Be Aware Of…. Epilepsy

Oh no…

No please…

…not again!

She says to herself slowly becoming less aware of where she is .

Then it kicks in, that tingling feeling,

But… this isn’t one of those nice tingling feelings.

nor is it similar to that when your foot goes to sleep.

Suddenly you feel like there is nothing surrounding you.

You start feeling cold, scared what do you?

That snow that you see on a badly tuned television appears in front of your eyes. Flashing… not constant.

Normally spots of purple… maybe some red and yellow.

Now that isn’t so bad, i call these floaters.

The warning sign that it could happen.

A lot of the time you can stop it,

just reach for the tablets,

in my case tegretol however you can now as i have recently found out…

Get prescribed a fast acting drug that increases your body’s resistance to an epileptic fit.

I take these with me if i need an eye test.

If you ever have looked up at the sun looked away then still seen spots in front of your eyes?

well that is very similar but, when you have epilepsy…

this starts to worry you.

As in a normal person,

these will disappear after a few seconds.

9 times out of 10 it will do the same in an epileptic.

However…

that still means there is that 1 time there to worry about.

There will be media content contained within this post that is unsuitable for those who are easilu upset. Due to this i ask for those of you who are in this category please take care when viewing the videos.

This video was made by an amzing person and equally amazing friend of mine who like myself suffers with epilepsy.

Please note this video is simply for awareness there is no intentions of breaking any copyrights that may/may not be associated with the format.

So you can see the multicolored snow then,

then comes the bit that really scares me.

It’s always in my left eye.

I start to see a large black circle, like staring into space almost.

This blocks about 90% of my vision.

This alone would not pose such a problem. Although then both

eyes start turning towards this circle, you feel a strain on

your eyes as they are drawn to the left. Then all you can see is a blur,

amidst the blur the black circle still remains.

By now that tingling feeling start terrifying you. Almost as if you can no longer feel or are no longer aware of the surface of your skin,

feels like you are floating. Ever had a feeling

that someone is following you down an alley? Or as i would get when i was younger, that someone was following me up

the stairs. It exactly like that. The same worrying tingle down your back that makes you turn around to check if there is anyone there.

As some say ‘like someone has just walked over your grave’. In that situation there is nothing stopping you from checking back to see. However

when your eyes are being drawn in voluntarily to the left,

you cannot even turn round. Its almost as though you’ve been caught

on the end of a fishing line. Your head then starts to

want to turn towards the dot like its external somewhere

in the distance but left, always to the left.

By now your eyes are really starting to hurt.

An ache almost but much worse coupled with a un-heightened sense

of unawareness. The strain on your eyes forces

you to close them but ITS STILL THERE! Even with your eyes shut,

you can see that circle of black.

Then you feel so terrified you can’t see, you can’t

control yourself, your not even aware of where you

actually are anymore. It is at this point that you

need someone. Many people give different advice of

how to deal with someone whilst they are having a fit.

My advice as i told my first aid class; is not to attempt

anything such as the general idea of placing a ruler in

someone’s mouth to stop them swallowing their tongue.

Ok, so it may of happened to some people but that is merely

one amongst hundreds of risks associated with having

an epileptic fit. Using a ruler or even just the idea of

placing something in some ones mouth

is very dangerous for the both of you.

No… my advice based upon my needs there and then is, firstly to think of safety, try and make sure the person who is suffering the fit is sitting down. Make this somewhere where they are unlikely to hurt themselves if they start convulsing. This convulsing or shaking is generally, as your body is unable to control your nervous system. Epilepsy a lot of the time involves some sort of chemical in balance in your brain. It can be compared loosely to a nervous twitch and more closely to Parkinson’s disease. You may be sitting there and start to feel a twitch say under your eye. It may not be anything big but that feeling is a nerve that is working correctly, you must know how annoying that is even if only briefly. Now think of that on a larger scale as though you are not in control of any of your nerves, got it? Right. Now add in the feeling you get when you are blinding drunk and starting to realize that the alcohol you have consumed is set for a return journey .Exactly! It’s bad enough being drunk but add all those together, oh, and throw in a headache incontinence then bite down on your tongue till it bleeds… I hope you have a better idea now of what it feels like however, i really wish that you never have to actually experience this yourself.

