in some areas. But if you ask? Hopefully you'll receive. I had my daughter read your post. She said to tell you that when she graduated the standard thing for everyone was to work she said as a "lackey" for a period of one year and for herself, and classmates she stayed in touch with, they were over used. I know I was furious with the firm she worked for, for one year. It was all large animal. She's a small person and from the get go they'd send her out at night to say deliver alone a breech calf. She had call constantly. She lost so much weight and look so deathly after about 6 months of that I stepped in. She was mad at the time I did that, but later was so relieved. But others she graduated with didn't have this experience. For instance if you're a designated vet for say 4 large horse farms. You travel farm to farm. Take the time you need. You're always scheduled for the same farm on the same days. You're not as rushed. I forgot to ask her about being on call though. After her first year, she and 3 women got together. Got a loan and built a building, their own practice in small animal surgery. She has some health problems that on some days impair her energy level.She's had Lyme's with some residual and asthma. When she is not feeling well? She has their receptionist cancel non esssential patients. I wish you well. She's a very smart girl. Went through school on full scholarship yet found the part you're taking extremely demanding. Good luck. I think you'll make it. You've gotten this far, my daughter thinks you will too. Gretchen

Re: Professionals with epilepsy?

Submitted by maryh7 on Sat, 2006-11-25 - 23:32

I'm a nursing home administrator with a master's in gerontology, and I'm finding that my memory is much worse (I'm 48). I'm too young for it to be age-related, so it must be the seizures. everyone, including my staff and building owner knows that I have seizures so it helps. I write myself notes, and make sure the staff leaves things in writing for me. like someone else mentioned, the higher order thought is ok, it's the everyday that's difficult to maintain. I also have my license hanging for 60-odd residents and their families, 70-odd staff and the state department of health, so I know that some of it's stress. At least in my circumstance I've found it really helpful to remain open with people. at least in the health field, people seem pretty understanding. I'll through a question out for people--I have partial complex seizures that also occur nocturnally, am on keppra, carbamazepine, lamictal and prozac and they're still not controlled (they're worse at night). anyone else have good controlling them? I've also been on dilantin, nerontin, depakote, and probably others that I, of course, don't remember. also have a rotten habit of being far too outspoken and having poor impulse control. doesn't make for a great corporate career, but I can't complain. I am frustrated by the lack of driving though. anyone had surgery for the type of seizure I've described, and did it help? I'd especially like to hear from you other professionals about how it affected your work. thanks.