Can I have your feed back on this?

BallandChain

I met a lady recently who is partially sighted and suffers with convulsions. She said she needed a carer (told me doesn't need personal care) but basically just needs shopping doing and her home cleaning.This is just for 2 hours a week and I said I didn't have experience of being a carer and no medical training/first aid. She didn't seem bothered by that but I am. Initially I said I'd take on the job but I am concerned that I am not able to handle a situation should it arise if she has a convulsion. I thought it would be easier if she gave me her shopping list so I could get what she needed. Instead she wants to come shopping and says she doesn't do lists and will buy what she fancies in the shop there and then! I only have 2 hours to do this and think she would be better off with a companion. (She has given me instructions on what work she wants doing in a 2 hour time frame!)

My main concern is the fact if we are out and she has a convulsion. I have no medical background and she has given me strict instructions that should she have a convulsion I am not to call an ambulance. That scares me to be honest! So, with that in mind I am going to have to let her down gently. I must admit I said yes to start with as I really wanted to help her out. What is the best way to approach this? Thanks in advance for any help!

cattie

I think you'll just have to tell her that you don't feel confident or comfortable in taking her shopping with the risk of her having a convulsion if you are not to be allowed to call for medical assistance should she have a fit.

I can understand her wanting to go shopping with you, rather than you do the shopping alone as it gives her the opportunity to get out of the house & buy exactly what she wants, but it is a responisibility to put on you if she doesn't want you to call for medical backup if needed.

Generally, handling somebody with convulsions isn't a problem if you know what to do, but without this knowledge it's understandable you wouldn't feel able to cope without being able to summon proper help.

Is there anyway that she and her gp could explain to you what the procedure should be should she have a convulsion, as perhaps then you could manage to take her shopping without fear?

BallandChain

I did ask her if she had to be put in the recovery position or what I would need to do. She seemed quite blase about it and told me no recovery position needed, basically just watch over her and keep people away should she collapse. Having had no experience as a carer I really don't feel confident to deal with it should a situation arise.

Errata

I have a friend who has epilepsy. She usually doesn't need medical attention after she's fitted, but occasionally she does and her family know through years of experience when, and when not, to get her to A&E.

BallandChain

That's the thing I haven't had any experience but I thought that at least the person gets put in the recovery position so as not to swallow their tongue. This lady more or less said to leave her where she falls and not move her. As I'm not a registered carer wouldn't there be health and safety issues?

Errata

There's a lot of misinformation around about how to help people who fit. You may not be a registered carer, but you will be giving her care by accompanying her. If she wants to employ you, why not ask her what training she will source for you to enable you to do your job safely. Instructions to friends/family on what to do are a very different kettle of fish to instructions for an employee.

[Deleted User]

She will be the person who knows her condition best so trust her judgement.
I have epilepsy and tell eveyone not to call an ambulance. To me it is just a pain in the !!!. I spend up to 24 hrs in a hospital when I could be laying on my sofa, I dont need medical care I just need tlc.
Many people are scared by seizures, I can understand why when someone drops to the floor and starts thrashing around, but honestly I wouldnt need hospital and can understand why she says she does not.
When I come to I'm dopey, dont konw whats happened and just want my bed. Sometimes I wont even remember events running up to the seizure so wont know why I am with the person who is next to me. But a smiling face to explain what happened, reasure me and grab a taxi to go home is all I need.

If the seizure carries on for more than 5 mins or if she didnt 'come to' after the fitting stopped in about 10 mins or if the fall caused some damage, more than a small cut or bruises, then an ambulance may be needed.

Some links for you re epilepsy and seizures, hope they help.

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Epilepsy/Pages/Recovery.aspx

http://www.charge.org.uk/what/pg2.html

[Deleted User]

As someone else with epilepsy I have to agree with the above.Having an ambulance called is a pain in the **** however that depends on the severity and length of the seizure and if any damage to the person is caused.The main rules are to make sure the person having the fit isnt in danger,whilst not putting yourself in danger,you may want to have a look at the links below for advice:
http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/
or
http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/Homepage

BallandChain

I've just been doing some online research (thanks for the links!) and the lady told me that mobile phones and the radio can set her off into a convulsion. I can't find anything about mobile phones/radios being the cause of a fit. Does anyone know about this?

[Deleted User]

Have heard of this but not met anyone who could say these cause their seizures. Lots of things bring them on, lights, stress, hormones, tiredness, lack of food & drink etc. But these things wont cause them all the time in some people. for example lights & tiredness effect me but only when my hormones are playing up at specific times of the month.
Also it's not worth activly trying to 'avoid' all these things because as a rule you cant.
You can, not go into a nightclub for example to avoid excessive lights, but you cant stop cars driving down the streets with headlights reflecting off things.
With mobiles and other radio signals it would be impossible to avoid them bar switching your own mobile off. We are surrounded by these things, moble phones, microwaves, TV's and a mass of IPOD's & sat navs etc that attract signals.

Errata

Perhaps the woman has an idiosyncratic response to mobile phones and radio. If mobiles ringing cause her problems, then it's difficult to see how she could avoid them when out in a public place; if it's using one, then she can completely avoid that by not doing so.
Radio is a bit of a puzzler as I would have thought if it's the sound(s) that cause her bother then she would have the same problem with TV. Unless she means radio waves/signals then as Shel says, there's no way of avoiding exposure in today's world.