Feeling like you're the only one who has it
Growing up, I didn't know anybody that had epilepsy so I was very bitter and pessimistic. In 2008, I found support groups for epilepsy online and started talking to people who totally made me feel like I really wasn't alone. To this day, some of those people I've talked to are still good friends to me. :)
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
first aid for seizures
Here's the dos and don'ts about what to do with someone that is having an epileptic seizure:
Do
1. Protect the person from injury. Remove any potentially hazardous objects nearby and loosen any ties or scarves the person might be wearing.
2. Cushion their head.
3. Look for any medical identification card or jewelry that the person might be wearing.
4. Aid breathing by turning the person into the recovery position.
5. Stay with the person until the seizure ends.
6. Be calm and reassuring. DO NOT PANIC!
7. Explain anything to them that they might have missed. Why? Because some seizures may look like the person isn't paying attention.
Don't
1. "Shake and shout" (Meaning: shouting at the person or shaking them to see if they'll "come out of the seizure."
2. Restrain the person's movements.
3. Put anything in the person's mouth. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A PERSON CAN SWALLOW THEIR TONGUE!!!
4. Try to move them unless they're in danger.
5. Give them anything by mouth until they fully recover.
6. Above all, DO NOT freak out! You're just going to make matters worse, not better.
When should you call an ambulance?
1. If you know for sure that it's the first time the person has had one.
2. If the seizure lasts for 5 minutes or longer. (Time it)
3. If the person isn't breathing or has signs of a serious injury.
Do
1. Protect the person from injury. Remove any potentially hazardous objects nearby and loosen any ties or scarves the person might be wearing.
2. Cushion their head.
3. Look for any medical identification card or jewelry that the person might be wearing.
4. Aid breathing by turning the person into the recovery position.
5. Stay with the person until the seizure ends.
6. Be calm and reassuring. DO NOT PANIC!
7. Explain anything to them that they might have missed. Why? Because some seizures may look like the person isn't paying attention.
Don't
1. "Shake and shout" (Meaning: shouting at the person or shaking them to see if they'll "come out of the seizure."
2. Restrain the person's movements.
3. Put anything in the person's mouth. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A PERSON CAN SWALLOW THEIR TONGUE!!!
4. Try to move them unless they're in danger.
5. Give them anything by mouth until they fully recover.
6. Above all, DO NOT freak out! You're just going to make matters worse, not better.
When should you call an ambulance?
1. If you know for sure that it's the first time the person has had one.
2. If the seizure lasts for 5 minutes or longer. (Time it)
3. If the person isn't breathing or has signs of a serious injury.
-jessi
1
I'm really annoyed by the fact that people think you can swallow your tongue during a seizure!
A lot of people think that when a person has a seizure, you should put something in their mouth so they don't swallow their tongue. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A PERSON CAN SWALLOW THEIR TONGUE! IT IS JUST A MYTH!!!
Really think about this...lift your tongue up and you'll notice that's it's attached. It's impossible to swallow it.
A lot of people think that when a person has a seizure, you should put something in their mouth so they don't swallow their tongue. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A PERSON CAN SWALLOW THEIR TONGUE! IT IS JUST A MYTH!!!
Really think about this...lift your tongue up and you'll notice that's it's attached. It's impossible to swallow it.
-jessi
Monday, June 16, 2014
So what is epilepsy exactly?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that shows itself in the form of seizures, which are disturbances in electrical activity of the brain. No two forms of epilepsy are alike. The most common ones are Grand Mal, Petit Mal, and Complex Partial.
The majority of epilepsy cases are caused by previous head injuries, but in other cases, the cause is unknown. It can occur in any age, race, and economic status. In rare cases, you could also be born with it.
Symptoms of seizures:
There are some things that trigger a person's epilepsy. Every person's triggers are different, of course. But here are a few that I've heard about the most:
While there currently is no proper cure for epilepsy, there are some people who do outgrow it or have had surgeries to improve their quality of life...less seizures or none at all. Like I mentioned to you all before, every person is different, so I want to try my hardest not to give false hopes to anybody about such issues.
The majority of epilepsy cases are caused by previous head injuries, but in other cases, the cause is unknown. It can occur in any age, race, and economic status. In rare cases, you could also be born with it.
Symptoms of seizures:
- jerking of arms and legs
- high-pitched screams and wails
- loss of consciousness (some are unable to see or hear)
- staring spells/vacant glances
- auras (majority of them happen BEFORE a seizures strikes) that can include dizzy spells, a sour taste in the mouth, experiencing strange odors, and nausea.
- possible incontinence
- possible death
- injuries and sprains afterwards
There are some things that trigger a person's epilepsy. Every person's triggers are different, of course. But here are a few that I've heard about the most:
- flashing lights
- stress
- hot and/or windy weather
- menstrual cycles
While there currently is no proper cure for epilepsy, there are some people who do outgrow it or have had surgeries to improve their quality of life...less seizures or none at all. Like I mentioned to you all before, every person is different, so I want to try my hardest not to give false hopes to anybody about such issues.
introduction
My name is Jessica and I created this blog because I struggle with complex partial epilepsy. I started having seizures when I was not yet 11 years old. In fact, the first time I had one was at home and my mom had it mistaken for a food allergy. The reason being is because I was eating some barbecued meat when it happened. It looked like I was just choking and then fell limp with a bad headache.
Another incident happened at a school carnival. I was at a booth where people were spray painting hats and I wanted to do it. Eventually I got nauseated, vomited, and fell limp with another bad headache. After a few tests were done, I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
I've been on frequent medications that haven't worked for me. Currently I'm on 2: Keppra and Lamictal and I still have no complete seizure control! For a long time I was really bitter and pessimistic...feeling like nobody understood me until I met people in support groups for epilepsy online. Hey, what can I say...there's no proper epilepsy support groups in Orange County that I know of!
So I'll be posting what it's like to have epilepsy and some actual facts so people can be more educated about it. Whoever reads this, I hope you like what I post and feel free to comment by telling me any of your experiences with epilepsy if you have it or are a parent/sibling of someone that has it.
Another incident happened at a school carnival. I was at a booth where people were spray painting hats and I wanted to do it. Eventually I got nauseated, vomited, and fell limp with another bad headache. After a few tests were done, I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
I've been on frequent medications that haven't worked for me. Currently I'm on 2: Keppra and Lamictal and I still have no complete seizure control! For a long time I was really bitter and pessimistic...feeling like nobody understood me until I met people in support groups for epilepsy online. Hey, what can I say...there's no proper epilepsy support groups in Orange County that I know of!
So I'll be posting what it's like to have epilepsy and some actual facts so people can be more educated about it. Whoever reads this, I hope you like what I post and feel free to comment by telling me any of your experiences with epilepsy if you have it or are a parent/sibling of someone that has it.
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