There are two types of fit. The first is a petite Mal.  These normally include the visual impairments that scared feeling and normally a quite badly hurt tongue at the end. I will always do this, it may perhaps be a defense mechanism to stop one with epilepsy from swallowing their tongue. However, for a form of defense it does tend to hurt. The strange thing being is that as you ‘come round’ from having a fit you will often be disorientated, a lot of the time for the rest of the day. So as a result, you may not notice this until you wake up or until you brush your teeth or eat. I once had nothing but homemade peach and ice-cream milkshakes for Almost 3 days as it was far too painful. As it is your tongue there is little that can be done about this, it would do little good applying a plaster, in fact it could do more damage. So we . suffer it. I tend to find it is normally the right side of my tongue. What’s funny is that it is actually the side. Not as though I’ve bitten straight down but as if Ive scarped my tongue against something. Then with all your nerves doing as they please and the instructions sent from your brain muddled almost like Chinese whispers. Your tongue reacts just as the rest of your muscles. As your tongue is a muscle the only one that is not connected at both ends. You may also find (however strange this may sound) that you have an ache in your tongue following a fit also. Anyhow, this is a petite Mal, this normally means that you have most or sometimes all of the effects of a fit but, you will not become unconscious. Depending on how long this lasts i would say that i prefer the second type A Grand Mal.

Obviously, i would not opt for either if given the choice however; at least with a grand Mal fit you are unconscious whilst the fit is in full swing. This alleviates all of the frightened feelings you have from the disorientation. I find it amazingly comforting to have someone there with his or her arm around me so i can feel something against my back as, like i said, you are unaware of where you stop and the rest of the world starts. With an arm around you, you may still be feeling all the physical effects although, you mind (if only a little) is put at ease. You would not believe how truly beneficial this is when your are having a fit. When my epilepsy was yet to be diagnosed, I would feel a fit coming on, and i would automatically call for my mum as loud as possible. She would then come and sit with me with her arm around me. I’m not sure whether that was merely to make me feel safe, or if she was doing so to protect me from hurting me but, either way it is the best advice i can give to anyone if they are with someone who starts to have an epileptic fit.

A grand Mal however is very dangerous especially if you are out at the time or god forbid, out alone. I can remember once having a fit whilst out in Brighton high street of all places. Thankfully i had my friend Vikki (who made the accompanying video) there to help me. I was under the impression that when i felt the fit starting that i had explained what was happening to her before i fell unconscious. Vikki i don’t think was even aware that i had epilepsy. Although she did the right thing. I am very grateful she was there. She swept my feet out from under me so i was sitting in a shop doorway and after that i remember nothing. Ok so perhaps it wasn’t the best way of getting me to sit down but for someone unaware of how to deal with something such as this it was an amazing way of helping. Sadly now my epilepsy is under control i have to worry about her as she now suffers the same. In fact hers are far worse than what i would have. However it takes A very long time of assessment, trials and tribulations and various different medications / combination’s of. Before you get it right. I can only hope that her neurologists gets it right very soon.

The thing you have to remember with epilepsy is that even

when it is under control certain things will put you

at risk of having a fit. Neurologists will call these triggers.

As the name suggests, these are things that will induce a fit.

The main being;

1.Sleep –

not enough or even too much, it is always advisable for an epileptic o have a

set sleeping pattern, get into a routine asap

. I would say around 8 hours a

night. Set an alarm so you don’t over sleep but the vita

l thing is – ALLOW YOURSELF ENOUGH

TIME TO WAKE UP SLOWLY- if you try to get ‘up and at em’

too fast your body is still less than

prepared to fight off a fit. So sleep well, sleep for set times

if you feel tired – GO TO SLEEP-

please don’t try to fight it to see the end of that film, we have vcrs etc the program is more than

likely going to be repeated, its not worth risking a fit to see the happy ending.

