What is a seizure, anyway?
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- Renie_Burghardt
- shannon415
- lonestar30
- shannon415
- arrowqueen
- shannon415
-
Joy Butler
- shannon415
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» Renie_Burghardt - Seizures
Hi Shannon, what an interesting article! I had no idea there were so many different types of seizures. I have a friend whose son began having seizures when he was very young, maybe four or five. Now he is a man, and he did outgrow them, and no longer has them. You did a super job of explaining the different kinds of seizures, and how they affect the person. Thank you!And, Happy First Anniversary at the Suite, Shannon! Your topic truly does a great job of educating us. I'm proud of you, and hope you will be here for a long time. Take care. Best wishes, Renie
-- posted by Renie_Burghardt
» shannon415 - Re: Seizures
In response to message posted by Renie_Burghardt:Hi Renie,
Thanks so much for the kind words on my article. I've always been curious about the different kinds of epilepsy. I know some people who suffer from it, including myself. I have been seizure-free for nearly three years, so I'm hoping that I outgrew them.
Thanks for the wishes as well. It's hard to believe it's been a year already. I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. I love it here on the suite! Take care, and I hope you're enjoying your summer!
Hugs,
Shannon
-- posted by shannon415
» lonestar30 - Epileptic seizures
Hi Shannon!Congrats on your year with Suite 101. As always, this is indeed an interesting and highly informative article. I was surprised to learn of the different types of seizures, and their effects. After my hemorrhagic stroke 16 years ago, I did not experience a seizure for six months. Then, oddly, an idiot acquaintance grabbed my left arm, thinking to show me how to make it mobile again, bent my left hand backward
very hard, and precipitated a grand mal! We were in a restaurant, and an ambulance was called. The ER neurologist said it had somehow sent a reverse signal to the brain. A second seizure occurred within the week, and my personal neurologist then put me on Dilantin, saying it would need to be taken for the rest of my life.
I reported that it made me feel extremely ill, but he increased the dosage, saying that would pass. It did not. He increased it again, and I felt even worse. Free of seizures, I was miserable, but followed directions until the day I had an anaphylactic reaction and was back in the ER with my throat closing. I was given something to counteract the allergic reaction my doctor had failed to observe in time. After being weaned off with a low dosage, I never took anything again, and have been free of seizures all these years. That neurologist, I was to learn, had so many malpractice suits against him that he eventually lost his license to practice. Thus, if a seizure patient begins to develop symptoms of allergy, such as a sinus-type headache, an asthmatic-like condition, and/or a constantly runny nose, he or she should consult the doctor again to see if a change in medication is needed. Anaphylactic reaction, which can be rapidly fatal in many instances, is displayed by puffiness in the face, especially around the eyes, and difficulty in swallowing. Although medication is essential in seizure treatment, the effects must be carefully monitored with each patient.
I was fortunate in that my episodes were externally caused and temporary, and empathize strongly with those who suffer them chronically.
Keep up the good work, Shannon!
Hugs,
Barbara/Lonestar
-- posted by lonestar30
» shannon415 - Re: Epileptic seizures
In response to message posted by lonestar30:Wow, Barbara/lonestar. You always astound me with your knowledge when you post on my discussions. Thanks for the wishes. This first year at the Suite has been wonderful. I have met a lot of people, both editors and brain injury survivors. I have epilepsy. It started when I was 15. I had about five seizures, and have been seizure-free for almost three years (fingers crossed). I'm hoping that they ended after adolescence, as they do in some cases. I went to the ER for my first two seizures. They were petit mals, but after that, my neurologist told us that I would be fine at home. I could usually recover from them after an hour. My seizures did play on my panic attacks, which I have overcome now. I was also on Dilantin back in 1990 when I was in the hospital. I had some very odd side effects from it as well, so they put me on Tegretol, which I am still taking to this day. Thanks again for visiting! I enjoy hearing from you.
Hugs,
Shannon
-- posted by shannon415
» shannon415 - Re: seizures
In response to message posted by arrowqueen:Thanks for visiting, arrow. I'm glad you enjoyed this one.
Shannon
-- posted by shannon415
»
Joy Butler
- seizures
-- posted by Joy Butler
» shannon415 - Re: seizures
In response to message posted by JButler:Hi Joy,
Thanks for the kind words. Epilepsy is a problem in the lives of so many, and so many times, they don't know what type of epilepsy they have. That is why I chose to write this article.
Thanks again. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Shannon
-- posted by shannon415
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