My Aunt has non-epileptic seizures, need advice please

[amouraiguise]

Hi everyone,

My 57 year old Aunt has recently been diagnosed with Pyshogenic non-epileptic seizures . She's had them for years on and off and after a recent trip to the E.R, got a real diagnosis. I know this is a real condition and I have no doubt it's caused by the enormous amount of stress and emotional trauma she's bottled up for years, and probably isn't helped by the poor diet she has. BUT...even though she's a nurse she doesn't have health insurance (employer doesn't offer it and past history of breast cancer) and refuses to see a psychiatrist or get much treatment for it. She is going to an acupuncturist in a couple days that might help some but that's really all she will do for herself or accept.

So my question is, does anyone know of any doctors or psychs in Phoenix, Az that are familiar with this condition and can help? If not does anyone have any advice for dealing with someone who has this and how to get her into treatment when she's stubbornly against it? I live with her and my mother (her sister) and I know my mother is somewhat contributing to the seizures as they get worse when she's around (even though she tries her best to be supportive) but we are very concerned about my aunt and don't know what to do. I'm concerned that without help, and being out of work which stops her income will only snowball her stress and make things worse, but she seems to have given up and won't help herself. thanks guys, any help would be appreciated.

 

[JLogefeil]

What came to my mind is that, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Basically she has to help her self before anyone can help her. Yes it's hard but he ja to do some work her self. She might have to hit rock bottom before she gets help.
For you and family I wouldn't push her. Yes, try talk to her but don't nag her. If she feels pressured she will rebel against it.
I would just live on with your life and not worry so much about her she will come around, I hope. She's prob trying to cope with it all and come to grips.
Feel free to check out my videos about PNES go to www.youtube.com and type in the search box jujub428.
I hope I help somewhat. There's a saying doc and nurse make the worsted patients.
Good luck keep us posted.

 

[Dolores]

Addressing the cause of the seizures (stress) will hopefully be beneficial. If we deal with a lot of stress it can have a definite physical affect. Learning how to handle stress refusing to let it handle us is so very important to physical well-being.

Many of the Chinese arts deal with this acupuncture being one method.
A friend has Cervical Spinal Stenosis and has told me how she is in constant pain because of the pressure on the spinal chord. Then just yesterday she told me that her reflexologist suggest a session of reiki and my friend agreed to try it. She said that night, for the first night in over a decade, she slept through the entire night! She hadn't believed it possible but for the first time in ages she was pain free. Just the week before we were talking and she said she had pain in her arms and her legs.
Now she is being very careful to handle her stress and not internalize it.

Maybe you should be supportive of your aunt in seeing an acupuncturist. Being a nurse shes aware of all the problems with medicines & the horrible side effects as well as the problems of finding a good doctor who listens. So she is choosing to go an alternative route.

If she can control how she handles stress that may help with the seizures.
It really is about getting one's life in balance.

That's just my humble opinion based on my own experience.

 

[soehls]

What came to my mind is that, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Basically she has to help her self before anyone can help her. Yes it's hard but he ja to do some work her self. She might have to hit rock bottom before she gets help.
I agree 100% with this post. It is so heartbreaking and frustrating to watch someone you love suffer because they wont do anything about it. I feel for you and I hope your aunt comes around quickly. Never give up hope.

 

[LJ-Bain]

Psychogenic seizures are so difficult to treat. There is no magic cure but there are ways that people can change the way they handle stress in their lives to reduce them and if there are previous underlying issues that have to dealt with then they should be addressed.

Most people do not accept the diagnosis at first. It's alot to deal with...to imagine that your body has seizures due to psychological stress.
It is true too that sometimes the diagnosis is incorrect or that the person has both psychogenic and epileptic seizures. As a nurse she must encounter alot and see of lot that goes in the health profession.

Give her time.
Be gentle, acknowledge the seizures, but allow them to occur and be a natural part of her life. Allow her to be the focus though rather than the seizure. That's what I would want anyway. Have you asked her how she wants to be treated when they occur? I'm sure she'd rather they just went away. She didn't ask for them to happen nor does she consciously create them.
They are real.

Give her a hug. Bake her a batch of cookies. Be there for her.
Sometimes all you can do is stand by and be supportive.

 

[soehls]

More AWESOME advice from LJ_Bain.....Give her time.
Be gentle.....Allow her to be the focus though rather than the seizure. That's what I would want anyway. Have you asked her how she wants to be treated when they occur? I'm sure she'd rather they just went away. She didn't ask for them to happen nor does she consciously create them.
They are real. Thinking of you and your Auntie