2.Eating –

I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat properly when you have epilepsy. I cannot give out specific advice as it depends on how active you are, generally you should have a good idea of how much you need to eat however, you need to also need to make sure that you eat well. If you deprive your body of certain vitamins and minerals your immune system along with your tolerance is lowered. So make sure you eat enough veg, fruit and protein etc.When you first find out you have epilepsy it is best to keep a record of both when and what you eat and quantities. You should also keep a record of your fits in the same manner. As with many illnesses what you eat is very important and if you eat the wrong things you can really become ill. For example you would not give milk to someone who is lactose intolerant. To help you out here is a simple chart which you can adjust accordingly to suit your needs.chart

Use this chart to record what it

is you eat at specific times of the

day try to record the time along

with this, obviously the majority of us will not eat this much.

However even if you have one piece of

chocolate or a drink this can have a far

greater effect than you would think upon

the frequency and/or the scale of your fit.

chart1

I am hoping none of you would have this many fits in a day but sadly some people have very volatile epilepsy and can have numbers of fits in excess to this.

After you have taken about a month’s record of you, eating habits along with your frequency of your fits, then compare the two and you should notice a pattern. This may be that every time you eat a banana that you tend to have a fit the same day. I would disregard anything over 12hours after having eaten something but that as i say is my own opinion. I cannot say for every individual what the standard would be. Also, try to keep a record of how you are feeling emotionally and of any events that have shocked or overwhelmed you. I have found that when i get upset i am more likely to have a fit. Even if I have done everything that, i can to avoid my other triggers. For example when my father had a heart attack, i had a petty mal in the hospital. Fortunately, my uncle was with me and the hospital pharmacy was able (after consulting my gp and being satisfied with my id, supply me with a few tablets there and then. After comparing the charts if there seems to be a link between a certain food and your fit patterns then cut out that particular food and see if you are any better off for doing so. Again, from own experience i would say doing this for a month will give you a good idea of the benefits of this.

There are certain things that will often affect epilepsy, which i will list below however, i would always advise you to consult your neurologist, gp or if these are unavailable, your pharmacist is a very good resource. Especially in regards to medication. You should find that they are normally more than happy to help. Most will have a book, which lists the interactions and risks of medicines and can advise you accordingly. Some may pose a small risk and you may be advised to take your tablets half an hour or so before you take the medicine you are inquiring about where as others will pose to big a risk for it to be worth taking them.

Be wary whilst taking/eating the

following

A1. Chocolate

- it is known for chocolate to bring about a migraine as it is thought to be poisonous to humans, although only when taken in very large doses. At the end of the day  if there is a possibility it may affect you just leave it out of your diet, better to be safe than sorry i think.

A2. Caffeine

Depending on the severity of your condition, even the slightest amount of caffeine can have a detrimental effect upon your tolerance and resistance to a fit. Most of the time it is not the caffeine itself but the lack of/ disturbed sleep you have whilst your body is under the influence of caffeine. However, in some it may itself bring on a fit. Be careful and remember there is caffeine in fizzy drinks, chocolate and various other things not just tea and coffee. I would strongly advise you to avoid energy drinks, instead try sleeping better and making sure you are giving your body all the correct vitamins and minerals, this will in the long run make you feel less tired. You will also have a better quality of energy and with fewer calories at the same time.

A3. Alcohol

This one is quite simple, you only have to think of how vulnerable you are whilst drunk to realise what the possibilities here are. Be very careful as i have found that it has not been the same day but the next morning that i have been effected. Again, this could be due to the disturbed/lighter sleep you will get if under the influence. Some people find themselves unaffected but you know what a hangover feels like, anything unusual even a headache when epileptic can mean something far worse than it does to the average person unaffected by the condition.

