should i?

[lorianng72]

should i go to the doctor or ER when i feel an aura? the ER doctors dont seem to think its a big deal. they ask me why i dont call my family doctor first but usually before i can answer the seizure has allready happened. should i just stay at home and wait it out. i'm confused

[RobinN]

No one can tell you what you should do during an episode, but I will tell you what I have done with my daughter. I am sure others will tell you how they approach it.

I write down the auras or little things that occur. In fact now I write down the seizures that occur that are less than 5 min. If they have been more than five minutes, or she has hit her head in a way that has concerned me (or her school) that is when paramedics have been called.

I found most visits to the ER to be a waste of time. Sure they poke you and test you and that might give you some indication as to what is going on, but most of the time it isn't worth the effort.

If all this is so new to you that you are attempting to make sense of the situation, a call to your doctor might be all that is necessary. In the mean time, I suggest a great book.
Epilepsy: A New Approach by Adrienne Richard and Joel Reiter.

[lorianng72]

thanks robin, we have a great bookstore here. i think i will try and pick that up!

[RobinN]

Remember.... for 19 years you were seizure free. Something (the cause), pushed you over the threshold when your body / system couldn't take it any longer. Perhaps there is a way to move back toward finding that place of health where your body doesn't find the need to use seizures. Seizures are only a symptom.

Granted.... not everyone is able to figure out the cause, but for those that can make changes, the quality of their life improves.

[Meetz1064]

a point. My seizures are under excellent control now that my diet, and stomach are in control. I didn't know that I was actually a celiac patient as well until about a year or so ago, officially, but I had been using the GARD diet in between. And the number of seizures that I had been dealing with in my sleep dropped with that diet.

I'm not saying that I can go off meds--I will probably never be able to, though I'd certainly like to try at some point. I was born with E, and my brain has learned to kindle quite a bit on its own. But, I'm under very high stress levels right now, so it's not going to happen any time soon. Meds and diet, and I am still doing well in terms of control. It's something to seriously consider.

[Bernard]

should i go to the doctor or ER when i feel an aura? the ER doctors dont seem to think its a big deal.

ER is built to stabilize people who are in critical condition - not really necessary for someone experiencing simple partial seizures or post-ictal symptoms. If you are prone to going status epilepticus or injure yourself during a seizure (falling, etc.), then a trip to the ER makes sense.

If your auras are usually followed by larger (generalized) seizures, you should do what you can to find a safe place or position when you can. Let folks in the vicinity know how to respond should the need arise.

[AlisonBP]

when i first started having seizures i would have extreme ones and ended up spending a week in HDU. now i usually come round ok and dont need to go to hospital. last week i had some seizures while out alone so someone called an ambulance. i was put on a drip, my blood pressure monitored and sent home a couple of hours later. if my friend had been with me he would of just sat with me til i came round and taken me home.

i feel that now i know what is normal for me i dont need to go to hospital. if a seizure goes on longer than usual or i'm not coming round at all between seziures my friends will consider call an ambulance but its not usually needed.

everybody is different though. if stress is a trigger going to a safe place could help you. that dosent have to be hospital though. maybe a close friend or family member to sit with you instead?

good luck with finding out what is best for you