I am having seizures.

avishai

I hope I am not sounding like a whiner. I just started having them in earnest a few weeks ago, & have had funny little tremors for some time. I am going to the neurologist on monday, & want to get on disability, because working @ a group home w/ severely emotionally disturbed kids gets me hit in the head a lot, which can cause adult onset epilepsy. Any ideas? I think this is why i have them in the first place, I took a pretty good shot to the melon awhile back, enought to compress a disc in my back. I would like feedback on disability/workmans comp issues, if anyone knows. I'm not trying to be lazy, I have worked 50-56 hrs. straight shifts at this job for almost 5 yrs, I just don't think it's safe anymore, what if I'm spazzing out when a kid is blowing out, I can't defend myself, 'cuz i can hardly move right.

Oh, wow, just noticed it's my 1 yr. b-day on the board. Thank you simon, & everyone else that has been such a great time! Here's to another great year!

Gamaliel

I don't know much about them, but obviously you are doing the right thing having them checked out by a neurologists. One of my good friends at work, a true genius with a very high IQ, had a couple inexplicable siezures a couple years ago. They never came back though, and she's working normally long hours ever since.

Gook luck.

Gamaliel

Ravyn

first things first avi--see your doc and find out what is wrong and what can be done to help it. If the doc says you can't work at all in any job you have half the battle with Social Security won. I know all about it. you can email me if you want to when you start filling out the paperwork...that is what I did for 5 years was help disabled fill out that paperwork. and I am on SSI for my Lupus---it took 18 months and an attorney way back in 1986, but Iw as one of the first persons with Lupus recognized as disabled.

I also have narcolepsy. think about this tho, it will change alot of things. I doubt you will be allowed to drive a vehicle. And the maximum amount of money you get on SSI(which is what you get if you do not have enough Social Security Disability benefits accumulated) is $552 a month. I get Medicaid--which pays for everything including Rxs---but it won't allow most of the meds I need so I have to go to the local welfare offices and fill out more papers every month. I am not qualified for Food Stamps, I make too much money. there are other legal considerations that I can tell you about via email.

I hope it is something they can fix. keep me(us all) posted.

Ravyn

avishai

Thanks, Ravyn. I really want temporary disability 'til I get it figured out, if it can be fixed! I do know of a lot of the hassles involved, & I'll pm you w/ any questions I have. We'll see! As far as driving, I dunno. I wanna be safe more than drive.

teenyuck

I too have epilepsy.

I have adult onset, the docs don't know what from. Probably from a blow to the head. I have had 7 concussions since I was a kid. Plus they used forceps at birth, which could cause problems later. You may want to ask your mother this question. Believe me, she will know.

I have only night time seizures. Or nocturnal. I am not on disability, nor have I ever applied for it, due to seizures. I do drive, however, I did have to provide proof from my docs that I only had night time seizures. Which is basically your word to the doc. Also, most states have clauses that state that if you have a seizure, you must be seizure free for one year to drive. That is serious. Having your freedom taken away is major.

As for meds, I am currently on Topomax. It is relatively new.

As Ravyn stated, you must see a neuro. That is critical. You need to keep a journal of your seizures. What type (grand mal, petite mal, etc.) what time of day, what were you doing, what types of food you ate, were/are you stressed, etc. This type of info is really helpful to the doctor in narrowing down why you have seizures. Also, you will have to have an MRI and or an EEG or a CT scan of your head. They will be looking for brain tumors and/or aneurisms.

Here is the Epilepsy Foundation Website:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/

Getting disability for epilepsy is sometimes difficult. The Epilepsy Foundation actually has lots of information on this and lots of legal stuff that your doctor may not be up on. You may want to read up before you go to the doc.

If you would like to call me I would love to talk to you. This is a terribly frightening thing. However, it does not have to change your life drastically. Much depends on the type and frequency of your seizures and the ability of the meds to get them under control.

I PMd you my phone #.

Please let me know how you are. I really understand. Stress can really affect your health and seizues can be brought out if the underlying factors were there.

Tina

gumby

Hi my friend,

So sorry your going through this. As we get older more crap happens we never expected.

My advise for advise........PM Francois. He is the family doctor here and in my opinion, always has a good outlook and knowledge on Medical advise.

Good luck and please stay in touch.

Gumby

happyout

Avishai,

I just want to wish you good luck. Also, if there were some way to show that the seizures are coming from a work related injury, there is a possibility that you could get re-training paid for by the state (or your employer). You have to be able to prove that you can no longer do your job because of something that happened at work, though.

Take care, and hope to hear good things from you soon,

Happyout

teenyuck

BTW, Avi, if you are in California, your doctor is required to report to the DMV that you had a seizure. You will immediatly lose your license.

That is how I found out I was on a suspended license. They called me (the DMV) and asked if I had seizures, I was stunned some stranger knew my medical history (I had just moved to Calif. and did not understand what the mumbled DMV was) and hung up on the man. He called right back and slowly identified himself.

He told me the law and said the doctor was required to inform the DMV of anyone who had a seizure. The doctor never told me they were going to tell these people that I had seizures. It took 9 months to get my license. In the meantime, they gave me a temp license and I had to prove I only had nocturnal seizures and therefore was not a risk to other drivers. In California, you must be seizure free for 1 year to get your license back.

As for having seizures from a knock on the head; it would take a very strong knock...the kind that knocks you out or causes a concussion or severe head injury. No head injury is good, however, your claim with the disability people will all depend on your doctor. You must convince the doc that your seizures are caused by the kind of head injuries you get at work, otherwise you will get nada. Your employer is going to have to back all of this up.

You need to look at disability and how this will affect your life and how losing your license to drive will affect your life overall.

Losing your mobility and relying on others to get you around is very hard. Ask any elderly person why they are still driving.

Hugs,

Tina

avishai

Well, not a lot I can do there, I need to go to the neurologist, right? I'm having like, 3 or 4 a day. So, I'm kinda hosed there, unless I wanna go out of state for a consultation.

teenyuck

You have to go to the doc. Please go to the doc. Meds are critical to stop the seizures. Brain damage occurs with seizues so it is not good to have them.

Work with the doc and check out the Epilepy website. They have great info and laws, state by state.

I am having seizures.

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