Where Do I Stand?

[Prankin88]

Hey guys, new to this guys. Have an issue so anyone that can provide advice or any help, I would appreciate so much.

So, for the last 3 years, I have had amended duties in my work. I work as a lifeguard so no supervision, just dry activities.

I initially thought, through my own research and gp advice, that I had petit mal epilepsy. I've had it most of my life but just thought that I daydreamerd aolt when I got bored or listened to people talk nonsense. So, my employers restricted my duties and payed for me to seek private medical help.

3 years later,I have had 2 eeg scans and 2 ct scans. The results stated that: 'these episodes of unresponsiveness while seemed outside the norm were not typical for complex partial seizures,' + 'eeg limits were normal. No eeg changes were associated' + 'based on assessment, no information to sustain a diagnosis of epilepsy and in fact did not think they were anything to be worries about'. These statements are from my specialist.

So, the problem is my employers think I am still having them and won't let me resume normal duties because of altered awareness. They want a year medical evidence of me episode free, although I haven't had any since my daughter was born 15 months ago.

I know this is a story but I'm stressed to the max and need someone to help me out.

Many thanks, Phillip

 

[Belinda5000]

What's an episode I don't have episodes I have seizures

 

[Prankin88]

Hi belinda, thanks for the reply.

Episodes as my employers say are periods of responsiveness. Think daydreaming when someone talks you or when you just drift off into a world of your own

 

[Kgartner]

Can you ask your doctor to write a letter stating that you have been "episode free" for 15 months? Would that satisfy them? It sounds like it's similar to the kind of documentation that neurologists provide to the DMV to have driving privileges reinstated, so they are used to writing that type of letter.

I understand that you want to get back to full duties, but it's also great that your employer was willing to modify your job description when you were having concerning symptoms. I hear of so many people with epilepsy who are simply fired when their condition comes to light. Good luck!

 

[Prankin88]

Hey kgarter, thanks for getting back to me.

I am so thankful for that though the way my employers have gone about it is what annoys me. Also, my employers occupational health doctors seem to have their own diagnosis and override a neurologist. Also, there has been inconsistent reports from occupational health claiming that my last episode was in December 2014 and not August 2014. That's what my employers are running with.

 

[Ruth]

Hi Prankin88, welcome to CWE.

CWE was made by Bernard out of love for his wife Stacy. That love permeates throughout the whole forum.

 

[masterjen]

Hi, Prankin and welcome to CWE;
In cases like this it helps to reverse roles: what if you were the employer of someone who had episodes of "tuning out" or worse yet, epilepsy. First you would want clear proof that this person was not going to tune out if someone was in trouble in the water, and perhaps you have not been able to prove that to them just yet. The doctors may be correct that you do not have epilepsy and would write a note attesting to that, but the fact remains that no one can state that you will not "tune out" again.
It is common for EEGs and CT/MRI scans to be normal in some cases of true epilepsy. So if what you have is in fact epilepsy (eg. complex partial or absence seizures) you would have no memory of the seizure so really you would not be able to say how often you have or have not had a seizure or "episode". Your employer and the medical personnel at your work place my be thinking of these things and when you are in a position where others' lives may be in your hands, including your own, they may need more of an assurance that the seizures and/or tuning out episodes will not occur.
You could consider getting a referral to an epileptologist, a specialist who refers in epilepsy, who can at least help clarify whether your episodes are seizures are not.

 

[Nakamova]

I agree with the others -- A letter from your neurologist might help. You might also ask about working "on probation" for a month -- perhaps with a "buddy" -- in order to provide extra reassurance to your employers.

A few questions/comments:
1. You mentioned that your episodes stopped after the birth of your daughter. Did they start when you were a teenager or a pre-teen? If so, they might be connected to hormonal fluctuations (estrogen spikes can be a seizure trigger).

2. The EEG report said that the patterns weren't indicative of complex partial seizures. However, absence seizures (petit mal), are different from complex partial seizures, since they are generalized (i.e. involve the whole brain), and they can produce a different kind of EEG. When they did the EEG tests, was there a part where you were asked to breathe rapidly? Hyperventilation can often trigger the brainwave patterns associated with absence seizures. Either way, it might be worth following up with your neuro to get clarification on what the EEG reports mean.