Hi everyone,
I have recently found out that I have epilepsy; I have partial seizures,
which run in my family, and I sometimes lose time or "zone out" and can't
remember a seizure. I am in training to become an electronics technician,
which involves high voltage and various risks including shock hazards. The
disability counsellor at my tech school said that I should discontinue my
program until I can discuss my EEG results with him and my program head.
However, it may be several months before I can get an EEG. He said that
"absence" seizures would definitely put a stop to my electronics career.
Does anyone know anything about the occupational safety issues involved
here? Should I just go ahead and transfer to Library Technology, since
books
don't cause seizures or electrocution? I'm seeing my new neurologist for
the
first time tomorrow, and I'm kinda frustrated. I'm not sure if she'll know
what to say about electrical work and epilepsy, and since I'll likely have
to wait some time for the EEG (which may not show the seizure activity
anyway) I don't want to spend thousands of dollars on tuition and books
only
to have to quit school at Christmas and wait until the next library tech
class session starts in two years. I'm pissed because I went to a
neurologist ten years ago for these seizures and he told me it was
psychological, even after the EEG he did. If I had known, I would have
made
very different choices.
As an extra kick in the butt, I can't take the valproic acid/tegretol
class
of drugs and I'm deadly allergic to all benzos, so my medication choices
will be rather limited.
--
Colleen, deflated
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