Epilepsy Talk
Is it ADHD…Epilepsy…or Both?
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ADHD is the current term for the neurological condition formerly known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), Hyperactivity, Hyperkinesis, Organic Brain Syndrome, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, and Minimal Brain Damage.
About 5% of children in the general population have ADHD. However, about 30-40% of children with epilepsy may have ADHD or attention problems. Also, ADHD is seen more often in boys than in girls (some medical professionals claim this ratio to be as high 4 to 1).
Tags: absence seizures, academic achievement, ADHD, attention problems, behavioral difficulties, cognitive, hyperactive disorder, inattentiveness, intellectual, language, learning difficulties, memory, motor, neuropsychologist, Ritalin, spatial, staring spells
Treating Seizures — 7 Amazing New Breakthroughs
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What if you could predict an oncoming seizure in time for you stop it? Or even prevent it?
That day may be coming sooner than you think, thanks to these seven new technologies.
You’ll learn what they are, how they work and how far along they are.
There’s a lot of new and exciting research going on — all over the world — about predicting and preventing seizures.
10 Ways to Cope with Your Stress and Anxiety
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You’re choking. You’re drowning. You’re going down for the count. How many times have we all been there?
I’m sure everyone has their own way of coping — or else we wouldn’t be here.
Nonetheless, here are some helpful tips to get you over that hump…
Tags: anxiety, best case, celebrate, cope, fear, panic, perfection, perspective, pro-active, reality, support, talk, worst case
Medical Mistakes Out of Control!
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Here’s a sobering statistic for you…
Believe it or not, the total number of medical errors and deaths in the U.S. equals SIX jumbo jets crashing every day!
If a Jumbo Jet crashed and killed 280 people everyday…365 days a year…year after year…would you be concerned about flying?
Would you question the Federal Aviation Administration? Would you demand answers?
Think about it…close to 100,000 people dying every year from plane crashes. Sounds Ridiculous??!!
Tags: #1 killer, deaths, diagnostic, inpatient, medical errors, outpatient, surgical, treatment
Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) Shown to Reduce “Untreatable” Seizures |
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The idea that we can implant a Star Trek-type device that will detect seizures and interrupt them without causing injury is entirely new. And exciting. And scary.
Especially for those people with epilepsy that have seizures that begin at one focal point in the brain, but aren’t appropriate for epilepsy surgery.
Brain stimulation has now been shown to offer significant relief to patients with intractable seizures, for whom drugs and other treatments have not worked.
TNS vs. VNS – NO SURGERY!
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The first Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) was implanted in 1988, as a therapeutic option for medically intractable epilepsy, when elective epilepsy surgery was not appropriate.
As the number of implanted vagus nerve stimulators grows, so does the need to remove or revise the devices.
Which is a little tricky, because of the spiral stimulating electrodes, wrapped around the nerve. Especially if the VNS treatment has proven ineffective.
And of course, what goes in, must come out. Anyway you look at it, there’s more surgery involved.
The up side to having a VNS is better seizure control.
The down side is discomfort, headaches, temporary hoarseness and shortness of breath.
Auras without Seizures
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Do any of these sensations sound familiar to you?
Suddenly you’re sweating, flushed, become pale or have goosebumps.
Your stomach feels queasy, like you’re going to puke.
There’s a foreboding or fear that something awful is about to happen.
Tags: aura, deja vu, distortion, foreboding, no seizure, odd sensation, perceptions, simple partial seizure, spatial, visual
CBT — When you feel that you’ve hit rock bottom…
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Sara had a brain surgery gone wrong. She spent all of her savings and all of her resources on rehab. One year later, she went home, only to be able to toilet herself and say “dog”. She was lost.
Both physically and mentally. You might say she was “a basket case”.
Sandy was in a near fatal car accident. She survived, but just barely. After her physical healing, she said she couldn’t put two sentences together.
Then she heard about CBT.
Tags: anxiety disorders, behavioral therapy, behaviors, CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, cognitive therapy, control, coping strategies, depression, feelings, Panic Attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders, problem-solving, psychiatric medications, severe mental illness., thoughts
Epilepsy And Complementary Medicine…
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Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) is just what it sounds like. Something to complement the AED regimen you’re already on. And perhaps take an extra step (with your doctor’s go-ahead) to alleviate seizures.
There are lots of alternatives, so I’ll touch on the most popular ones here. (Somehow, I don’t think you’re going to be turning to stones or amulets for relief!)
Tags: acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, chiropractic care, Complementary Alternative Medicine, essential oils, herbal medicine, Homeopathy, massage, meditation, Naturopathy, Orrin Devinsky, reflexology, relaxation techniques, seizure control, stress reduction, tai chi, yoga
Your birthday contribution would mean so much to me…
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For my birthday this year, I’m asking for donations to the Epilepsy Foundation Eastern PA – EFEPA.
I’ve chosen this nonprofit because their mission is near and dear to my heart, and I hope you’ll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me.
Tags: birthday contribution, donations, Epilepsy Foundation Eastern Pennsylvania, mission
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