What should people know about people with seizures?

I have had epilepsy since Feb. 1982. This what to expect:

1) People with epilepsy do have normal brain functions and we can think like everyone else can.

2) People with seizures should NOT drink alcohol or do any kind of brain altering drugs, including weed, at all.

3) When a person is having a seizure try to lay them on their side so this person won't choke on their own vomit but don't hold them down, providing they are vomiting.

4) Check and keeping on checking on the person's breathing. It is possible to go into cardiac arrest during a seizure. The very last one I had was back on 4/18/83 and my mother told me that my heart had stopped for around two minutes.

5) Move any and all furniture away from the person and let the person rest; this is providing the person is breathing normally.

6) The notion "The victim might swallow their tongue" is false. The tongue is attached to the bottom of the mouth and therefore impossible to swallow.

7) NEVER place a spoon or other objects in their mouths. The object WILL break their teeth.

8) Call for help ASAP and treat for shock by keeping a blanket on the person until help arrived.

That they are not going to bite off their tongue and need to have something shoved in their mouth. (This is what everyone used to think and do.) What needs to happen is to be sure they are in a place where they are not going to hurt them self. Help them lay on the floor if needed, be sure they are not going to accidentally bang their head on on something near by, or fall into something like a pool.

That there are different kind of seizures - some last for a second and you can keep on doing whatever you were doing before when they are over. Others are more serious and you might need medical attention or need to sleep afterwards.

People who have seizures often take medication to keep them under control. These medications are essential to be taken and taken at the same time each day. Sometimes the medication doesn't work and it is not the fault of the person.

Some people who have seizures are not allowed to drive - and others are. Same as use heavy equipment to work with.

A person who has seizures can do almost everything else anyone else can do. There is nothing about having epilepsy that means you have other disabilities too.

Nobody's going to bite or swallow their tongue! What an old wive's tale! If I have a seizure, do not stick a wallet or anything else in my mouth. Don't have a cow! Don't panic. Don't call 9-1-1 unless the seizure lasts more than a few minutes. It will probably be over long before a first responder can get there.

It is interesting to me that most of the time, a definite cause for the seizures cannot be pinned down. Doctors usually run a bunch of tests, but the tests don't usually tell you anything because you're usually not having a seizure when they're running the tests.

Generally, though, if I want you to know anything, I will tell you.

Apart from treating them as normal people, the biggest thing we can do, is learn how manage someone who has had a seizure.

Signs & symptoms of a seizure;

Jerking or twitching of the face and limbs

Foaming at the mouth

Loss of consciousness

Loss of control of bladder and or bowel

Blue/purple skin colour and blue lips

Flushed and dry skin in a child having a feverish

convulsion.

Management of seizure;

Protect them from injury

Place them on side when possible (when seizure stops)

Manage any injuries

If person falls asleep, leave them alone (bodies way of recovering).

If the person has loss of bladder or bowel, cover with a blanket or jacket, to protect their dignity.

Try to keep calm, and reassure the person when the seizure has finished.

Call an ambulance if;

A child is having a feverish seizure

Or if known epileptic, and seizure is longer than 10 minutes (This may vary, according to the persons seizure plan).

NEVER

Place any thing into their mouth

Or restrict movements while they are having a seizure.

I have a few friends with epilepsy and also work with people with disabilities, many of which have epilepsy. Despite having seen them have seizures, it always makes me feel a little distressed, knowing there is little I can do until the seizure has finished.

I have epilepsy, and the most important thing, I would tell people is that it is not a DISEASE. Most people hear epilepsy and overreact. To the person having the seizure it is a part of life. It should also be noted that epilepsy comes in many forms (some people have seizures hourly, while others can go months or longer).

i could positioned him on the med for now after which you would be able to get a 2d opinion. The blood assessments accomplished could help sparkling up the project of any side effects. My mom has seizures and regrettably drugs is the only element that helps her and particularly some others with epilepsy. fortuitously, your canines is being prescribed one affordable and on hand drug and not 0.5 a dozen. to no longer say that there are no longer selection treatments that artwork or a minimum of help on occasion. yet, the final public of the time, you will need drugs to regulate seizures. It seems such as you're uncertain he's having seizures. if it is so, have yet another verbal replace with the vet approximately what they seem want to establish to are not needlessly medicating.

STAN P IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER NEVER NEVER PUT ANYTHING IN THE MOUTH OF A PERSON WHO IS SEIZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the onlyu thing you will accomplish is possibly killing them!!! This USED to be taught to people about 20 years ago but it is absolutely false, dont do it!!!

My husband is severely epileptic and some things i have learned are:

Let them seize, there is nothing you can do to stop it. If they are having a grand mal (really big, drop to the ground, full body movement), move furniture or other things that may injure them out of their way.

Do not try to move them, someone may get hurt

Do not try to give them food or water while they are seizing

Look for a medical alert bracelet, necklace or watch label

Do not get right up in their face or touch them after the seizure--many people with epilepsy are combative in a post dictal state---they may swing at you or try to push you away. Let them "wake up" a bit. They will ask for what they need

After the seizure, dont dwell on it, they may feel embarrassed or like they scared you. It's a medical condition, not a side show, dont make them feel asahamed.

They may want advil, a drink, the bathroom and somewhere quiet to lie down afterward---it's exhausting.

Hope this helps

I want to Thank you Michael H. for your answer. It is the most correct one I've read.

I too have epilepsy and I agree with your answer 100%.

Like most have answered, we are human and you need not fear anything from us. Some who have seizures do lose consciencousness, some do not. Some may foam at the mouth, while like myself and others may not.

A person during a seizure should not be startled but left alone, if in a position they are not going to hurt themselves. Best position like Michael said is on their side.

As my neurologist explained to me back in the 1990's all I have is a small glitch in my brain that is causing this. Something simple as a small glitch can do something like this.

So see, understand this is not a curse put upon us but something we are used to and consider normal in our daily lives.

An additional thing should be noted some odors, scents can bother someone with Epilepsy...one of mine is Vanilla. Excessive excercising, stress, overly tired may also assist in promoting a seizure.

Please as a Epileptic respect us and don't feel sorry for us...we are strong and proud of who we are....and we cannot help what is.

There is more then one type of seizures

like stairing into space

on a video during a first aid course they showed a man at a football match blank staire at some people at a football match.

If you see someone who had a seiazure check to see if they have a medical bracelet

Call 000 if it is the first seizure or longer then 2 hours.

only move the person if they are in a dangers place.

when a person is coming out judges mental alerness by asking. What is your name, Where are you, What day of the week is it

I've had to deal with people with seizures in an old job I had.

1-move anything out of the way that they can get hurt with.

2-Do NOT stick anything in their mouth. They will not swallow their tounge.

3-allow them to rest after the seizure.

4-Don't allow people to gather around a person having a seizure. It only makes them feel worse.