What tests were done to diagnose your Epilepsy?
For myself, I barely remember the tests. I do recall going traveling 3 hours by car to MUSC in Charleston, SC weekly for several years in my childhood. I recall having bloodwork done at least once monthly, often more. I recall having EEG’s done monthly too. I also recall having x-ray and CT-Scans done to see what my brain was up to. As a child it was a stressful time and now going through it all with my own girls, I see that it was just as stressful for my mother to go through too.
My oldest daughter’s Epilepsy was diagnosed after two light seizures that she had at 3 months. She was immediately sent to MUSC in Charleston too and immediately diagnosed with Epilepsy after her doctor reviewed her medical charts and my family history with this disorder. She was given and EEG which showed a normal working brain, yet we know it wasn’t because she was seizing for no reason. She was not put through any other tests, except for bloodwork and she was placed on medication for the next four years of life.
My youngest daughter’s Epilepsy was not so easily diagnosed. She went through every test in the book: an EEG, EKG, MRI, CT-Scan, X-rays in the old fashioned turn of the century wooden torture like device, and blood work only to diagnose her with the very thing I told them in the first place: Familial Epilepsy. Nowadays she only has to have occasional bloodwork and an EEG here or there.
As you can tell, tests to diagnose this disorder varies with each case. Some doctors prefer to be more thorough while others choose not to torture a small child when they pretty much know what is wrong. Either way it’s important to have a correct diagnoses and to treat each case to prevent seizure that could lead to serious damage for the person going through them.
– Dana
It’s true – I had hoped to have this big blog series all ready to roll for November 1st but with all of last weekend’s festivities I simply haven’t been able to make that happen. Life sometimes gets in the way of the simpliest of things. So I will begin the series today and hopefully at some point I will have a button for it to share with all. (PSST – the button is up below!)
I’m sure at this point you are wondering what I’m talking about. My plan to spread Awareness for Epilepsy in November is to blog about it. I plan to write a blog post for every day of the month for the next 30 days, following a list I made last week which I will share with all of you in a few minutes. Please feel free to jump in and join me. Talking about our own personal experiences with Epilepsy is the best way to let others know what it’s like. Why hide in the shadows when we can walk safely into the light and live a somewhat normal life?!
For the entire month of November, I will do my best to answer or direct you to an answer for each of these questions:
30 Days of Living with Epilepsy
1. What is Epilepsy?
2. How is your Epilepsy treated medically?
3. What tests were done to diagnose your Epilepsy?
4. What types of seizures do you have?
5. What are your seizure triggers?
6. What does a seizure look like?
7. What medical interventions and medications have you tried in order to control your Epilepsy?
8. What type of people have Epilepsy?
9. What are your first aid tips for seizures?
10. How do I handle living with my seizures?
11. Why tell others about Epilepsy?
12. How do I tell others I have Epilepsy?
13. How do others around you deal with your Epilepsy?
14. How is your life different because of Epilepsy?
15. How does Epilepsy affect your behavior?
16. How do I cope with Living with Epilepsy?
17. How do I help my child deal with their Epilepsy?
18. How do I stay positive about life with Epilepsy?
19. How do I keep my home safe for life with Epilepsy?
20. How do I discuss my Epilepsy with my medical professional?
21. How does Epilepsy affect my education?
22. How does Epilepsy affect my employment?
23. Does Epilepsy prevent you from doing things you want to do, like driving?
24. Describe your day to day life with Epilepsy.
25. What’s one thing you want other’s to know about Life with Epilepsy?
26. What are your favorite Epilepsy websites?
27. How has Epilepsy treatment changed in your lifetime?
28. How do you advocate for Epilepsy?
29. What has been your worst experience while living with Epilepsy?
30. What changes would you like to see happen in the future in dealing with Epilepsy?
As I previously stated, each of you can feel free to create your own posts on this topic and come back here and share. I simply ask that you credit Luv’N Lambert Life for the original idea. Link to us using the 30 Days of Living with Epilepsy button below. Feel free to write from the perspective of being a parent, child or a person with Epilepsy, even a sister or brother with this disorder, however this it affects your life! The important thing is that the more we talk, the more we share, the more people come to understand how this disorder works and affects us all!
So get out there and SHARE! Spread the word for Epilepsy Awareness!!! I look forward to reading everyone of your posts.
– Dana
Please link up to this blog using the linky link below and don’t forget to include our button in your post!
Get started here by adding your link!
As I mentioned previously, I have decided to join in on 30 Days of Thankfulness over at Modesty is Next to Beauty. This began in October but I am starting today: November 1st.
Today I am thankful that I was able to get our blog changed for Thanksgiving, that I was able to complete my first post for November is Epilepsy Month, and that we made it through our busy Halloween weekend of fun. I’m thankful that my girls and my boys are all healthy and doing well at this time. I look forward to a week of school starting back tomorrow. There is so much more but mostly I’m thankful that God has blessed me with this wonderful life I am able to live. God’s love is like no other and for that I am most thankful.
Until the next time.
