I do just wish that my teachers had been more educated to spot more subtle ones, as they are common in child epileptics who end up with more intense seizures. Everyone recognises a Tonic-Clonic (grand mal), but not many people realise that there are MANY types of seizure. I went to the doctors when I was 18 (before my full blown seizures) as I couldn't work without getting jerks anymore, and even they didn't know what it was! I'm now diagnosed and on meds though, I just wish it had been sooner!
Asketh - azure-rusalka

[Part 3 of 3]

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I’ve had to explain to others that there are more different types of seizures than just the Tonic-Clonic, and that they all do different things. Even some doctors lack that knowledge. I told my doctor when I was sixteen/seventeen of what was happening, and she had no idea. I’m definitely glad you’re doing better because that was way too long to wait. 

which was when I was officially diagnosed. No-one ever reported any incidents to my mum, and I just learnt to deal with it as a kid... I would more often than not have my absence seizures when being asked a question in class, or having to stand up and read something out. My teachers didn't recognise my sudden 'zoned out' state with eye fluttering as a seizure, and assumed it to be daydreaming or being slow. My jerks (in my arms & hands) happened when I was writing, or playing music, under stress
Asketh - azure-rusalka

[Part 2 of 3]

I have Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy.. and, for me, I suffer from absence seizures, myoclonic jerks/twitches, as well as grandmal seizures. My type of epilepsy always starts in childhood (hence the 'juvenile' in the name). I suffered mainly from absences and myoclonic jerks as a child, undiagnosed, and my teachers always assumed I was daydreaming or clumsy, as did my mum. My friends always reffered to my absences as 'the blinky thing' and not much else was said. My grand mals started in my 20s,
Asketh - azure-rusalka

[Part 1 of 3]

As an epileptic and a pre-k teacher I find it useful to communicate with parents. When I was in high school and first diagnosed I don't believe the teachers had much training on the topic and were scared, and didn't want to communicate. Times have changed, but parents have not. I still get children that will have what we think are their first seizures and the parents later say oh, yeah they have them all the time at home. Well, that would be helpful to tell us upon enrollment time.
Asketh - mrsswt

Communication is such a vital role in everything, especially between teachers and parents. The parents know their children, know how they are and how they act outside of the classroom. If a child is having a problem, it is up to the teachers and the parents working together to help them. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal situation. Teachers don’t have a heck of a lot of time to sit down with all parents. But, it’s about making the time for students and helping them.

As for training, I think it differs from state to state. I had one class in college named “Educating Exceptional Learners”, and we talked about the range of disabilities and disorders and whatnot that students may come with. We only touched on epilepsy briefly, and perhaps to some that’s all that is needed. Epilepsy affects one percent of the United States population, according to my previous studies. You may never encounter a child with epilepsy throughout your teaching career. Who knows?

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Very eloquent!

I'm a younger sibling of a... rather mentally screwy brother, and I've seen him have two unprovoked seizures in right of me. But those aren't the important ones. I wanted to just see if anyone has dealt with status epilepticus before... which my brother had, and I found him afterward in near-fatal shock. He's fine now, but it was not pretty, finding your older brother with his lips almost white and ending up with the paramedics rushing him to the hospital... ._.
Asketh - astrakiseki

I personally do not have any experience with status epilepticus, and I’m glad your brother is doing better now; I can’t imagine how frightening that was. Does anyone else have any experience dealing with status epilepticus?