classic33
Leg End Member
Jonathan M said:Interesting points again raised by the members of CC.
Nortones2 the whole issue has arisen simply because of the brain tumour diagnosis & risk of subsequent seizures. I am on treatment (epilim chrono & a decreasing dose of pheytoin) and under hospital specialist follow up from the epilepsey point of view & from the brain tumour point of view (neurologist & neurosurgeon). I am aware of the problem as you say, but I honestly cannot say that I would experience an "aura" pre-seizure, as the seizures at diagnosis occured whilst asleep.
Classic33 You've hit the nail on the head here mate, if I'm brutal I have as much chance of the brain tumour killing me in the next 10 years as I do being killed on a bike! Seizures & epilesey go hand in hand, so if I sit and wait for a seizure to happen, it could happend, today, tommorrow, next week, next month, next year. They're likely to increase in frequency as & when the tumour continues to grow, which should be a long time off.
I've not gone along the DDA lines yet, that may need to be held in reserve for the future, I'll seek the support of my neuro consultant first
Might be worth looking at it from the employers side & their requirements:
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/employers/driving.html
&
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/employers/dda.html
You say that part of your medication is being reduced, is the other half being increased by any chance. Changes will be made to the medication that are applicable only to that person until a right balance has been achieved. Speaking from personal experience on this part. I'm not able to say when the next one will happen, but I'm not prepared to sit about waiting for it to happen.
With regards the DDA & R.A. under actual conditions, hold them in reserve. As I've said been there done that & when the same request was made by me, assessment done under actual conditions it was dropped. What they can do is make it as awkward as possible for you to do what you want to do, cycle, in the hope that you'll give in. What they cannot do is chose your means of transport to & from work. The only way that this can be done is if they supply the means of transport, at no cost to yourself.
For my own part, those around me are the first to know something is wrong, not me. I've also applied for a job in the post office where cycling was a requirement of the job, no objections raised.
I think that the real problem, other than the "well meaning person" is the mystery that surrounds epilepsy. To many its a great unknown.