This is part 2 of 2 of the Epilepsy Awareness Month daily facts, which is a collection of days 16 through 30 epilepsy facts that Stacy has posted on James’ Facebook page. Click here if you missed—or want to review—the first fifteen daily epilepsy facts.
There is an important video at the very bottom of this post. Please take two minutes an watch it.
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Human or animal, it’s hard to watch someone you love have a seizure.
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
James’ seizures have changed from “reflux” style, to intense “ab crunches” & now he looks like he is fencing someone.
There are 7 main seizure types. They can present differently in each person, causing the myth that there are more.
Generalized Seizures
All types of generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain. Generalized seizures can be divided into six groups:
Absence seizures
This type of seizure leaves a person briefly unaware of their surroundings and actions. Most people who experience an absence seizure stare blankly until the seizure is over. Some will produce a subtle, repetitive body movement. Absence seizures are also called “petit mal” seizures.
Atonic seizures
This type of seizure causes loss of muscle control. A person experiencing an atonic seizure may suddenly fall or collapse. That’s why this type of seizure is sometimes called a drop seizure.
Clonic seizures
People who have clonic seizures will routinely experience rhythmic, repeated jerking movements. The neck, face, and arms are commonly affected.
Myoclonic seizures
This type of seizure causes sudden jerking movements or twitches. These movements commonly happen in the arms and legs.
Tonic seizures
When this seizure begins, the muscles in the affected area of the body will tighten and stiffen. The arms, legs, and back are commonly affected. Most people who experience a tonic seizure will fall to the ground because of their muscle rigidity.
Tonic-clonic seizures
Commonly called “grand mal” seizures, this type of seizure causes loss of consciousness, as well as violent shaking and body stiffening. Some people will lose control of their bladder and may bite their tongue during the episode.
Day 25
Well, that’s a no brainer. Epilepsy may not be contagious, but James’ smile is.
Day 26
Day 27
James has had myoclonic seizures.
Day 28
So many of our friends have died from Dravets.
Day 29
This is always a fear:
Day 30
Thank you everyone who has followed these facts.
Thank you Candlelight Concert for Epilepsy Awareness for creating these images to raise awareness about epilepsy.
SUDEP
Now that we’ve reached the end of the daily Epilepsy Awareness Month facts, I want to share a short, informative video about SUDEP, or sudden unexplained death in epilepsy. This is one of our biggest fears with James. We’ve done everything we can to get his seizures under control, and think we’ve finally found a sort of miracle drug, but there’s still a chance that SUDEP will take him away from us.
