Partial Seizure Disorders – Help for Patients & Families (Patient-Centered Guides) - Softcover

Mitzi Waltz; Lamb, Linda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0596500033 ISBN 13: 9780596500030

Publisher: O′Reilly, 2001

Synopsis

Some 2,300,000 people in the U.S. have one of forty types of epilepsy. The most well-known of these is epilepsy with grand mal seizures. However, forms of epilepsy that involve only part of the brain and do not involve convulsions are more common. Symptoms for these partial seizure disorders can vary widely: some patients have no physical signs at all, experiencing only mental or sensory changes during a seizure, while others may experience numbing, shaking, or automatic movements of one or more body parts.Although partial seizures usually do not look dramatic to other people, they can have serious consequences for patients who have them. If left untreated, seizure activity may become more severe, occurring increasingly often and spreading to affect other brain regions. There is a possibility of permanent brain damage in some cases. The physical and emotional effects of partial seizures--dissociation, loss of coordination, memory loss, fatigue, mood swings, and physical pain, among others--can also make them very difficult to live with.The good news is that partial seizures are treatable. With intervention, patients can wrest back control of their lives. Partial Seizure Disorders helps patients and families:

• Secure an accurate and complete diagnosis.
• Live with partial seizures in the family, including developmental issues for young children, school difficulties, employment, and driving.
• Understand medical interventions and side effects. Many medications for epilepsy are not appropriate for people with partial seizure disorders.
• Explore therapeutic and other interventions, often as an adjunct to medication, such as learning coping skills, diet changes, vitamins, etc.
• Get care with an existing health plan, including handling the problems that arise when you have a little-known disorder.
• Find comprehensive resources: advocacy and support organizations, books, articles, and online resources.

Author Mitzi Waltz, an advocate for children's neurological issues, has included the stories of dozens of patients and parents.

About this title

About the Author

Mitzi Waltz has been a professional author, journalist, and editor for over a decade, covering topics ranging from computers to health care. As the parent of a daughter diagnosed with bipolar disorder II and a son diagnosed with PDD-NOS, she has been heavily involved in parent support work, and has also advocated for special-needs children within the medical, insurance, and education systems. Ms. Waltz has also authored Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Finding a Diagnosis and Getting Help for O'Reilly Patient-Centered Guides series, among other books.

Synopsis

This volume aims to help patients and families get an accurate diagnosis of partial seizure disorders, understand medications and their side effects, and learn coping skills and other adjuncts to medication. It walks readers through developmental and school issues for young children; adult issues such as employment and driving; working with an existing health plan; and getting further help through advocacy and support organizations, articles, and online resources. It also includes the stories of dozens of patients and parents.

Edition details

• Publisher: O′Reilly
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0596500033
• ISBN 13: 9780596500030
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288