November is epilepsy Awareness Month

I have had epilepsy my entire life. I have grand mal seizures. I have warning signs called auras.

What happens when I have an aura is little blinks of purple and red at the corners of my eyes. If it gets worse, white flashes start to cover my vision. I start to slip away from reality with a slow ringing in my ears that becomes deafening. I blackout. I wake up what feels like hours, but it has only been 2-3 minutes at the most.

It’s a scary thing that happens. I can't control it without medication, and I take two. One for daytime, and for the past 5 years one for nighttime epilepsy. I didn't even know I was having seizures at night.

What happens to the brain during a seizure?

Too many electrical signals short circuit the brain. A burst of electricity occurs. Messages to the neurons get uncoordinated and scrambled. This creates a surge of activity localized to a part of the brain. If you are looking at a person having a seizure, they make shake, seize up, or a combination of the above.

 Changes in emotions after a seizure almost always occur. I have a sense of embarrassment, a few folks have said they are lethargic, angry, or listless. I also get a migraine for the duration of two days and I am out of commission.

Depending on what part of the brain causes your seizures, this will affect what kind of symptoms you have. Brain damage is not a concern for some, but those seizures that last longer can get brain damage.

What should you do for someone having a seizure?

Keep other people out of the way.

Clear hard or sharp objects away from the person. 

Don't try to hold them down or stop the movements.

Place them on their side, to help keep their airway clear.

Look at your watch at the start of the seizure, to time its length.

Don't put anything in their mouth.

There’s no cure for seizures. There is surgery and medication. It’s a way of life for me and others. I’m lucky. I haven't had a seizure in months. The last time I almost seized, it was the voice of my granddaughter that calmed me down and broke me out of the aura. I don't know what it was, but it worked.

 If you have someone that has seizures, there are things you can do. Make sure they take their medication. Keep them away from blinking lights. Ensure they get enough sleep. Be aware of video games they may like. It could bring on a seizure. As an avid gamer, there are games that I cannot play because they can give me an aura.

I've lived with it for a long time. It is a scary experience. But, staying healthy, lessening stress, getting adequate sleep, and meds have made me keep on moving through life. I have a great support system in place, my wife and son, and some close-knit friends who keep tabs on me.