Epilepsy

Epilepsy

People may already know from the website I was drawn to Naturopathy in the search for answers to helping me manage control or heal my epilepsy condition. I like to spell epilepsy with a small ‘e’ in my life and keep it in perspective and not feed into the fear or the feeling of lack of control. I like to do things I can control and build the confidence in my health moving forward.

On this journey I have learnt many things and feel drawn to helping others get better results with their neurological conditions.

Every epilepsy case I see is different and there are many different types. To complicate that more the names have changed from the straight petit mal and grand mal seizures. If you even can classify them this is how it currently is done.

Seizures have classified groups.

1.    Generalised seizures affect both sides of the brain.

• Absence seizures used to be called petit mal seizures
  • rapid blinking or a few seconds of absence or staring into space. Can be so quick it can be like a mental blank to someone watching
• Tonic-clonic seizures, what used to be called grand mal seizures, can make a person:

                   Cry out

                   Lose consciousness

                   Fall to the ground

                   Have muscle jerks or spasm

• Myclonic - a sudden jerk

2.    Focal seizures - initiate from just one area of the brain. These seizures are also called partial seizures.

• Simple focal seizures affect a small part of the brain. These seizures can cause twitching or a change in sensation, such as a strange taste or smell. It may be feeling of a tingle or numbness. Or even hallucination or nausea.
• Complex focal seizures can make a person with epilepsy confused or dazed. The person will be unable to respond to questions or direction. This can last up to a few minutes.
• Atonic Seizures- Atonic seizure is like a muscle tone drop where the muscle becomes limp- so it can be as simple as an eyelid drop or head drop, or a complete body drop or what is called the ictal manifestation where you see paresis or paralysis of one or more parts of the body. The drop seizures can be classified as functional neurological disorders and often the patient is conscious throughout.
• Benign rolandic epilepsy is characterized by twitching, numbness or tingling of the child's face or tongue, and may interfere with speech and cause drooling. Seizures spread from one area of the brain focal but can turn to generalized form. This is one type of epilepsy seen in children and the hope is they grow out of it.

3. Secondary generalized seizures – is where an episode is triggered and begins in one part of the brain, but then spreads to both sides of the brain. In other words, the person first has a focal seizure, followed by a generalised seizure.

All seizures may last as long as a 30seconds to 3 minutes.

NOTE: If seizure lasts 5 minutes or longer or if the person is severely hurt it is important to seek medical help.

It is good to track the type, times and dates of episodes and look at the triggers to learn more about prevention. Although in some cases the number of absent seizures can be hard to count especially if the person is on their own.

Everyone individual has different types of neurological episodes as the brain is so complex. The above descriptions give a guideline to help explain for onlookers and in clinical observation and to help see improvements in time. 

Common seizure causes:

• Brain trauma – concussion, hematoma, stroke, fractured skull, brain tumour, Birth trauma
• Toxic – drug abuse, alcohol abuse
• Family history - genetics

Triggers:

• Alcohol and or drugs
• Emotional trauma
• Anxiety
• Spine
• Sleep deprived/ pattern
• Fever/ infections
• Toxic exposure – paint or turpentine
• Hormones – menstruation
• Mineral changes – 
• Glucose changes – low or high blood sugar levels
• Electric shock
• Flashing lights
• Medication given that clashes with anticonvulsants 
• Skipping meals 
• Forgetting anticonvulsant medications

I also describe to clients an unedging feeling – this can be a pre seizure sensation or a time when precautions need to be made in case it is leading into a seizure. Sadly, the decisions made by the patients at this point may not be sensible so if feeling on edge it is really good to tell someone near you, if you possibly can, so extra medications can be taken, and a safe location is found. 

Then there is rumination with a memory or fear of having a seizure. Any anxiety or fear of having a seizure can affect the brain too and the likelihood of seizure activity. If you can tell the difference between on edge, absent seizures and rumination it can help you to.

The more aware you are of your brain activity the better.

Our role as naturopaths is to help you not only prevent the seizures but also help the brain recover to be as optimal as it can be. I always suggest you have a really good neurologist on board if needed as many people are on medical anticonvulsants.  We can then complement with an individual natural approach designed for you taking into account prescribed medications. Medications can and often have side effects that can be helped with lifestyle and nutrients. 

Our approach also includes helping the brain post seizures to age well and hopefully have less severe seizures, less often or fully controlled. Helping recover from your seizures includes helping you regain confidence in your brain again and reduce the rumination, anxiety and on edge feelings.

Like with any brain work, it is multifactorial. Please do not accept things cannot be better. Learn as much as you can about you and your condition so things moving forward are better than they have been. It is a journey - I like to see it as a journey forward and upwards.