To find this offensive

[JingleMyBells]

As I was leaving my neurology appointment, I have epilepsy, the receptionist loudly said to her colleague "I nearly had a fit the other night when I saw the state of the house".

To me wrong in many ways. Firstly, wrong terminology secondly, demeaning to people who have SEIZURES, could be upsetting for those newly diagnosed plus just generally inappropriate.

Hissyfit, I have them the all the time.
From you it's a medical emergency.
From me it's a sign I've lost my marbles & probably deserve gentle ridicule afterwards. Totally different (obviously totally different, not?)

Do you get annoyed if a handsome guy is described as "Fit", too? What about if I complain that my jeans don't "fit"? Obviously I don't mean they're having a neurological problem (or do I?, is the language that confusing?)

I have epilepsy and refer to my seizures as fits. I even have grand mals instead of tonic clonics. it was the terminology used when I was diagnosed as a child (20something years ago) and it's still what I say.
so I think YABU, I doubt the woman meant she had a seizure or whatever.

Well I don't think YABU. It's the equivalent of nurses working on a psychiatric ward saying in conversation 'stop being a nutter!'. The term having a fit, to my mind implies having a seizure, not a hissy fit. She was unprofessional and ignorant.

I don't care about it being used in general (i have epilepsy)but she was on a neuro ward and I would have said something to her. This would have devastated me at 14. Not now, in my 40's but others could be and that's the point.

Didn't really want anything from this thread tbh. Not many people seem to agree with me but it is difficult if you don't have experience of epilepsy.

As DS1(19) says, some people would find offence in a bunch of roses!

YABU

Yes, everyone finds different things offensive, no one expects you to apologise for being offended, but you asked if we thought you were unreasonable

Yes, I think you are.

Jingle, there are a lot of people on this thread with epilepsy who still think you are being ott.

Sounds like you had some bad news and were feeling sensitive. Maybe you still are?

There's nothing wrong with that but I would let this one go if I were you.

I hope everything works out for you.

Seriously, are you even reading the responses. Many of us either have epilepsy or children with epilepsy, so we are very familiar with it.
You are very selective, aren't you?

I get accused of being drunk sometimes if I am having a complex partial seizure and can't walk straight, focus, talk properly. it upsets me when I feel people are being derogatory

Well in the context of a neurology department I think that was a bit off as it is obvious that hearing the word 'fit' will bring a complete different meaning to some of the patients there.

However it is also clear that words can have lots of different meanings in the English language and that's OK. That's how you can make jokes!

I am at people thinking it's OK to comment on the mental state of health of the OP etc... as these were imo personal attacks for something that is really an overreaction to a word, overreaction that can be easily understood within the context of a neurology department. I mean someone who just had a heart attack wouldn't be happy to hear about people saying 'they've just had a heart attack seeing the mess in the house' seeing that they could have nearly died from that condition.

Worra, very doggist if I may say so.

Well I was offended and that's what matters. You sound determined to hang onto your offence; defending it jealously against all comers. Why?

I bet if we all looked at each other's posting history we could find at least one thing that we could take offence at, if we tried hard enough.

Imo it's all about intention to offend when it comes to using everyday language.

You overheard a private conversation that was no intended to upset you.

If it was said to you then that would have been insensitive.

I have temporal lobe, which doesn't present as anything like a "classic" seizure, it confuses the hell out of people when I start screaming and get "locked in". Whilst it was terrifying at first, I find my fits (and I do call them fits) quite amusing now.

I am offended that you thought there was only one kind of fit, earlier. And yes, I do think you're being OTT.

Why should I become unoffended just because a load of strangers tell me to Molly?

Not many people seem to agree with me but it is difficult if you don't have experience of epilepsy

I have 23 years years experience, is that not enough?

Just to clarify it was receptionists rather than nurses who were having this conversation ?

Arse, I have already told you I have complex partial seizures too and am aware there are many more

This woman was not talking to you or about you.
She was using turn if phrase that is not offensive,you have chosen to find it offensive and then argue the case
when told by numerous people with the best will in the world you are overeacting by a mile.
This has nothing to do with not having empathy because of epilepsy,other things can cause fits,and I find your narrow-minded opinion offensive personally

Because you will make yourself miserable if you pick up on every little thing and over think it.

Why post in the first place?

What do you want from this thread?

Good point Molly.