A4. Over the counter medication

Even if its a simple paracetamol or an aspirin, always ask the pharmacist before taking anything. If you inform them of your current medication, they can then give you quite a good idea as to the risks / lack of involved in taking these. Be very careful of sleeping aids such as nightol and hay fever tablets like piritone as they contain antihistamines. These release a higher amount of chemicals naturally made by your body which can either induce a fit or leave you feeling very drowsy even in the 24hours following the time that you took them.

A5. Drugs

Simple! Just do not.

A6. Nuts

Ok so not a big problem but it has been known for these to set off a fit. Do not avoid them as such, just if you do have them make a note of this for future records, this will allow you to judge whether it poses a risk to eat these.

A7. Bannanas

I know ok so does not seem logical although some have experienced these having an effect on their epilepsy again just keep a record.

A8.Too much of anything

Just as diabetics suffer from a lack/excess of sugars, so too can you if epileptic. Just make sure you don’t over do any particular food or family of foods. Try and keep your diet as balanced as possible to help your body work as efficiently as possible.

Of course there are many other things that may/may not affect you, everyone is different it is always best to see your specialist for advise better tailored to you as an individual.

3. MEDICATION

- even if you feel ok, or if your epilepsy is controlled always, emphasis on ALWAYS. Take your medication according to the advice given by your doctor or specialist! If you are unsure that you have taken a dose or if you know you have done so. Never take a double dose to make up for your missed dose. You will find that along with not taking enough medication, taking too much can also induce a fit. Again i would advise you to speak to a specialist, gp, pharmacist or NHS DIRECT on 08454647 to give you more specific advise more suited to your needs.

Always remember that there is nothing to stop you

calling your specialist for advice if your fits

seem to become irregular at any time, or

more severe. Even if you are unsure as to

whether you are safe to do a certain activity

etc just leave a message with your hospital.

This will most likely be the secetary of your

specialist and someone will get back to you,

failing this again try nhs direct on 08454647.

4. Lighting

– It is common knowledge ( at least i think it is ) that strobe lighting trigger the onset of a fit. It may not effect you either way it is best not to take the risk. This also goes for any flashing lights;

Disco lights

Spotlights

Games/tv programs –

these will usually come with a warning

Tip

If you use a computer there are many ways of reducing the risks involved .

You can purchase specially made screens to protect your eyes from the glare such as;

Flat Panel Black Glare Filter – 15-inch – Compare prices, reviews, user opinions – Shopper

Failing this i find a far easier cheaper way to help me out on the computer. The problem is that most people tend to make the mistake that the thing that strains your eyes in regards to screen resolution is the brightness. So most people will tend to turn down the brightness and perhaps the contrast to make the screen easier on the eyes. However it is in fact the gamma or the glare if you may, that effects your eyes. You can turn down the brightness yes, but i have found this only slightly helps and not for two long and you don’t exactly want to start draining the colour from your monitor (or tv) until you have reached black and white. So here is some very useful software to help you out. This is freeware and is designed to work in addition to your normal graphics controls;

These programs are all freeware and do not cost a penny , although the value of them to someone with epilepsy is amazing.

These come from the great guys over at

CNET

QuickGamma :

Quick Gamma is a utility program designed to calibrate a monitor quickly without the need for buying any hardware tools.

The relationship between the input signal and the luminance of a monitor is not linear but exponential with gamma being the exponent. Monitor gamma values usually range between 1.4 and 3.2. Because only a gamma value of 1 resembles a linear relationship, a gamma correction is necessary to achieve maximum reproduction quality. A monitor gamma value of 2.2 has become the de fact standard for Windows, the Internet and the digital photography. Under Windows a gamma correction is already automatically applied. This yields a linear luminance distribution for monitors with a real gamma of 2.2. Because most computer monitors do not have a real gamma of 2.2 an additional correction is required. With Quick Gamma you can calibrate your monitor to a gamma value of 2.2 which in conjunction with the automatic gamma correction yields a linear luminance distribution for every monitor. More information and detailed instructions on how to use QuickGamma are available by pushing the Help button in QuickGamma.

