migration- epilepsy

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migration- epilepsy
Topic Started: 5 Oct 2008, 09:06 PM (426 Views)
craignkaren	5 Oct 2008, 09:06 PM Post #1
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: 21 September 2008 Migration Status Planning My Location york,uk	hello all! do you know anyone who has had any problems going through the migration process with epilepsy? we wanted to ask before we contact the commonwealth medical officer. we go to a migration expo in leeds,uk next weekend and hope to start the migration ball rolling in january '09 (so get behind your settees!) craig is main applicant, had epilepsy via head injury as a 7yr old not had any sort of fit since he was 14y, is 40y now, on medication cos wont come off it although gp suggested he try cos he feels not worth the risk to losing driving licence etc. we'd appreciate any advice etc, thanks. craig and karen. ps love your site and oz! :mate:



missiemo	6 Oct 2008, 10:40 AM Post #2
Legend Posts: 2,036 Group: Members Member #692 Joined: 26 April 2006 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Very Happy My Location Mount Martha	Hello Craig and Karen Firstly good luck with the process, I hope all goes well, the only help I can offer is this link below, which had the same question posted on another forum, I would say the post is very positive, good luck. Mo x http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/south-australia/37054-epilepsy-medication.html



craignkaren	7 Oct 2008, 03:36 AM Post #3
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: 21 September 2008 Migration Status Planning My Location york,uk	hello missiemo! thank you so much for your help, i can't wait to start the process, i want to be in oz so much it's unbelievable! karen xxx :flower:



missiemo	7 Oct 2008, 10:13 AM Post #4
Legend Posts: 2,036 Group: Members Member #692 Joined: 26 April 2006 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Very Happy My Location Mount Martha	craignkaren 7 Oct 2008, 03:36 AM hello missiemo! thank you so much for your help, i can't wait to start the process, i want to be in oz so much it's unbelievable! karen xxx :flower: Well all the luck in the world with it Karen, we have been here two years and four months now, it is worth all the pain and stress, my daughter had a serious health issue when she was younger and all we had o do as provide a lette from our doctors explaining the history and we had no problems in getting our visa. Just shout if you have any questions everyone is really friendly on this forum, well most of the time anyway :Grin: :waving:



craignkaren	8 Oct 2008, 09:41 AM Post #5
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: 21 September 2008 Migration Status Planning My Location york,uk	thanks mo! i think the site is great . glad its worked for you in oz. you only get one shot at this life lark and regret what you dont do after all. :waving:



bradybunch	9 Oct 2008, 06:38 PM Post #6
Bradybunch Posts: 389 Group: Members Member #1,240 Joined: 8 March 2007 Migration Status Visa Approved My Mood Better now visa approved! My Location Cheltenham, Gloucestershire	I Know exactly what you mean. I had petit mals in 1998 culminating in one grand mal seizure after 6 months (no apparent reason, just one of those things). Like Craig, I am on medication for life and won't consider not taking it (even when I was pregnant) just in case. After a nightmare of trying many types and combinations of medication it is all fully controlled and I have had no further symptons. We were granted a case officer yesterday so it is uppermost in my mind, because we are going through the forms (nightmare) and it is obviously going to have to be addressed. One thing to mention though is that I ran out of my medication (yeh, I know!) when we were on a reccie in December and it gave me an insight into something I hadn't considered, ie, that I had to pay for my medication (I'm on Lamictal). The chemist said that it wouldn't be fully covered by Medicare as it's a very expensive drug and that we would probably have to contribute about 1/2 of the cost ($45 instead of $90) per month. Just thought I'd mention it as it may be a factor in your financial reckoning. Good luck. Lorraine



missiemo	10 Oct 2008, 12:09 PM Post #7
Legend Posts: 2,036 Group: Members Member #692 Joined: 26 April 2006 Migration Status Citizen My Mood Very Happy My Location Mount Martha	Well good luck to you both, Epilepsy has always been a big factor in our lives, my dad suffered with it for many years but he made sure it never stopped him from doing things in life that he loved.



bradybunch	11 Oct 2008, 12:48 AM Post #8
Bradybunch Posts: 389 Group: Members Member #1,240 Joined: 8 March 2007 Migration Status Visa Approved My Mood Better now visa approved! My Location Cheltenham, Gloucestershire	missiemo 10 Oct 2008, 12:09 PM Well good luck to you both, Epilepsy has always been a big factor in our lives, my dad suffered with it for many years but he made sure it never stopped him from doing things in life that he loved. Ah bless - good for him. Lorraine



Petals	14 Oct 2008, 11:17 AM Post #9
A phenomenon Posts: 1,327 Group: Members Member #2,324 Joined: 22 June 2008 Migration Status Citizen My Location Somerville My Mood Contented	Just in case anyone takes Keppra my daughter takes it and its not one of the medication on the free list unless a specialist requests it. My daughter takes it because she is diabetic and other seizure meds are no good for her kidneys. It used to be available but they removed it. She only ever had one seizure when her brain tumor was diagnosed but because of the brain surgery they say she has to be on the drug for life.



craignkaren	19 Oct 2008, 03:15 AM Post #10
Newbie Posts: 4 Group: Members Member #2,450 Joined: 21 September 2008 Migration Status Planning My Location york,uk	bradybunch 9 Oct 2008, 06:38 PM I Know exactly what you mean. I had petit mals in 1998 culminating in one grand mal seizure after 6 months (no apparent reason, just one of those things). Like Craig, I am on medication for life and won't consider not taking it (even when I was pregnant) just in case. After a nightmare of trying many types and combinations of medication it is all fully controlled and I have had no further symptons. We were granted a case officer yesterday so it is uppermost in my mind, because we are going through the forms (nightmare) and it is obviously going to have to be addressed. One thing to mention though is that I ran out of my medication (yeh, I know!) when we were on a reccie in December and it gave me an insight into something I hadn't considered, ie, that I had to pay for my medication (I'm on Lamictal). The chemist said that it wouldn't be fully covered by Medicare as it's a very expensive drug and that we would probably have to contribute about 1/2 of the cost ($45 instead of $90) per month. Just thought I'd mention it as it may be a factor in your financial reckoning. Good luck. Lorraine thanks lorraine, the information is much appreciated. :waving: we went to the leeds oz expo today and spoke to a doctor who does the immigration medicals, very handy! he said that if you take a letter from your own gp to confirm you're well controlled on medication and how long it is since the last fit etc it goes in with your application and if you're "well controlled" eg not at the hospital consultant regularly etc they generally tick the no need to worry about this box- my words not theirs! i did ask though if there were things that caught applicants out. he said that commonly people turned up for the medical and would be found they had undiagnosed high blood pressure (hypertension) or a poor bmi (body mass index) he suggested that before your medical get these checked at your own doctor/practice nurse so they can be corrected before the medical! with the bmi allow time to loose weight if you think you're at risk of failing it. (i think you can google how to work out your bmi and british heart foundation have great information re keeping your bp in check.) re "white coat syndrome"- ie your bp shoots up at the sight of a sphygmomanometer (or bp machine to you and me!) and your own gp accepts thats all it is via doing a 24hr test etc a letter saying so would usually get the no worries box ticked. i cant say its 100% cos he didn't say all the medics did the same thing but i would assume they follow same guidelines?? something to think about. thanks again lorraine! :flower:


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