What Career Fields for those with E?

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Dignan

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Hey all,

Obviously, someone with E can do most any job that anyone else can do. But I wanted to post this and see if folks would post what careers they work in or what fields they prefer.

I've always been curious if there is an area that is better for those with E. It may depend on how often one has seizures, but I used to read about how some people with E were good at writing or somesuch..

With what type of job/career are you employed? What careers do you feel are "best" or fit better for those with E and the life that often comes with it?

Myself: I have always had an ear for language and worked as a writer for Marketing and Research..
 
I worked in accounting for over 22 years. Was office mgr. the last 3 years until I quit to take of my mother who had a brain tumor.

I didn't go back to work in the public. When my mom died, I started my home decor. out of my home.
 
I'm a graphic designer. I developed epilepsy in my mid-30s, after I'd been a designer for quite awhile, and there's been no need to make a switch. I'm self-employed, which has its plusses and minuses. The plus side is that I can work at home (no driving) and make my own hours (getting plenty of sleep as needed). The downside is that I have to pay for my own health insurance.

These threads may be of interest:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/epilepsy-work-2055/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/can-you-work-epilepsy-16419/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/good-jobs-people-epilepsy-490/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/job-limitations-3643/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f20/uncontrollable-seizures-employment-11838/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f27/epilepsy-your-work-education-situation-7600/
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/anyone-job-disability-12959/
 
Nakamova said:
I'm a graphic designer. I'm self-employed, which has its plusses and minuses. The plus side is that I can work at home (no driving) and make my own hours (getting plenty of sleep as needed). The downside is that I have to pay for my own health insurance.
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Nak,
You just need to move over here to Australia where it isn't a necessity to have health insurance :pfft:.
 
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I am interested in administration/ front desk reception work. Most of the time it doesn't matter if you don't drive but there is the odd job where the employer prefers someone with a licence.
 
I graduated with a diploma in computer programming...ended up getting work writing scripts, designing graphics and websites. Got married had kids so I stayed home and started a small home certified daycare...later started a cake decorating business and went back to work in the health field as a clerk where I am today. Thank goodness I have some insurance coverage. Maybe I can send some work your way some time nakamova.
 
Since I was diagnosed I have been a college student, (got a Bachelors and a Masters degree) was a medical social worker for about 15 years, and for about the last 12 years I have owned a bicycle shop so I work for myself. I love it, and my wife has a job that gives us the health insurance.
 
Nak,
You just need to move over here to Australia where it isn't a necessity to have health insurance .
Click to expand...
You've convinced me, I'm on my way!
 
I'm with Nak and CQ...
I am a graphic designer and work for myself, my downside is don't make a ton of money but plus side having E is yep you get to sleep if you need it and if you have a bad seizure you just shut it down and try again the next day.
As for the health insurance CQ's right Nak - lol check out Canada first it's great!!!
(just jokin CQ I'd love to go to Australia too :) )
 
CQ:) said:
Nak,
You just need to move over here to Australia where it isn't a necessity to have health insurance :pfft:.
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CQ, Can I come, too? ;) Health insurance here in the U.S. is outrageous! I've seriously considered a few times moving to Canada or Australia. Once upon a time I worked as airline ticket agent and was even married to a pilot. But then the seizures began and I was having 3-4 a day and even TC's, so couldn't work anymore. I sure miss it. I would love to travel again!
 
Cint said:
CQ, Can I come, too? ;) Health insurance here in the U.S. is outrageous!
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Hey Cint,
Why not come over, the more the merrior :).
Even though it isn't always necessary to have private health, there are times when having private health insurance does come in handy. For example - if a person needs to have an operation they would get in a lot quicker as a private patient then as a public patient.
 
