|  DickCov | Sep 28, 2006 9:11pm | Well, my cabinmate on a recent cruise told me wnen I asked if he had any physical problems, but assured me he seldon had seisures.
We were at a dinner with he on the inside and another couple opposite. I noticed his eyes hardening and he started rather violend convulsions. I was afraid of him hurting himself on the wooden furnature, so loosened his tie and held him. He began to slip down under the table where I feared he might bang the table & legs, but I didn't think I should grab his crotch to stop him! Fortunatly the convulsions slowed and stopped before he was out of my grasp.
So I violated the don't hold rule I see here, but I'm sure he would have hurt himself otherwise. He slowly recovered, we walked gently back to the cabin where he assured me I should leave him (I didn't) and go to the meeting scheduled.
In retrospect I think it was best he was inside as from the outside I might not have prevented his hitting the wood or the floor. |
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|  zeloguy | Sep 29, 2006 12:17pm | Allow me to preface this by saying I DO NOT have epilepsy but rather an extremely rare condition known as PKC (paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis). For those who are interested it's pare-ox-sml ken-see-ah-gennic coreo-ath-a-tosis.
It is called a 'movement disorder' and to the layperson (and for the first seven years of my disorder was misdiagnosed with epilepsy) it looks like a seizure.
The first thing to do is to let people know that you HAVE a condition, what happens and what to do. Work... friends... school... loved ones... etc. In my case my 'movements' are extremely violent but very short (never more than 15 seconds). I do not lose conciousness nor do I lose any bodily functions. I do, however; on occasion break stuff (namely tables, chairs, walls). Though thank the good Lord I have never hurt myself.
What do I tell people to do in my condition? GET OUT OF THE WAY and get anything you can out of the way. I don't know if it is the same with eptileptics (and please chime in here people) but the episodes are as much emotional as they are physical. From what I understand, my condition is chemical, not electrical (no EEG has seen ANYTHING even when going through an 'episode'). That can leave me shaking and in some bad conditions crying. Not out of pain, just out of reaction.
I also understand (and please correct me if I am wrong, I am here to be educated as well as to educate!) that eptileptics have the same seizure everytime, whether that be a twitch of the arm or a grand mal, it will be the same type of seizure. There are not varying degrees. Please let me know if that is accurate.
With me I can have an 'internal movement' which is incredibly difficult to explain. My body will tell me don't use that hand or don't use that leg (for a split second) and if I do... well I'm on the ground. I can have twitches in my legs and arms which is just a flailing to full on loss of neck arms and legs.
If the people around me didn't know better they would (or could) do things to make the situation worse not better. Education is the key. For me it is do nothing at all but make the surroundings clear if possible.
I understand one cannot 'swallow one's tongue (and I do not of course) but the tongue is a muscle that can go limp so to speak covering the airways (nose and mouth) of a person. There are some who need a spoon in the mouth. I have seen it numerous times especially in those that completely black out for long periods of time. Some people have diabetic seizures which is something completely different and I won't go into here.
The point that is to be made (forgive my verbosity here), is that everyone is different. God made us that way. If there was a post on what medications are taken to treat the same condition there would be half a dozen at least because I have BEEN on that many different ones.
Education and information, both personal and on a broad scale (such as this forum) is the best way to allow people to know what to do, when to do it, etc... |
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|  franzferd | Apr 7, 10:03am | | Having just witnessed a friend's seizure I have to say that I came right to this page to find out what to do. The information here helped tremendously. Though I would say giving the person plenty of time to recover is worthwhile. |
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Sponsor |  WasChabad | Apr 8, 12:00pm | | I hope everyone realizes how important this information is. |
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| | phoenixrose | May 8, 5:01am | | I was told that if it lasted longer than 2 minutes that 911 should be called as this time facture could mean dangerous problems past 2 minutes. |
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