What is Transition and what can I expect?

What is transition? 

Transition means moving from one stage to another. As a young person with epilepsy, one form of transition is moving from the medical team you’ve had as a child, to a new set of epilepsy doctors who will organise your meds and care as you move into adulthood. 

This usually happens between the ages of 16 and 18, but in order to make transition a smooth process, planning for it usually begins around the age of 13. Transition is a process that will be individual to you and your needs. Your epilepsy doctors will base the process on what’s best for you – there isn’t a set timeframe or a “one size fits all” approach. It will all depend on what’s right or wrong for you. 

What can I expect? 

So, what does transition look like? Importantly, it’s a process, rather than one appointment with your paediatric consultant (children’s epilepsy doctor), and the next with another epilepsy doctor entirely. 

Part of this process might involve you visiting an adolescent (or young people’s) clinic before moving onto an adult one. Transition is flexible and the actual process may depend on where you live in the country. But either way, your epilepsy doctors will have the following ultimate goals: 

• You should have a period of time when you see both paediatric and adult epilepsy medical teams to make sure your care is continuous and not disjointed 
• Your transition should be fully explained to you throughout 
• Your changeover from paediatric to adult care should be seamless and smooth 

Part of the transition process involves giving you more say, and more power, in the decisions that affect your care, and ultimately, your life. While this is a great opportunity, it can feel daunting. 

This is a perfectly natural concern, and we promise you that you’re not going to be left alone to deal with transition. The more your doctors plan with you, the smoother and more successful your transition will be. 

Your transition might involve you starting to book your own appointments and perhaps attending with your mum, dad or other adult sitting outside. You could begin to feel more in charge as a young person by recording your own seizure diary and making a note of anything different or that you want to ask at your next appointment. 

You’ll know the importance of your meds, but perhaps until now, someone else has given them to you. During transition, your epilepsy doctors may start to encourage you to take more responsibility for taking your meds at the right time. They may also talk to you about how you go about getting your repeat prescriptions. 

Your doctor may also start to introduce topics that you might find embarrassing, such as dating, sex, drinking alcohol and taking drugs. So perhaps all the more reason to have your parent/carer outside. 

Importantly, transition should take place over a number of years, helping to gradually empower you into becoming a confident young adult. 

What support is available to me? 

Feeling worried and anxious about transition is completely normal. Transition can be daunting for your parents and other adults too, that until now, have looked after your appointments, meds, seizure diaries and care. They may struggle to see you off into the big, wide world. 

Therefore, support is essential, and it may come to you in many different forms. Your first port of call should always be your epilepsy doctor or nurse. 

Your epilepsy doctors are also perfectly placed to help make your transition smooth, and will be by your side as they begin to hand over to your new, adult team. And don’t forget friends and family. They might not think of the same questions or concerns as you, but talking to them could help you form the right questions next time you see your doctor. 

Preparing for a smooth transition 

Whoever we are, whatever our life experience, sometimes, change can make us feel anxious. Changing schools, moving to a different neighbourhood or joining a new sports or social group can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. We may feel those familiar butterflies, but we can also feel nervous and distracted, and we can feel fearful and upset about the unknown and unfamiliar. 

Transition from child to adult health services when you’re a young person with epilepsy is no different. Seeing a different doctor in a different clinic is bound to make you feel a little bit unsettled. After all, you’ve probably been used to seeing the same faces in the same familiar surroundings for as long as you can remember. 

The good thing is – all your feelings are valid. You simply need the time, support and tools to navigate it. And we’re here to support you.