Hi everyone :hello: I am extremely happy to have found a place where I can share my thoughts and feelings with others who have similar issues and concerns. I have a history of simple partial, complex partial, and rarely, tonic clonic seizures (these have occurred during periods of transition when I tried different anti-seizure medications). My seizures began after I had brain surgery in May of 1998 when I was a junior in college. Since then, I have been on Topamax and tried several other medications. I have had the best results so far with a combination of Topamax and Lamictal, which I am currently on.
I am still in a process of coming to accept the new me and the challenges, the frustrations that come and go, and all of the lifestyle changes that are involved. I was an account manager in telecommunications, I felt so esteemed to be working for such a large corporation, and the harder I worked, the higher my commissions. It gave me a secure identity and sense of purpose.
I'm still trying to accept the most difficult of all circumstances- that I gave up this job because I could not handle it. My complex partials became so frequent and severe that I couldn't carry on a conversation during a sales presentation, much less on the phone. I forgot where I had last put customers' files, forgot to stop and take lunch breaks during the middle of the day, and I struggled for words (anomia). I tried to compensate by working overtime, while trying to hide this chaos in every possible way I could.
That was Feb, 2007. I have been on social security benefits ever since. I have thought about what other types of jobs might interest me, which would involve a lower amount of stress. I thought, perhaps counseling? In some way, talking to others and helping others? I have taken some graduate level classes in mental health counseling, (perhaps they are more related to helping myself, as opposed to serving the purpose of career preparation, not really sure). The real issue for me is, when my seizures are not under control, I cannot work (no question about it!) However, I do not know how much limitation (job-wise) I have now that my seizures are well-controlled, and what type of job would be best given the fact that (as you all know) I have a seizure threshold that is sensitive to stress and fatigue.
I am also extremely afraid of discontinuing my social security benefits and beginning a job with a salary because I fear, what if the seizures worsen and I become habituated to the Lamictal as I did with the Topamax? But without a job, I feel like I am barely even living at all!!
Can anyone share with me the types of jobs you have or have had that tend to work well with having seizures (Or having seizures well-controlled with medications)?
Does anyone have any advice that you can share with me? I would so much appreciate it!! :girl:
I am still in a process of coming to accept the new me and the challenges, the frustrations that come and go, and all of the lifestyle changes that are involved. I was an account manager in telecommunications, I felt so esteemed to be working for such a large corporation, and the harder I worked, the higher my commissions. It gave me a secure identity and sense of purpose.
I'm still trying to accept the most difficult of all circumstances- that I gave up this job because I could not handle it. My complex partials became so frequent and severe that I couldn't carry on a conversation during a sales presentation, much less on the phone. I forgot where I had last put customers' files, forgot to stop and take lunch breaks during the middle of the day, and I struggled for words (anomia). I tried to compensate by working overtime, while trying to hide this chaos in every possible way I could.
That was Feb, 2007. I have been on social security benefits ever since. I have thought about what other types of jobs might interest me, which would involve a lower amount of stress. I thought, perhaps counseling? In some way, talking to others and helping others? I have taken some graduate level classes in mental health counseling, (perhaps they are more related to helping myself, as opposed to serving the purpose of career preparation, not really sure). The real issue for me is, when my seizures are not under control, I cannot work (no question about it!) However, I do not know how much limitation (job-wise) I have now that my seizures are well-controlled, and what type of job would be best given the fact that (as you all know) I have a seizure threshold that is sensitive to stress and fatigue.
I am also extremely afraid of discontinuing my social security benefits and beginning a job with a salary because I fear, what if the seizures worsen and I become habituated to the Lamictal as I did with the Topamax? But without a job, I feel like I am barely even living at all!!
Can anyone share with me the types of jobs you have or have had that tend to work well with having seizures (Or having seizures well-controlled with medications)?
Does anyone have any advice that you can share with me? I would so much appreciate it!! :girl: