Emily’s Perspective: Back to the working world

I’m going to be 21 in a few months and generally, Epilepsy aside, I am in a pretty healthy condition. Just recently I was given the all clear for working with Epilepsy. That means I am fit to work even though I still having a seizure every now and then. But that’s nothing compared to the past few months. It’s a miracle it seems.

Thinking back

I want to go back to the day I had my first Tonic Clonic seizure. It was the 9th April 2013, I had a pretty normal day, I didn’t do anything strenuous or different to my usual daily routine, and I felt ok, not the best but not the worst.

I was having a lovely evening, but towards bedtime I began to feel this sense of dread, as if something awful was about to happen. You may have read this on one of my first articles: Emily’s story continues: Now adjusting to tonic clonic seizures.

Waking Up

Even after regaining consciousness after Tonic Clonic seizures, it’s always a bit daunting when you wake up to a bunch of paramedics around you with needles in your arms. I always know it’s been a pretty bad seizure when the ambulance is called. I have no memory of my seizures what so ever and I always feel completely cloudy and my motor skills always go a bit off.

The Doctors always give me pain meds to ease my muscle pains, but after the meds wear off my entire body feels as if I just worked out for 10 hours straight. I feel scared most the time because I feel like I have no one to turn to or talk to and I am tired of feeling like a zombie from these medications, even though it’s been years since my first ever seizure.

Moving Forward

I am looking forward to getting back into the working world. But this process made me curious about you. I wonder how many of you are living with epilepsy and are working or are not working. Take a moment to answer the poll below.