To live a normal life!

I wanted to know if my daughter who is suffering from seizure due to AVM
would be able to live a NORMAL life? she keeps on asking me what would be
life after college graduation on march 2013,will she be able to get a job? i really
dont know what to say...here in the philippines most are unaware between the
difference of epilepsy and AVM.,she´s always experiencing discrimanation
because of the seizure.,

Michelle, I don't have advice about jobs, but I wanted to offer a clarification about epilepsy. If a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, that person is considered to have epilepsy, whether he or she has an avm or another condition. When I was a kid, I thought epilepsy was a specific disease -- it isn't.

In the US, no one is required to disclose any health information when applying for a job, and employers are specifically forbidden from asking health-related questions. In the Philippines, the law seems to be similar: see http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/research/Philippines/RA%207277%20-%20M...

I suggest you check with your local Department of Social Welfare and Development to see what resources may be available for your daughter.

Hi Michele. One of my best friends has epilepsy…not due to an AVM. She has had a full and complete life. She was even a International Flight Attendant for 10 years.
Yes…there are a lot of misconceptions about seizure disorders. However, some of the most famous people in the world had epilepsy. Way too many to list here but you can google it.
Have her watch this video…it might inspire her. Everyone told him that he could not be an engineer for Nascar! Do not give up hope!

http://youtu.be/qiLDMBDPCEY

Hi Michelle,

Our son (no AVM) started having seizures in middle school (age 12 or so). We tried dozens of medications, and combinations of medications. He typically would be seizure free for three weeks, then have six or more seizures the following week, then repeat.....

His was identified to be from scar tissue from an infection he had at 1 yr old. When he was in 2nd year of college, he had further testing, and ended up having his amygadala removed. So far (8 yrs) it's stopped his seizures. He's an computer specialist with a large corporation here.

Age is great benefit for your daughter. Kids heal faster (grin). Plus technology is improving greatly. When my wife's AVM was discovered in 1990, she was told to go home and try to lead a normal life, however short or long it was. Her AVM was deemed not treatable by a local noted neurosurgeon.

Fast forward to 1996. We went to Stanford and had some embolizaitions, surgery, and radiation. Her AVM is GONE! She does have some defecits, but none that most people would notice.

Hopefully, the future holds similar good news for your daughter.

Ron, KS

I have seizures sometimes, and I live a fairly normal life. You just have to take care of yourself. Eat regularly, sleep A LOT, don’t stay in the sun too long or over exert yourself, don’t swim etc. without someone around, etc. etc. it’s really not too bad. I worry about it sometimes, but other times I forget about it. Also, she should tell her doctor EVERY time she has one so he or she can change their medicine dosage. & if she finds herself on the ground or the floor & doesn’t know how she got there, she should tell you. I never know I’ve had a seizure unless someone is with me when it happens. Not sure about jobs, haven’t gotten there yet, but I’m back at school at a top university, & I’m doing pretty well…hope this helps! Message me w/any questions :slight_smile:

Are her seizures under control? I have a very old friend who's been epileptic ever since he was a young child (he's now 45). Even though his meds have to be altered every now and then. He lives a very normal and productive life. He's been married for over 20 years, he has 2 lovely and healthy daughters, and he works a regular full time job. As long as his seizures are under control - he drives a car as well. People who don't know him that well, don't even know he is epileptic.