The Emotional Toll of EpilepsyThe burden of epilepsy is that it follows you wherever you go. Before my brain surgery, it started the moment I woke up each morning. Did I get at least...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Finding a Support Person for Doctor AppointmentsPeople with chronic health conditions like epilepsy often face complex treatment plans and multiple doctor visits. Brain fog, fatigue, and problems concentrating are frequent side effects too. That is why...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Being a Friend to Someone With EpilepsyI had been alone in my journey of being an epileptic person. I never shared my epilepsy story with anyone. I felt too insecure to share my story. And I...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
What is a Mental Health Emergency?Mental health emergencies can look different for different people. They all can put you at risk of losing your life, getting into legal trouble, losing family, or having a serious...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
"D-Day" (Diagnosis Day): The Day Epilepsy Entered Our Lives"This probably means she won’t be able to get her driver’s license," I remember saying to my husband when we first received our daughter's epilepsy diagnosis. At the time, that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
How to Handle Insurance Denials and LimitsFinding out that your health insurance company has denied a claim can be frustrating and complicated. Your insurance company must provide you with the following pieces of information if it...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Seizure Recovery: Who, What, Where, When, Why?Where am I? Why am I on the floor? What day is it? Did I have a seizure? When? Who was there? Returning to reality following a seizure is different...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments
Take the Health and Media Habits Survey!The Media Habits Survey is now closed. Thank you for your interest! Managing a chronic condition is not easy and can be physically and mentally exhausting. What types of media...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Being a Student With EpilepsyIt's not easy to be a student while living with a chronic illness. I am going to write about being a successful student while facing 2 different illnesses: dystonia and...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What is Medical PTSD?Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is anxiety in the aftermath of a traumatic event. You may think of it happening to a soldier returning from war or a victim of...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
My Seizure Action PlanWhen I first found out about my seizure disorder I didn't know where to start. I had a list of "don'ts." "Don't chew gum without someone around" has always stuck...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
What Is Brain Mapping?Before epilepsy surgery, your doctor will need critical information about your brain. They may turn to a technique called brain mapping to learn more. Brain mapping is a procedure that...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Navigating Anticonvulsant Side EffectsIf there's one thing people newly diagnosed with epilepsy will find out pretty quickly, it's that many anticonvulsants, or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), come with unwanted side effects. For me, it...Reactions0reactionsComments4 comments
5 Helpful Tips for CaregiversReceiving a diagnosis of epilepsy can be a life-altering experience, not only for the person with the diagnosis, but also for the parent, spouse, child, or friend who becomes the...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Types Of Seizures: What Should I Know?As always, my disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This is what I have learned over the years through research, people I know who are epileptic, and through connecting...Reactions0reactionsComments9 comments
Is it Epilepsy or Something Else?Several conditions can mimic epilepsy. Seizures are one of the most visible symptoms of epilepsy. But not everyone who has a seizure has epilepsy. Many other conditions can also cause...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
I "Also" Have Epilepsy: On Seizures and IdentityWe need to talk. As someone who has never meditated longer than 18 minutes, and might as well have found this quote on a towel at Bed Bath & Beyond...Reactions0reactionsComments0 comments
Becoming a Surgery CandidateThe idea seemed so far-flung at first. Brain surgery? What exactly do the surgeons remove? After repeated seizures during my video EEG stay in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at...Reactions0reactionsComments3 comments
Keppra RageThere are many different types of medications for epilepsy. Some I love and others I find to be completely unfortunate. In this article, I want to focus on my love/hate...Reactions0reactionsComments24 comments
Menstruation and EpilepsyDo you have more epilepsy symptoms during menstruation? Well, I do. I hate my period because my epilepsy auras increase. I also have seizures more during my period. It's terrible...Reactions0reactionsComments1 comments