Should I tell university lecturers?

[CWright17]

I have 'absence' seizures and I am on lamotrigine on an increasing dosage. My mum calls them holidays in my head because I see my surroundings as being different. I am currently at university, living in halls, and studying nursing.
During a lecture, when I felt like it was a day where I was going to have one, which usually ends up as the feeling passes, I had one, and the giant screen at the front was outlined in ivy as though in a garden. However, I was ready to get up and run out of the lecture theatre to go and throw up. This led me to theorise that the lamotrigine lessens the impact of the seizures, soft ones aren't there, and large ones become soft ones.

The one question is, should I tell my lecturers? I have already been contacted my the disability support team from the university and have an appointment to see the student occupational health team's doctor for an assessment in my fitness to practice. One of the admin staff on that team already knows what I have, and made sure that my consultant got the report back asap by giving him and his secretary a theoretical boot up the backside. In fact, everyone who's given me a vaccination on that team knows what I have. Friends on my course know I have this, as do my not so sympathetic flatmates, who find no reason to be quiet in the evening, so they know what to do in an emergency.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi CWright17, welcome to CWE!

First off: Your seizures sound more like simple partial seizures rather than absence seizures. Absences are a bit like daydreaming, and a person having one usually isn't aware of it while it is occurring. On the other hand, a person having a simple partial seizure IS aware of it, and partials can feature (among other things) visual distortions and hallucinations. More information on absences and simple partials can be found here:
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/absence-seizures
http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/simple-partial-seizures

Aside from that, you should consult with your support team over whether to let the lecturer know. If you think your seizures will be an ongoing distraction to you and/or to the lecturer, then it might be a good idea to give them a heads-up.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[SlimBlue]

Welcome to CWE- it's awesome here

They do sound like simple partials, especially with the nauseous feeling. I have had a few absences in the past and they really are like being 'switched off' for a short while.

I would stop talking for 30 seconds or so, 'disappear' then carry on my sentence with no memory of the event and wasn't even aware I'd had one.

Your theory about lamotrigine is exactly the same as I experience it. Since I upped my dose of it, the only partials I experience are a very quick, light aura before my t-c, and those have generally lessened in strength as well.

I told my lecturers at uni, as I tell everyone I will be spending a lot of time with. It helps them react better, minimises their shock, and in uni, disruption to the lecture.

It's much better to have people prepared for them, so the general 'fuss' of it is reduced. This also helps you with that whole feeling less than 'normal' effect if other people deal it with it more calmly.

 

[JaneC]

My daughter has had simple partials in the past and has absences now. I agree with Nak - hallucinations are usually associated with the former. The disability service at her uni have informed all her lecturers. If there's chance of you missing things during lectures I would have thought it would be best that they know, unless you have specific reasons why you don't want to. I don't think my daughter has had a tonic-clonic seizure while on lamotrigine but if anything her absences got worse and she's had a few increases in dose to try to combat that.

 

[Belinda5000]

I'd definitely tell university lecturers.
I could have a simpe partial,complex or tonic clonic.
I f I was use to be safe I'd tell them just in case you have one.

 

[jenagade]

IThe one question is, should I tell my lecturers? I have already been contacted my the disability support team from the university and have an appointment to see the student occupational health team's doctor for an assessment in my fitness to practice. One of the admin staff on that team already knows what I have, and made sure that my consultant got the report back asap by giving him and his secretary a theoretical boot up the backside. In fact, everyone who's given me a vaccination on that team knows what I have. Friends on my course know I have this, as do my not so sympathetic flatmates, who find no reason to be quiet in the evening, so they know what to do in an emergency.

First of all it sucks that your flatmates aren't supportive I hope you have good friends to provide emotional support.

As for the lecture thing all I can tell you is my experiences as I am currently studying too, except I go limp and collapse, or if in a lecture, face plant the desk.
I haven't told my lecturers because they don't happen that often, I've only had one in a lecture. Also I have people who I sit with in lectures and tutorials who know what the situation is. On the other hand I have told some of my tutors because I spend a lot of time with them during the week and they too are in my lectures.

The other thing is the student health centre has everything well documented so if anything did happen the lecturer would contact them and they would be there in a heartbeat. As well as that I wear a medic alert bracelet. The only time I have had to tell a lecturer was when I missed an exam during a time where my seizures were really out of control, and that was because I had to apply for special dispensation.

Ultimately it comes down to what you are comfortable with, if you don't see your lecturers much, or if they wouldn't notice anyway (which would be the case with mine) then there's probably no point, but its good to have someone in your lectures who does know, even better if they sit near you. As for having to leave a lecture, don't be embarrassed about it and don't try to fight through it, just get up quietly, or if you can't get someone to help, and leave, lecturers are used to it from people needing to go to the toilet or leave to go to another overlapping lecture and wouldn't be bothered by it.

 

[George__]

I'm a undergrad student and usually 40+ students in a class normally. So I don't think the professor would give a crap.