Dreading work today

[HotChocolateLover]

I had a seizure at work on Tuesday. It’s not the first time but this is the first in the open plan office. I’m so embarrassed that i’m Lying here crying and I want to hide away for ever. I wish I didn’t have epilepsy, it’s just so unfair.

If you sat there wanking thinking you were alone then yes, be embarrassed. Maybe even if you trailed loo roll from the bathroom or had your skirt tucked into your knickers.

But you had a bloody seizure! It can't be helped. Chances are they are only concerned about you.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about.

It's a health issue nothing to be embarrassed about. Walk in head held high. You may face some questions but I'm sure they'll only be from colleagues concerned about your wellbeing.

This ^. Really honestly think about it.
If the person who had the fit was your colleague - not you. Would you now be sniggering to yourself and laughing at their embarrassment- or concerned for their welfare? Of course it's the latter. People are generally decent. .. and for the very rare few who aren't. They are simply arseholes . A far far more debilitating affliction than epilepsy. and one genuinely worth the scorn of others.

You'll be fine, you'll just be embarrassed by all the attention you get from concerned colleagues!

Presumably they know you have epilepsy. If you love hot chocolate have one of those and dry your eyes, deep breath. It might feel awkward walking in but you'll relax pretty quickly after that.

I think I it won’t be as bad as you think. People will show concern, but it will be one day only hopefully!!

It will soon be forgotten at work.

Try not to worry and take some deep breaths to try and calm yourself. Once you're in work you will be fine xxx

If I saw you have an epileptic episode my only concern today when I saw you was to make sure you were ok. Honestly I would want to know what I could do if you had one again. The majority of people are nice. Take care.

I hope you will be overcome by the concern your colleagues will show for you.

People are, I believe, fundamentally nice.

Aw, OP, please don’t worry. As a PP said, people are fundamentally nice. My DH has epilepsy and has encountered nothing but kindness from people after having a seizure.

Go in with your head held high, knowing that people care.

Bless you. There’s really nothing to be embarrassed about. I have chronic fatigue and have collapsed a couple of times when at school... and twice in M&S.... and twice in Sainsbury’s. People have been generally very kind and ask after me the next time they see me - at school that is. Don’t go to the shops much.

No need to be embarassed but if you are really upset - I would take a cake. Everone will forget instantly and be focused on the cake!

Thanks. In my head I know people are nice and I wouldn’t laugh at someone having a seizure if I saw it. However, it’s still hard and i’m Not looking forward to it. Thanks for cheering me up though.

I used suffer with non epileptic attack disorder and would have what looked like a grand mal seizure at least once a month and sometimes daily absences at work.

My work were nothing but lovely and always looked out for me, I didn’t like a bit fuss so I asked that only my team or manager check in with me as I found forty people asking a bit overwhelming.

Just go into work, do your job the best you can and it will be fine.

I also had a couple of periods where I was signed off due to frequency

What are your workplace like? If this was one of my colleagues I know we’d all be concerned about how you’re feeling. I work in a school and we’re used to some students having seizures - and so are all the other kids. How would you feel if i were someone else? Most people would just be naturally concerned.

Most people will probably not mention it and just get on with their work. They will know you would hate a fuss. If anyone has a problem with you having a completely unasked for fit then they seriously need to be the ones who are embarrassed.

So, it's not easy, but head up, and arrive just as usual with no big drama.
Come back this evening and you will be telling us it couldn't have gone better.

Was anyone especially helpful afterwards. I had a neurological attack at work. Not quite a seizure, but one of the staff with experience of epilepsy thought I was about to have one and was worried and kind in equal measure. I brought her in a small pot of crocuses the next day. She was grateful. Nobody commented, other than ask if I was okay.

A colleague at my workplace had one, and we're all a bunch of cynical sarcastic bastards and I can assure you you 100% when this chap came back all anyone was concerned about was how he was, and if he was ok. Absolutely nothing to be concerned about.

You poor thing-must be horrible to have something like that happen that’s just out of your control.

I can’t imagine anyone will be anything but lovely about it though.

I’m here now and thankfully no-one has mentioned it which i’m Thankful for. Maybe it won’t be so bad. I still feel a bit tearful 😢

Do you normally feel a bit upset and emotional for a few days after a seizure? This may be compounding it perhaps?

I understand, I find it really weird and upsetting to know I've had a seizure but not have any memory at all of what happened or what I actually did. I also do think people who haven't witnessed one before can find it shocking. I developed epilepsy as an adult so we had no prior experience of it and DH found seeing me very worrying and distressing. You may find people want to ask you about it, I actually think I would prefer that people not mention it out of their embarrassment, but you may feel differently? Will you have to speak to HR or occupational health re Return to work interview etc?

It's so easy to say we shouldn't feel embarrassed or ashamed, but harder in practice isn't it. It's like tripping/falling over in the street, it is embarrassing even though it shouldn't be! That's why we all pretend we are fine and it didn't hurt then go round the corner and cry

I hope you feel much better and happier soon.

"You may find people want to ask you about it, I actually think I would prefer that people not mention it out of their embarrassment,"

Argh I worded that really badly. I meant I would prefer that people do ask me rather than having an elephant in the room due to other peoples' embarrassment about mentioning it.

I’m epileptic too. Your colleagues will just want to look after you.

Your line manager may need to do a risk assessment to see if there is anything they can do to minimise it happening again.

You may also be emotional from the seizure, I always find myself more emotional after one and inclined to have a good cry.

As a PP said, it’s so weird knowing you have had a seizure but not knowing what you did. And I find it upsetting that others have seen me so vulnerable. I couldn’t even use my phone yesterday as i’d forgotten how. My colleague had to get the contacts up and find my husband’s name whilst I talked gibberish 😢 As for feeling emotional, yes that does often happen so maybe that could be partly it too. I think I will meditate later as that seems to help.

I work with a colleague who is epileptic. We all went on first aid training and feel confident that we can help him should he have a seizure. Honestly, no one thinks anything of it and we all feel happy to be able to help.

The ex-colleague I had that got us banned from the bowls club we had our work function at, as a result of him whipping his willy out and watering the bowling green - he had something to be embarrassed about. (And he was. Particularly when shown film footage of it).

You do not! I totally empathise with you on the vulnerability thing - that must be so hard.