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Active Epilepsy in Univeristy

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Posted 8/30/2009 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I am new here so here is a brief intro!

I am a University student, going into second year and I also have active epilepsy. I am on topamax and tegretol right now but we have been trying every kind of meds imaginable to try and get my seizures under control. I was 6 years seizure free but they came back last October. Initially they were just some innocent simple-partials and then now I have simple-partials, absence (i have these often, which is odd since I am an adult), complex-partial (rarely), tonic-clonic (often), and most recently atonics that often are immediately followed by a TC.

I am concerned for starting classes again in a few weeks. I barely made it through my summer terms but those were at night when my seizures are worse and I am hoping that my day classes will be better. I am wondering what others do when their epilepsy is active during University? It isn't like high school and elementary school when I am with the same people everyday. I am lucky with my TCs that I have strong auras before and often have enough time to leave the room and find a safe place, but with the atonics I have no warning and then they become TCs and I am stuck having a TC in a lecture hall of 200+ students. At this point my epilepsy is so out of control that this could easily happen on a weekly basis, if not more.

I want to stay in school for many reasons. I am just wondering how to be stay safe? What do others do?

Thanks!
Posted 9/12/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
I would discuss alternatives with my Neurologist. I would look into specialized treatments like surgery or the vagus nerve stimulator. I would check where the epilepsy is located and look at 7-10 day in patient monitoring to see if you can get it under control with other measures and then maybe take less medications. Medications can cause so many problems. Interactions get to be a problem as you age.
While in school, make sure you rest when you can and take your medications at appropriate times. Take care of yourself even though you will be consumed by what you are doing. I know it was hard to stop and take a break for my meds when I was on a roll with papers. You may have to put your dose of medicine and a drink close to your work area with a alarm set to demand you take them. Just do not fall into peer pressure for going to parties and doing what they feel you should. Mixing alchohol or other things including some herbals may interfere with your control. Good Luck
Posted 10/8/2009 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
I would look into what changed in your life last year in October when after 6yrs you had no seizures then all of a sudden they returned. Did you increase your hours at school or work, get engaged, have a child, get married? Are you getting enough sleep? Maybe you need to decrease the amount of classes you take at a time. When I went to nursing school I had to go part time I started taking one -two classes in the begining then as I did ok with that I was able to go to three at a time I took four at one time but that was very hard for me I found doing three classses at night and working full time was a good way for me to complete my classes and not cause to much extra stress that it caused me more seizures then I was already having prior to me starting school.
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