Gamma panel

Gamma Panel is a little & handy application that lets you adjust brightness, contrast, and gamma settings in real-time. Thanks to its hot-key feature, you don’t even have to leave the game you’re playing! The program works pretty similar to Color profiles in PowerStrip but is completely free and much smaller in terms of system load and memory usage. Gamma Panel – menu The program is pretty simple – it just sits on the taskbar and does its job. You can apply profiles in 2 ways: by pressing assigned hot-key combination or by selecting the entry from the popup menu. The last selected color profile is automatically applied on the next program run.

Other than this if you need to use a computer when you are out, it may sound quite a simple idea but, to reduce the strain on your eyes … try wearing a pair of sunglasses. Simple but effective. Only for a short period, i am not suggesting you do this all the time, again please consult your doctor if you are concerned – this is just something i have found works for myself. Always remember that they say to take a break from the computer every 20mins. Many people ignore this however if you suffer from epilepsy you must do this .

When you have epilepsy at first it may seem as though it is controlling your life but i can assure you that if you simply adjust certain things you do and make sure you take more notice of the things you do. It is almost the same as any other medical illness that countless people suffer from.

Your epilepsy

At first it will be hard but after  some time (sadly this can be quite a while) when you have learnt about your epilepsy and your tolerance and triggers you can almost forget you have it. I myself was not diagnosed with epilepsy for around 3 years after i started showing the signs. It was thought that i had been suffering from migraines at round 8 or 9 years old.

If you are epileptic you need to inform those you spend time with of your condition and give them some idea of how to cope when you do have a fit, otherwise they could although not meaning to , hurt you instead of helping.

Depending on the severity of your condition you may chose to go to hospital upon having a fit. I chose not to as my fits are not that severe. They used to be very bad. Still i opted out of going as i have been weary of hospitals for a long time. Although if you feel you need help by all means get someone to phone an ambulance. This is of no trouble to paramedics, please don’t ever think you are unworthy of an ambulance. That is why we call them emergency services.

It would be beneficial for you to carry round details of your condition on your person, this way should the worst happen. Those who come to your aid can help you as quickly and correctly as possible. This will also allow any hospital you may go to, to get in touch with your specialst and find out the exact details of your epilepsy.

Here are just a few sites where you can purchase these from;

EEG/Diagnostic Services
www.sleepmed.md
SLEEPMED/DigiTrace provides useful information for those interested in learning more about seizure disorders, epilepsy or unusual spells that can’t be explained.

Medical alert systems
www.medscope.org
Medscope provides medical alert systems to seniors and handicapped individuals with an aim to promote independent living.

Medication information devices

www.medicalert.org
MedicAlert is a non-profit organization that provides medical-alert bracelets and necklaces as well as a 24-hour response center. The response center can provide medical information to emergency personnel and will also notify family members of patient’s emergency situation.

Chain

http://www.medictag.com/
MedicTag™ is a patent pending, digital USB personal medic information and alert device that combines your emergency information with today’s technology. A digital memory chip is used to store all your information on the easy to use MedicTag™ medical history and alert form and the distinctive styling and bright logo will alert medic personnel to your special needs and existing medical conditions.

http://www.cadexproducts.com/
The Cadex Medication Reminder Wristwatch has twelve daily reminders. At the scheduled time, the alarm will sound and display the name of the medication to be taken. A “snooze” feature allows you to turn off the initial beeping and continue to be reminded with a subtle double beep every three minutes until you have taken your medication.In addition, an emergency Alert data bank stores your critical health information.

www.laurenshope.com
Lauren’s Hope is a place to purchase stylish medical-alert bracelets as well as medical-alert watches and pill boxes with built-in alarms.

www.aboutmejewelry.com
A unique opportunity to design your own medical jewelry. Offers fashionable boys, girls, women and men designs.

www.oneida-medical-jewelry.com
A family-owned business that designs custom engraved medical ID bracelets and jewelry.

