Epilepsy Talk
Away I go, from Saturday 11/16 through Tuesday 11/19
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You might remember the piece I wrote called “Prayer for a Cat,” in memory of our two-year old kitty who died of incurable peritonitis. (Who would think a cat could get peritonitis?)
Well her successor is ready to come home and take a place in our house and our hearts…
Tags: 11/16-11/19, cat show, Chicago, Emily Louise, kitten, peritonitis, Prayer for a Cat
What Is Your Inspiration?
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“I want people with epilepsy to know that there are ways in which they can play a role in their own recovery…”
Domestic Violence — When Love Goes Wrong
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Carol found herself in a cycle of violence from the time she was a child. By adulthood, she had already experienced multiple beatings and hospitalizations.
In the most recent attack, her husband beat her with a board, leaving her with permanent brain damage and a life-long disability.
As a result of her injury, she now has frequent seizures, difficulty with balance, and is terrified to leave her home for fear of having a seizure or falling.
If You’re Thinking Of Getting Pregnant…
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Years ago, women who had epilepsy were often discouraged from getting pregnant. Today, that’s no longer the case.
Thanks to early and regular prenatal care, more than 90 percent of pregnant women who have epilepsy deliver healthy babies, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Tags: AEDS, breastfeeding, Epilepsy, Folic Acid, Neurologist, obstetrician, pre-natal care, pregnancy, safety, seizures, single medication, Tips, Vitamin K
Prescription Switching. Do You Know What You’re REALLY Getting?
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How many times have you had a prescription switched without your knowledge or permission?
Not just switched to a generic version of the prescribed drug, but to a different drug altogether.
Yet the practice of swapping out medications is perfectly legal in most states.
It’s called “therapeutic substitution” and it happens when a patient is switched from to a cheaper medication in the same class of drugs.
Some Stress and Anxiety Solutions…
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Sometimes my hands shake so much, I look like I’m leading a symphony. (Without a baton.) Legs too, I have to sit down.
Maybe you panic before a test, the very fear of having a seizure, social rejection, job anxieties, debt, fear of failure, an anticipated argument, holidays, fear of flying.
There are probably as many kinds of stress and panic attacks as there are those of us who suffer from them.
And behaviors: trembling, sweating, hyperventilating, breathlessness, feeling faint or light-headed, a sense of disorientation, cramping, nausea, your heart pounding like it’s going to explode from your chest, a fear of dying.
Or you’re just plain scared.
Tags: cognitive therapy, confront fears, creativity, deep breathing, Epilepsy, meditate, meds, music, Panic Attacks, relaxation, solutions, support groups, visualization, walking
Epilepsy and Driving (A Small Rant)
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For three months I was “benched”. With three more months until my driver’s license was restored.
The authorities said, if I didn’t “surrender” my license by XYZ date (with the neuro and cardiologist’s report) a sheriff was going to show up at my front door and haul me away!
So, now, not only did I have epilepsy, I was a prospective CRIMINAL with epilepsy.
12 THINGS YOUR DOCTORS WON’T TELL YOU…
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Modern medicine can do miraculous things — but every test and treatment has a downside.
And your doctor may not disclose the dangers without prompting, a new survey finds.
Researchers surveyed 2,700 patients who’d recently decided whether or not to have surgery, take a medication, or undergo cancer screening.
Most reported their physician spent far more time talking up the benefits of each choice than explaining the risks.
Tags: alternatives, benefit, choose wisely, cost, disclose dangers, insurance, misuse, overuse, quotas, referrals, risks, side effects, underuse, unnecessary tests
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