Epilepsy

Name	Epilepsy
Related to/Also known as
Symptoms of Epilepsy	Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, which tend to recur spontaneously. These seizures occur when there is an electrical disturbance in the brain, and the signals it sends to the body become mixed up, rather like an electrical storm in the brain.
Types	There are many different types of seizure, usually divided into two categories - generalised or partial. Typically a seizure may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Partial seizure - affects only part of the brain. Consciousness is not lost in a simple partial seizure; consciousness is impaired in a complex partial seizure. Generalised seizures affect the whole brain, and often involve a loss of consciousness. They include the Tonic Clonic seizure where the person falls down, and their body stiffens and shakes; the Atonic seizure where the body goes floppy rather than stiff; the Absence seizure, which usually shows itself in a blank stare lasting a few seconds; the Myoclonic seizure, which is very brief and involves a muscle jerk.
Useful national contacts	Epilepsy Action Helpline: 0808 800 5050 www.epilepsy.org.uk Find local branches and groups: www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/branches Virtual groups now meet every week for a chat Epilepsy Society Helpline: 01494 601400 www.epilepsysociety.org.uk David Lewis Centre For Epilepsy Tel. 01565 640000 www.davidlewis.org.uk Seizure Alert Dogs https://tinyurl.com/ybdbt Mersey Regional Epilepsy Association Helpline 0151 298 2666 www.epilepsymersey.org.uk SUDEP Action (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) http://sudep.org Tel. 01235 772850
Children & young people	Information about COVID-19 (coronavirus) for young people with epilepsy.(Young Epilepsy) www.youngepilepsy.org.uk/covid-19-information.html Young Epilepsy Provides information and support for young people, and for parents and carers Helpline: 01342 831 342 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.youngepilepsy.org.uk Epilepsy Action: Just for kids Epilepsy info for kids www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/children The Daisy Garland - charity offering help and support for children wirh drug-resistant epilepsy www.thedaisygarland.org.uk
Online resources	Coronavirus (COVID-19) and epilepsy (Epilepsy Action) www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/daily-life/safety/coronavirus-covid-19 Wearing a face mask with epilepsy (Epilepsy Society) www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/news/wearing-face-mask-epilepsy Guide to Epilepsy and PIP (The Brain Charity) • Guide to Epilepsy and PIP What to do when someone has a seizure (Epilepsy Action) https://tinyurl.com/y9ky4up2 6 absence seizures caught on camera, on YouTube www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfVUOBjttk&feature=youtu.be First Aid for seizures - Epilepsy Action video (YouTube) EpSMon - award-winning self-monitoring App designed for adults who experience seizure www.epsmon.com Free e-learning resources from Epilepsy Action http://learn.epilepsy.org.uk You may be entitled to free or discounted travel if your seizures mean you can’t have a driving licence (Epilepsy Society) https://tinyurl.com/ycl743wc EasyRead: Epilepsy (EasyHealth) www.easyhealth.org.uk/index.php/12-common-health-conditions/epilepsy Living with a condition (The Brain Charity)
News and events	People with epilepsy included in priority group 6 for Covid vaccine (Epilepsy Society, February 2021) https://epilepsysociety.org.uk/latest/news/priority-group-6-covid-19 Nikkita Otu has severe epilepsy. Sign the petition to help Nikkita get the care he needs (2019) www.change.org/p/merton-borough-council-help-me-get-the-social-care-i-need-to-live "Husband programmes smartwatch to detect wife's seizures" (Epilepsy Society, January 2016) https://tinyurl.com/ycfd8f2q
Our resources	The library at The Brain Charity has a range of resources on Epilepsy and on a wide range of disability-related issues. Visit our library to read What's up with Wendy? MediKidz explain epilepsy.