My Life

Will I be able to go to college? Get a job?
Some high school students who have epilepsy may find they have to work harder to achieve their goals, but for most, it can be done. There are thousands of college students across the country who have epilepsy. A lot, of course, depends on your own situation and how controlled your seizures are. Some people find taking a lower course load and taking a bit longer to finish college works for them.

A part-time job while you're in school can give you a little extra spending money. You can also learn new things through a job and feel like you're doing something that matters. Most teenagers with epilepsy can hold part-time jobs. If you want to do this, just don't work too much. Lack of sleep and stress may make you have seizures more often.

I sometimes worry about what having epilepsy's going to mean in my life. I don't want people to treat me differently, but I don't know how to stop that from happening.
Having epilepsy will probably mean some extra challenges in your life, but that doesn't mean you won't be able to handle them. The more open and confident you seem to be (even if you don't feel all that confident inside), the more people will accept and respect you.

Just remember, everyone is entitled to respect, from friends, family, teachers, and just regular people you come in contact with every day. And you are, too.

How long should you wait after having a seizure before going back to school?
This is something you may want to discuss with your physician, as his/her response might depend on things like your seizure history, the type(s) of seizure you experienced, the length and severity of the seizure activity, and how you feel following the seizure. All these factors differ from person to person and decisions regarding when someone is back to “normal” will vary. If you’re not doing this already, you may want to keep track of your seizures, including the recovery time and post-seizure (post-ictal) period and clarify, as much as possible, how you feel. All this information may help you and your physician determine when the time is right for you to return to the classroom.

Every time i go to this retreat, or for that matter away from home, i have a seizure. I was wondering what could cause this, how to avoid this, or if you think i should go?
If you have not done so, already, you may want to speak with your physician to see if s/he can offer suggestions as to why you may experience seizure activity during this particular time and how you may try to prevent these occurrences.

This may be a situation that creates a degree of stress in your life, which may, in turn, trigger your seizures. There are any number of stressors, e.g., lack of sleep, poor nutrition, photosensitivity, emotional stress, missed medication doses, extreme fatigue, extreme heat or cold, being startled, and anxiety, embarrassment and fear, to name a few. It may be that you unknowingly get all worked up about an up-coming trip and create a “stressful” situation whereby your seizure threshold is lowered, making it more likely that you may experience a seizure.

where can i get info about seizures so i can educate people that i know? i try to tell them things but not everyone listens to me even though i have had epilepsy my whole life. so what can i say or show them to make them believe me and inform them?
You can share the Entitled to Respect brochure with the people you know. The Entitled to Respect brochure is available to print from the website. You may also share information from the Epilepsy Foundation website, which has more detailed information about seizures.

Will I be able to have children?
Yes, you'll be able to have children. Although there is a slightly higher risk of birth defects, with good prenatal care and monitoring by a neurologist, most women with epilepsy who become pregnant have perfectly normal and healthy babies.

I'm scared of epilepsy. And, because I have ADD that my brain can't focus on things properly. I'm scared I'll get epilepsy with this problem. Can I get it?
ADD and the medical condition epilepsy DO NOT go hand in hand. Just because you have ADD does not mean that you definitely will be diagnosed with epilepsy. There are some people who may have both of these medical conditions, but there are those who do not.

Unfortunately, the word epilepsy conjures up all sorts of myths, fears and misconceptions, so I can sympathize with your concerns. However, please keep in mind that having epilepsy does not have to be the end of the world. In fact, there are many famous people (historical and contemporary) who had/have epilepsy.

There are also teachers, educators, scientists, mothers and fathers, lawyers, doctors, nurses and people in all walks of life who have epilepsy. What I'm getting at is that epilepsy is something you have, but it does not have to define you.

I don't know that any of this is setting your mind at ease, but I hope it does help you to realize there can be a life after a diagnosis of epilepsy.

I just found out that i have epilepsy and i don't really understand how is it gonna change my life?
I understand why you may feel that the diagnosis of epilepsy may change your life, but it’s also possible that very little will have to change. Well, if your doctor has prescribed medication(s) then, you may have to get used to taking a pill on a daily basis. It’s also possible that you may have to reschedule or rearrange your social life and activities so that you minimize any obstacles to your well-being. Perhaps, getting more rest and eating well-balanced meals has been recommended; but, these would be good recommendations for everyone to follow!

I have a friend that just got diagnosed with epilepsy. Is there anything I can do to help them. In order to make them feel better. What should I do and what shouldn't I do?
You may want to ask your friend if they would like to talk about their new diagnosis and what this means to them. You can also ask if there is anything, in particular, you need to know about their seizures and how they would like you to respond in the event you are present when they have a seizure. You may want to ask your friend if others have been told about the new diagnosis, just so you'll know whether or not your friend is expecting you to keep quiet about it.

There are a number of different seizure types, each requiring a different approach when it comes to offering first aid. You may want to ask your friend if she can give you any information about their particular seizure type.

Also, be willing to listen and talk if they need to discuss the diagnosis, and be comforting and supportive when they have a seizure, as well as following the seizure. Include them in activities, to the extent possible, just as you did prior to the diagnosis. Remind them, if necessary, that epilepsy is something they have, but that it doesn't have to stop them from leading as normal a life as possible.

Are there places for people with epilepsy to go and live for awhile to learn a job skill and learn to be on their own a little more?
The Epilepsy Foundation has local affiliates throughout the United States. Your local affiliate may be able to offer you this information and assistance. To look up the affiliate in your area go to the Epilepsy Foundation Affiliate Search.

There's also an organization called Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) that has information on independent living programs throughout the country. They have offices in each state and also offer programs that help people develop suitable independent living skills. The website is www.ilru.org.

I have Epilepsy and was wondering how strongly it is affecting my memory. I know it is somewhat but i don't know to what degree, I was diagnosed at 14. Is there someway I could find out? I get more time for tests, and I will get more time on the SAT, but if there is more I can do to help it I would like to know. As of now life is somewhat difficult because of my memory.
There is some helpful information regarding how to compensate for memory loss. Also, you may want to check your local yellow pages phone book under the heading "Educational Consultants". Many of these listings indicate that they offer such services as SAT Prep. Many public schools also offer courses for SAT (and PSAT) during the school year. It’s likely that your county government has PSAT and SAT courses, as well. Looking into getting a tutor(s) to assist you with your coursework is another option. If you have not done so already, you should speak with your school guidance counselor for suggestions.

back to top