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Career change due to EP

Here is my story ~ looking at it from a different angle:

My name is Randy, I'm Canadian.(BTW ~ free health care up here Nak.) Music runs in my family and starting from age 9, I was playing drums and guitar with professionally Up until age 21 (1979). I was also a singer/songwriter, music teacher and a studio musician. My only dream in life was to make a good living with my music. (I also developed Ulcerative Colitis at the same time, the Docs. say the two are connected)

Well, all that had to come to a stop. I was sitting at my desk at my P/T job when I had my first seizure. All I remember from that point on was waking up in the ambulance on the way to the hosp. After going through several tests and then seeing a neurologist, the tests showed that there was epileptic activity in my lower tempral lobe. He then presribed Dilantin and Pheonobarb (still on today) and the seizures were under control. I was lucky b/c I was even able to keep my drivers licence.

One major problem though, the pills were severely messing up my co-ordination. I walked like a drunk, slurred my speech, my own family was emberessed to be seen with me.

Since my co-ordination was so bad, I could no longer play guitar or drums and I had to give up teaching.

I was so depressed, I could no longer fulfill my dream, now what was I going to do.
I had to make a career change. I was putting in job applications all over but I had no other experience.

Finally I got hired on by the Federal Government as a courier and mail clerk. I worked my way up to Administraion Manager for the Unemployment Insurance Office for 21 years and then 9 years with Veterans Affairs.
My condition was getting worse with age, no seizures but the meds were blocking my learning ability so I couldn't take on extra duties.
As a result of this, my employer(The Government of Canada)
put me on medical retirement at only 48 years of age and also disability insurance.

I had to learn to live with my disability and work around it.

Randy
Diagnosed with epilepsy and ulcerative colitis in 1979,
Been on meds ever since.

275mg-dilantin/day
 
Well... i'm currently military. .. obviously NOT compatible with epilepsy, but I really want to go into research psychology. The brain has always interested me and I love writing and can take my time to analyze/write. Though I'm currently pursuing my Master's in Health Administration. I like leader's roles (even if I may be bit ditzy at times with the medications and whatnot). Music was also one of my passions for years. I still love singing/playing my flute- I've always had a good ear- even before the epilepsy diagnosis. Definetely seems to be a link between creative areas and E.

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I am a graphic designer too! I work for the University, so If I have had a bad time of it, I call in and take the day off. They are very supportive that way. We seem to have a trend with designers going :)
 
RunningGirl85 said:
Well... i'm currently military. .. obviously NOT compatible with epilepsy, but I really want to go into research psychology. The brain has always interested me and I love writing and can take my time to analyze/write. Though I'm currently pursuing my Master's in Health Administration. I like leader's roles (even if I may be bit ditzy at times with the medications and whatnot). Music was also one of my passions for years. I still love singing/playing my flute- I've always had a good ear- even before the epilepsy diagnosis. Definetely seems to be a link between creative areas and E.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
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How did you get in the military with epilepsy? I was told by a friend and veteran that'd I'd never be able to get in.

That's awesome that you did.
 
Katie, my epilepsy started after I joined. As long as seizures can be controlled I can stay in. I'm still kinda in the evaluation phase right now since my last TC seizure was less than a year ago and I'm still having partials

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Steadily working my way up in retail can be hard sometimes with auras Nd customer service etc but if you know your body it can be done just also have too watch the mood swings I get
 
I am a teacher. I teach "at risk" 16-19 year olds (mostly drop outs) at a residential para military school sponsored by the National Guard. I am in the evaluation phase and haven't had a tonic clonic - just partials. I started topamax. So far it's been okay. I hope topamax doesn't screw up my "spidey" sense too much. I need to be able to read these kids and be able to "predict" their behavior patterns and intervene before they cause problems.
 
I was a music major in college and wanted to teach. Was diagnosed with E at 18 I tried to go and finish my education but would have a seizure and have to drop out then start over again. So I went throught vocational rehabilatation and somehow decied booking travel would be the career for me. 20 years later I hate it but I can work from home I book corporate travel it is the most stressful job in the world that no one knows about. There is nothing worse than a client showing up at the airport and calling and saying "you booked the wrong flight" It this point there is really nothing I can do about it. It all goes back to the client not looking at thier itinerary when it is sent to them but in this business your guilty untill proven innocent!:soap:
 
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