Your concern isn’t just about getting through the next seizure. Concerns exist long before a seizure happens, and afterward. And then there’s the quiet pressure put on your finances by this disease that continues to follow you through normal days.
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How Does Your Health Affect Things Beyond Just Your Body?
When living with epilepsy as an adult, it can sometimes feel like you’re planning for everything three steps ahead. Schedules for taking medications; appointments for doctors; sleep routines; driving restrictions; workplace issues; constant explanations for others about something they may or may not see. Sometimes that can be quite tiring.
Even if you get your seizures under control, you can still find that this disease influences some of your decisions. Perhaps you’ll choose to take a job based on the safety of your work environment. Maybe you’ll pass up extra overtime due to exhaustion being a possible seizure trigger. Or perhaps you’ll require transportation when you no longer qualify to drive. Or maybe you’ll end up spending money on medical treatments, private doctor visits, lost wages from missed work. The cost does not always have to be extreme. In fact, it can be very slow-building. Steady. Quiet. Hard to document.
The Way Your Income May Be Affected By Epilepsy May Not Always Be Obvious At First
There are many different ways that epilepsy may impact your income. A couple of examples include: unpaid days of work. Reduced schedules. Missed career advancement opportunities. Costs associated with travel to doctor appointments. Additional child-care assistance during times when you require help to recover from a seizure. These costs can quietly reside within your budget until their pressure reaches a breaking point and can no longer be ignored.
Additionally, you may also experience feelings of guilt when seeking additional support. This is especially true for individuals whose expenses do not stop when their health is uncertain. Bills continue. Food costs don’t disappear. Insurance premiums do not pause. School tuition fees remain. Debt obligations do not cease. All these responsibilities can motivate you to minimize your symptoms and delay asking for assistance.
Documenting your medical experiences can help alleviate this type of stress. Record keeping includes documenting medical visits, any changes made to your medications, frequency of seizures, amount of paid leave taken from work for absence related to seizures, etc. Documentation is helpful should you want to pursue workplace modifications, claim loss of income resulting from your illness with your insurance company, or apply for government disability benefits. Clear documentation of your condition can allow you to effectively communicate the scope of your condition to decision makers.
Your Work Life Warrants Honest Advocacy
You don’t necessarily have to tell all your colleagues about your personal struggles. However, understanding what forms of support may be available to you while working could potentially be beneficial. Many employees with conditions such as epilepsy require safe duties. Flexible scheduling or the option to work remotely. Modified schedules. Time off to recover from a seizure.
The most challenging aspect of receiving the support you need, however, is asking for it before feeling overwhelmed by your situation. If your condition negatively impacts your ability to perform your job duties, consult a qualified healthcare provider and consider consulting an expert in employee-employer relations or government services designed specifically for assisting disabled workers. Don’t forget epilepsy is a qualifying condition for disability benefits.
Planning For Security Is Okay
Managing a chronic illness such as epilepsy is not a failure on your part. It is a serious obligation to manage a legitimate health issue with significant economic ramifications.
You deserve a plan that provides for the protection of both your earning potential and your self-respect. Begin by recording your experiences. Be cautious and ask informed questions. Consider the less visible aspects of managing this disease, too.