I do believe anyone in the family can benefit from My Voice ID, accidents do happen, but your recorded voice will be there for you in case you are unable to speak.

–Chris Rohan – Woodland Hills, CA

www.myvoiceid.org
MyVoice ID is a medical information device, which can record up to 80-words and is designed to be used to record a person’s vital information.

Download Our Brochure

www.rescuealert.com
Rescue alert manufactures medical alert systems including medical alert bracelets and alarms and also offers a response center.

www.911life.com
911life.com offers several Medical ID tags as well as custom medical ID cards that you can create online.

Medication reminders

www.epill.com
e-pill is a company that sells a wide range of medication reminders and organizers to help patients remember to take their medicines as prescribed.

www.tabtime.com

Tab time is a pocket-sized electronic pillbox, which through a system of 8 daily audio

and visual alarms reminds the user that it is time to take his or her medication(s).

www.watchminder.com
The WatchMinder is a vibrating alarm watch designed as a training and reminder system for children and adults with memory problems, attention deficit disorders, or learning disabilities. The watch offers a reminder mode and a pay attention/training mode, with both modes operational simultaneously. This wristwatch contains up to 16 daily reminder alarms and 70 pre-programmed messages.

Headgear
www.danmarproducts.com/
Danmar Products, Inc. produces custom head protection, mainly hard-shell helmets, some with chin or face guards.

www.plument.com/
Plum Enterprises, Inc. produces fabric-covered foam protective headgear.

Seizure alarms
www.easylinkuk.co.uk/page4.html
Easy link manufactures several kinds of epilepsy alarms.

www.giantbiosensor.com/EpilepsyAlarms.html
Giant Biosensor manufactures alarms including epilepsy bed movement alarms.

Seizure tracking software
www.neomedsoft.com
NeoMed Software has developed a seizure tracking software called EpiTrax. The easy-to-use, down loadable application gives patients with epilepsy and their loved ones the ability to track, analyze and report on every detail of their seizure activity while offering their physicians additional information to help diagnose seizures and apply proper therapies. EpiTrax costs $49.99 and is available for Windows only.

Miscellaneous devices and equipment
www.sleep-safe.co.uk/index.html
Sleep-Safe specializes in anti-suffocation pillows.

How can you protect

against suffocation

during fits, seizures

or convulsions

While you’re asleep?

Are you at risk?

Epilepsy in children and adults – aftermath of meningitis / stroke / brain tumour / head injury – Downs syndrome – cerebral palsy – complications during childbirth – congenital and developmental problems – autism spectrum disorders

Site best viewed at 1024 x 768

And here a little extra that the younger ones will enjoy too;

From Kids HEALTH

So however bad your current condition..

never give up!

There are so many things you can do to help yourself

live a happy successful life even with epilepsy.

I hope i have provided a good amount of info to get you all started ,

but just in case take a look at the documents

and links below where you will find yet more information

to both explain the condition and lead you

to professionals who can help further.

• 
• National Society for Epilepsy
• Epilepsy Bereaved
• Epilepsy Research UK
• Epilepsy Action
• NYCPE: for young people
• Easy read information on epilepsy
• DIPEx: real stories
• Brain and spine foundation
• UK Epilepsy & Pregnancy Register

DVLA: medical conditions

OOTS-Pdf below

• Carers: practical guide
• News: epilepsy drug risk
• News: gene mutation
• News: birth defect warning
• Live Well: drugs’ effects on the brain
• Health A-Z: EEG
• Health A-Z: the ketogenic diet
• Video: children with disability
• Epilepsy and swine flu

http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/

Epilepsy pdf – some more facts

epilepsyaction_factsheet_facts

Epilepsy facts

More than 450,000 people in the UK have epilepsy (50 million people worldwide)

Epilepsy is three times more common than multiple sclerosis and more than three times as common as Parkinson’s disease and cerebral palsy.

