Adult Epilepsy—
What Is It?
The doctor says I have epilepsy.
I don't know what to do.
To help you deal with your feelings and help control your seizures, learn more about epilepsy and what you can do to treat it.
What is epilepsy?
Having epilepsy means that you are likely to have sudden or repeated seizures. A seizure is a sudden burst, or "storm," of electrical signals in the brain. This "brainstorm" can change the way you act, feel, and move and can make you unconscious.
What do seizures feel like and how do they affect me?
The symptoms of a seizure depend on where in the brain it occurs. There are two main kinds of seizures:
Partial seizures start in one part of the brain. They may cause staring, twitching of the hands or feet, or repeated movements on one side of the body. They may cause a loss of consciousness.
Generalized seizures start and spread in both sides of the brain, with loss of consciousness. One type (tonic-clonic) can cause a person to become stiff, pass out, and shake all over.
Doctors can't cure epilepsy. So
why do I need medicine every day?
Epilepsy can be a lifelong illness. But there are medicines that can help prevent seizures. This is important because even a single seizure can be life-threatening. To help manage your epilepsy:
Take your medicine as directed. This means:
The Right Medicine
Keep all your doctor appointments.
Learn what brings on your seizures. Plan ahead to avoid these things.
Make time for yourself. Be sure to get plenty of rest, eat well, and do the things you enjoy.
The goal of epilepsy treatment is to be as close to seizure free as possible with the fewest possible side effects. Use the Goal Checklist and set goals that you are ready to reach.
- Epilepsy Goal Checklist
- Epilepsy Medicine Chart
- Epilepsy Doctor Visits
- Seizure Calendar
- Sticking With Epilepsy Medicines