Any nurses (or students) with epilepsy?

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  • What kind of job do you have?
  • What kind of job do you hope to have?
  • How do you deal with the day-to-day issues of your epilepsy and your job (or school)?
  • Etc.

As a student with epilepsy, it has not gotten in the way much yet, except for the extreme drowsiness my meds bring. In fact, I find that my classmates and professors are more interested in my epilepsy than anything, and I am constantly getting asked questions.

I hope to work in an epilepsy unit of a larger hospital more than anything. But, we'll see.

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Specializes in public health.

If your condition is managed well, I don't see how it would pose any risk to your patients. Would stressful situation make epilepsy worse? If your goal is to work on an epilepsy unit, then go for it! Explain it to your manager or whoever is going to hire you about your condition during interview.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
  • What kind of job do you have?
  • What kind of job do you hope to have?
  • How do you deal with the day-to-day issues of your epilepsy and your job (or school)?
  • Etc.

As a student with epilepsy, it has not gotten in the way much yet, except for the extreme drowsiness my meds bring. In fact, I find that my classmates and professors are more interested in my epilepsy than anything, and I am constantly getting asked questions.

I hope to work in an epilepsy unit of a larger hospital more than anything. But, we'll see.

1.) I have worked in PDN, corrections, LTC & drug rehab.

2.) I would like hospital experience & to go back to corrections.

3.) I just have to make sure I get enough sleep. I can't work NOCs or rotating shifts so I have turned jobs because of that.

I have been on Topamax for many years & it's been controlling my epilepsy. But if I'm really sleep deprived I will have a seizure.

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I have epilepsy and am also on topamax along with zonegran.

During nursing school i while my friends went out to celebrate after an exam i would go home to sleep.

I have been hired into the ICU but had a delay due to a broken scaphoid so not really sure how working effects me yet.

My seizures are controlled and have learned what my body feels like when one is going to happen.

I wouldn't disclose the condition in an interview, your manager doesn't need to know. Once hired, you can tell occ health. And ask for accommodations.

If being too sleepy is hindering your ability to work, talk to your doctor about it. I know switching meds can be scary especially when youve found one that is working, but if you are so sleepy you can't function that isn't a life either.

I was like a zombie when i was on a higher dosage, after talking to my doc he decreased it and I'm able to be seizure free, more tired than most people but still functional.

Hope you figure things out :]

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I work in the ICU. It's been over a year since my last seizure and it's well controlled with topamax (MD trying to get me off of it for future pregnancy) and keppra. I work nights and it hasn't been a problem, I just have to make sleep a priority and I don't drink caffeine. I didn't tell my managers, just my charge nurses when I got out of orientation because I never see my managers anyways. I wouldn't disclose it during an interview.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am a student with epilepsy. Mine is controlled and I have been seizure free for 4 1/2 years!! It's a great feeling to finally be able to return to a normal life. My life was a mess before my epilepsy was controlled. Constant hospitalizations and trying to find the right combo of meds. I became very depressed about my life. But like my physician said, I have made the most amazing turnaround of an patient he has ever seen. He told me he didn't think I would be alive right now. And to be honest, I didn't think I would either.

I take Neurotin, Keppra, and Topamax. A very low dose of the Topamax as higher doses gave me kidney stones. I am used to the meds now so they don't make me sleepy anymore. In the beginning it was hard. It even affected my speech because it slowed my brain down so much. I also go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. I do have nights where I don't sleep. Sleep deprivation is my number 1 trigger. Stress is also. I was worried going through my divorce the stress would be too much. But I do exercise which helps with my stress levels. If I don't sleep the night before, I make sure at some point I get sleep. I'm an insomniac so I take Ambien sparingly. So say I miss some sleep during the week and I can't catch up because of school. The weekend comes and I do nothing but sleep. I may take an Ambien and just get some good sleep. But going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time every day helps a ton with my insomnia.

I have learned to make sure I take care of myself. I make sure I eat, exercise, and sleep. I used to take care of everyone and everything else and let myself go. Now I take care of everyone, but I make sure I do me also. No one thinks anything of my epilepsy. I just let the people around me know just in case and obviously my instructors are nurses so they know what to do. But at this point, I'm not worried about it because it's managed so well.

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