One person in 50 will develop epilepsy at some time in their life. One in 20 will have a single epileptic seizure.

Epilepsy is diagnosed on the basis of two or more epileptic seizures. A seizure may be triggered when the electrical activity of the brain is disrupted. 80 cases are diagnosed every NHS working day.

Everyone’s brain has the ability to produce a seizure. In someone with epilepsy, it could simply be that their brain has a low seizure resistance. Other causes include scarring on the brain because of head injury or stroke, the result of an infection such as meningitis, or brain tumours. In some people there is no known cause.

Epilepsy can develop at any age. However, it is diagnosed most often before the age of 20 and after the age of 60.

Once diagnosed with epilepsy, a patient is usually started on anti-epileptic medication. This treatment controls seizures in up to 75% of patients.

Surgery can help a small number of people with epilepsy whose seizures do not respond to currently available medication (approx 3%).

There are many different seizure types. These include:

• absences involving staring, fluttering of the eyelids and a brief interruption of consciousness
• simple partial – jerking of a limb, numbness, tingling, an aura
• complex partial – confused behaviour and automatisms such as plucking at clothes, lip-smacking
• tonic clonic – the most dramatic and best known convulsive seizure. The way different seizures present will vary from one person to another.

There are 1,000 epilepsy-related deaths a year, approximately 600 of which are attributable to SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy). Epilepsy claims more lives in England and Wales each year than AIDS and cot death combined.

There are many ways to reduce the risk of mortality. Taking medication regularly reduces seizure frequency – the highest risk factor. Avoiding triggers such as lack of sleep, alcohol or stress can also reduce seizures. Showering rather than bathing and observing safe practices in the home can reduce risk of accidents.

NSE facts

The National Society for Epilepsy (NSE) is the largest medical charity in the field in the UK. Its headquarters are in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire and it works in close partnership with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London.

The doctors and scientists at the charity are making a major contribution to the world’s research into the causes, diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, pioneering novel diagnostic techniques and making possible improvements in both surgical and medical treatment of the condition.

The Society’s globally unique NHS epilepsy assessment facility, the Sir William Gowers centre, provides individual assessment, rehabilitation training and ground-breaking research opportunities and sees approximately 300 (check figure from annual review ) people whose epilepsy is difficult to manage each year. The unit’s success-rate is high, with most patients seeing a considerable improvement in the control of their seizures. Around 20 per cent of those admitted are found to have been wrongly diagnosed and do not have epilepsy.

The world’s first MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) unit to be dedicated solely to the identification of the causes of epilepsy is located at NSE’s Chalfont centre. Using a powerful 3 Tesla MRI scanner work at this unit has meant that up to 70% of people with epilepsy can now have the cause of their epilepsy identified. Linked to the Sir William Gowers centre, it is now possible to undertake an MRI scan directly following a seizure. Working closely with the NHNN, the Society offers the largest NHS outpatient clinic in the country.

A review of NSE’s residential care means that the Society is moving towards providing expert care and accommodation for 80 people with severe epilepsy combined with learning and physical disabilities. NSE also provides respite care and rehabilitation programmes supported by multi disciplinary teams.

Nationally, NSE provides epilepsy information services in  more than 100 healthcare settings in the UK. The services are manned by trained volunteers who provide information and a listening ear to people affected by epilepsy.

NSE also offers a national helpline: 01494 601 400.

NSE was first established in Chalfont St Peter, Bucks in 1892.

I Really hope this helps some of you out there as

its taken quite a while lol

TAKE CARE