New to epilepsy

Hi, I’m a licensed clinical social worker and certified rehabilitation counselor as well as a person with epilepsy. I don’t want to give you the worst case scenario right up front, but let’s say you do lose your third job. If you do, my advice is to file for Social Security Disability if you are in the United States right away because there is a five month waiting period and they are a month behind in payments even if they approve you the first time before you get an actual check even if they approve you. You were probably told not to drive and while I’m not sure what your partial seizures are like, if they are impairing you to the extent that you need to take extra breaks or miss work to the point where you may get fired, those are significant limitations that may help you get approved for disability benefits. You may also want to contact your state vocational rehabilitation office as sometimes they can help you with finding a better job match or even with retraining you. If you do get approved for disability, vocational rehabilitation and social security work hand in hand for the Ticket to Work program where it helps you retrain in a job of your choice that is better suited based on your disability. 

Hi, Thank you for sharing your story, it sounds like you’ve been through a lot. Our new to Epilepsy & Seizure tool kit is a great resource and starting point for learning about what epilepsy is, what resources are available, how to make the most of doctors' visits, and how to take control of seizures, seizure first aid & safety. Learn more here: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/toolbox/new-seizures-and-epilepsy. We understand this may feel embarrassing to experience having seizures while at work,  but it’s important to remember that you are not alone, and we are here to help support you. One of the most important things to help you live with epilepsy is to find a support network. The Epilepsy Foundation has many resources available that can help you find your support network, contact your local Epilepsy Foundation: https://www.epilepsy.com/affiliates ,to join a support group and access to local &national resources. In addition to the forums, connect with others in our online community & participate in our online chatroom: https://www.epilepsy.com/connect/chat . If you have not already, you may want to consider seeking more specialize care for your epilepsy at an epilepsy center. A comprehensive epilepsy center is a group of health care professionals who specialize in the diagnosis, care, and treatment of people with seizures and epilepsy. Usually led by an epileptologist,(epilepsy specialist), who can help explore all treatment options and determine what individual treatment plan may be best for you.  To find an epileptologist or epilepsy center near you, please visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist/find-epilepsy-center . Epilepsy centers can also help connect you all with additional support groups and educational sessions. If you feel you've been discriminated against or believe you have lost employment because of your epilepsy, you may always connect with our Epilepsy Foundation Legal team. Please complete the form found here: https://www.epilepsy.com/node/2013161                                                                                          and review the legal help section of our website: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/legal-help. Additionally,ask to speak to our legal team by contacting our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: contactus@efa.org, 1-800-332-1000, where trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer help, hope, support,guidance, and access to national and local resources.

Yup! Yup! Yup!  My seizures have been triggered by contact to Mortar Mix, Water Based Paint, Latex/Nitrile Gloves and....Ha! Ha! Ha! ...even Cat Litter!!!.....AND the only common chemical compound has been Calcium Carbonate. I can truly empathize with you.  What you are dealing with will most likely not be related to what has triggered my own seizures since what triggers a seizure is very complex and differs from 1 individual to the next.  I can only say that I've been blessed with photographic memory which has allowed me to pinpoint the culprit.Epilepsy Foundation's stresses the need of keeping a "My Seizure Diary".  In my opinion, I believe this is critical if an epileptic will find answers to what triggers their own seizures.Please do explore atkinsforseizures.com website and search on 'dietary and chemical seizure triggers' and you will see 'antacid' (common name brand: TUMS) which is 99.9% Calcium Carbonate.....and my very own seizure trigger (also found in Mortar Mix, Water Based Paint, Cat Litter, Latex/Nitrile Gloves, Carbonated Mineral Water).   Please then take a 2nd look at all what is listed on the website.  The list is long though yet controllable if you can, or willing to test whether or not they will trigger your own symptoms.Whether it be via photographic memory or not, at the end, it means keeping reference points in time as to what occurred immediately before the seizure was triggered, hence why epilepsy.com stresses about keeping a "My Seizure Diary".Long story short, as an epileptic, you must be your own doctor, chemist and mentor if you are ever going to get to the root cause of your seizure disorder.  Irma Rangel