should i tell an employer??

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kari2

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ive had epilepsy for about 10 years now. i went away to college, did study abroad for a year and have left the country for months at a time. in january i will be leaving the country again to work as an au-pair. this means i will be working for/living with a family.

ive never told an employer about having epilepsy because i never really thought to? its not a very big deal to me and doesnt affect me much. but since i will be living with them should i tell them before i get there... or once i get there? or not at all? all of my seizures happen at night so its not going to effect my job or what i have to do daily i dont think.

any suggestions???

thanks ~!
 
Yes tell them. Just in case something happens there and they need to know how to deal with your type of seizure. Should you need medical attention *like falling off the bed and cracking your head open, or having a seizure that is 5 minutes long* Plus if you have a tonic cry *during a grand mal sometimes people "scream"* and they hear you and come rushing in, they need to know how to do first aid for you to stop you from choking on your fluids in your mouth etc.

Also, check out the disability laws for wherever you are going. Incase it means they can or cannot fire you should you tell them. or should anything happen.
 
I agree with Rae. Since you'll will be living with the family, they need to know, the same as they would if you had an allergy to peanuts. But I would wait until you get there. Since they might be freaked out, it would be good to have a note from your doc explaining your particular seizure disorder and providing general information. Be as matter-of-fact as you can, emphasizing that this hasn't been an issue in your previous travels.
 
:agree:

I agree with all of the above.

I'll add that depending on the family, they may REALLY freak out and feel they should have been told in advance. They may not feel their child is safe with you if you lose conciousness.

How old is the child you will be watching? What kind of seizures do you have? How long since your last seizure? If it is a baby you will be carrying in your arms, you have altered consciousness seizures (C/P, T/C. etc), and your last seizure was relatively recently (less than about a year) there may be a safety issue. No problem if it was your child, but it isn't - it is their child.

If they are not altered consciousness seizures, or the child is older, no problems. The family may have problems with it at first but odds are they will come around with some education. Go prepared with that doctor's note, and some notes for yourself on points you want to make sure you communicate to them.

Simple partial seizures, no problems!
 
What about the medication(s)? They're kind of hard to hide. I'd suggest that your medication always be kept in a child proof container and locked up as well.
 
thanks everyone for your thoughts~! i think that i will probably wait til i get there to tell them. after i get to know them a little better and they get to know me. even though its not a big deal to me that i have it (ive had 4 over the span of ten years) i feel like my privacy about having it has been totally invaded since i had to go by ambulance this last time and make a big scene and had to answer a bunch of questions to people in the neighborhood who i havent talked to in years. obviously the amulance is going to draw attention -- and i cant help that -- but i hate that i couldnt control who knew and who didnt. make sense? so its almost like bad timing that i feel so invaded right now and am being pushed to tell the people im going to work for.. which makes me want to tell them less.

i talked to my doctor last week who also recommends telling them "just in case". but hes not worried about me so neither am i. which is reassuring. and since i can kind of tell when im about to get a seizure he told me what to do when that happens so i can prevent it.

the kids im going to be taking care of are 5 7 and 10. so no babies. and all my seizures happen at night and i wont be with them at night... so i really dont forsee a problem with that.

any new thoughts or suggestions???

=)
 
Hi Rae,
I read on a post that you have worked in opthamology. Heather has been hypersensitive to visual stimuli ever since her opth. dilated her eyes during her recent exam.. So sensitive that when we are in the car she startles at every passing truck. Have you seen this? Does it ever go away? The Dr. felt it necessary, and now I'm wishing I had not given permission.
 
Kari,

Based on what you told us, I wouldn't tell them. I think you are right on about getting to know them better first. Your seizures are really well under control, and are all nocturnal. that's good news. :)
 
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