Best thing to do is try to only work days or nights. Working rotation is the worst thing you can do.
6 days ago
Be sure to have meds on you, if you work during you medication scheduled time. I would put my meds in a pocket pill box when I’m away from home.
6 days ago
What a tough situation for your daughter — shift work and epilepsy are genuinely a difficult combination. Sleep disruption is one of the most well-known seizure triggers, so it makes complete sense that rotating 12-hour shifts caused problems, even after she had been managing so well.
A MyEpilepsyTeam member described a very Show Full Answer
What a tough situation for your daughter — shift work and epilepsy are genuinely a difficult combination. Sleep disruption is one of the most well-known seizure triggers, so it makes complete sense that rotating 12-hour shifts caused problems, even after she had been managing so well.
A MyEpilepsyTeam member described a very similar cycle: "When he has a bad night of sleep, he usually has a seizure. Then, he is so exhausted he sleeps almost all day and can't get to sleep at night — and such is this vicious cycle." Here are some practical tips that may help her manage sleep and seizure risk across shifting schedules:
- Keep medication timing consistent — this is especially important with Keppra. Talk to her neurologist about how to adjust timing when shifts rotate, as missing or shifting doses can trigger breakthrough seizures.
- Protect sleep quality — use blackout curtains for daytime sleeping, keep a consistent wind-down routine, and limit screens an hour before bed.
- Avoid caffeine overload — it's tempting on night shifts, but too much caffeine can disrupt sleep quality later.
- Eat regularly — skipping meals can affect blood sugar, which some members identify as a personal trigger.
- Track patterns — keeping a seizure and sleep diary can help her neurologist spot connections and adjust her treatment plan. It's also worth exploring workplace accommodations. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, employers with 15+ employees must provide reasonable accommodations. Her doctor can document how shift rotation affects her epilepsy, which HR may use to consider a more stable schedule.
A conversation with her neurologist about the shift rotation specifically would be a really valuable next step — they may have strategies tailored to her situation.
6 days ago
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