What Is a Seizure?

Purple Day is simply a day to raise awareness about epilepsy.

I'm sharing today because my son's experience with seizures and epilepsy. Though his first seizure was rather terrifying, and his second seizure looked completely different, he is doing very well. He has been seizure-free since November 2012. However, his last EEG showed seizure activity that lasted for one second as he fell asleep. (This does not mean he had a seizure. It only means there was an electrical surge in his brain of seizure activity.) Although he is seizure-free, we understand his medication is helping him to do so.
Brother's first birthday was spent in the hospital. 
By then he had mostly recovered from the strong meds used to get him out of his 3 hour seizure.
Seizures impact about 1 in 100 people and all ages. It's good to be educated.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a medical diagnosis given after a person has two or more seizures with an unknown cause. A person may be treated for seizures without a diagnosis of epilepsy. My son's first seizure lasted for about three hours. Though we did not know if it was an isolated incident or not, he was placed on anti-epileptic meds immediately.

What is a seizure?

A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain.

What does a seizure look like?

Seizures have many different ways that they show.

  • Some seizures appear with the muscles contracting and loosening which look like convulsions. This is the most easily recognized seizure.
  • Other seizures may show as a blank stare when.
  • Some seizures are recognized by a repetitive action. 
  • Sometimes a person seizing can respond and others cannot, depending upon the type of seizure.

In case of a seizure...

  • Call 911. If the seizure lasts too long, medical intervention is needed for the seizure or breathing difficulties. When the seizure stops, a doctor should still examine the person and treat as needed. (An ambulance may not be needed, but I always call. If the seizure stops, I can drive my son to the hospital, but if not, they're on their way. Note: It takes 15-20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive to my home...)
  • Do not put anything in the mouth. Not even medication.
  • Lay person on their side.
  • Carefully watch what the person is doing. What direction are the eyes looking? Which hand is moving? What are the hands doing? Every detail you can tell the doctor is important for the best treatment.
  • Time the seizure.
  • A person with seizure history may have an emergency/rescue medication in case the seizure lasts too long. 
  • When the seizure stops, allow the person to rest. They are exhausting and will tire a person like running a marathon would.
Learn more at Epilepsy.com.
Brother with his great grandpa last summer.
Happy and healthy.


~ Annette
Sign up for weekly or daily emails from This Simple Home.

2 comments

  1. Annette I hope everyone is doing better and thanks for the info.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, he is doing very well. His medication is very effective. :)

      Delete

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!