Blog #16: Epilepsy and New Year's Resolutions

(This blog was originally posted on January 1, 2012)

 

                                 

 

          It’s the New Year—2012! Make your resolutions now and print the following list. Share it with those who are close to you and who participate in your healthcare. After all, there’s nothing more important in this life than you.

            You’ve likely heard these suggestions before, but as an independent neurology voice, I offer this advice:  

• Take your medication(s) as your physician has prescribed. Doing so helps to maintain uniform medication levels and provides the best protection from a seizure breaking through.

• Cooperate in getting all recommended blood tests to monitor your body’s anti-seizure medication levels. If your physician ordered “trough” levels, then get your blood test before you take the next dose. Trough levels measure whether your dose needs to be adjusted to be more effective and to lessen side-effects. Accompanying blood tests measure other body functions that your medication can affect, e.g., kidney, liver, and blood-forming organs.

 

• Minimize effects of traumatic injury to you and to others if a seizure breaks through your medication’s protection. Don’t operate motor vehicles or heavy machinery (e.g. power saws) if your seizures aren’t completely controlled. Always wear seatbelts in motor vehicles. Wear helmets while biking, skate boarding, etc. and don’t ride them near street traffic.

 

•  Mothers of infants must be vigilant in protecting their babies from trauma, burns and drowning should a seizure occur while exposed to these relevant situations. Minimize these dangers by having others nearby as safeguards.

 

•  Avoid bathing in tubs and showers unless someone else is at home and the door is open. I personally know of at least three patients who drowned in the shower by falling face-down and blocking the drain. Mark Twain’s adult daughter, who had epilepsy, drowned in her bathtub.

• Avoid swimming without someone close by who can rescue you should a seizure occur. I personally had patients found dead in their swimming pools.

•  Don’t abuse alcohol. Excessive alcohol lowers your body’s defenses against seizures.

•  Get adequate rest and sleep. Lack of these, combined with emotional stress, can elicit a seizure break-through.

 

• Learn about epilepsy and the medications you are taking to control this condition. The Internet is rich with the information you need that will enable you to increase personal safety and your self-confidence. 

 

• Epilepsy support groups can impart knowledge on your condition and provide advice on dealing with life’s challenges. The Epilepsy Foundation of America (www.epilepsyfoundation.org) and its local affiliates and support groups champion epilepsy education.

 

 

 

Lance Fogan, M.D. is Clinical Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. DINGS is his first novel.