Epilepsy
What’s it all about?

Anyone can have epilepsy

And many people do.
About 1 person in every 100 has
epilepsy

Finding out about Epilepsy for

Why do I have Epilepsy?

Doctors don’t always know why people have epilepsy.
Some people have epilepsy
after they have an
Illness or infection.
Some people are born with epilepsy

People use different words when they are talking about their epilepsy. Some
people say they have seizures, some people call them fits or even funny turns.

What happens when I have a fit?
Some people feel dizzy or confused and might wander around.
Some people throw their arms into the air or their legs and arms might go stiff

Some people may fall down, and their body may go floppy Then they may shake and jerk.
After the fit has stopped you may feel unwell for a short time. You might
feel tired or have a
Headache or feel
Confused. Have a rest.
You can carry on doing
what you were doing
before the fit when you
feel OK.

Fits start in your brain and affect the way the brain works.

People can have different types of fits and do different things when they are having a fit.

When your fit stops your brain goes back to how it was before the fit.

What can trigger or cause fits to happen.

Drinking too alcohol

Being ill

Forgetting to take your tablets

Feeling stressed or angry

What can trigger or cause fits to happen.

Not sleeping properly or getting overtired

Feeling worried or bored

Taking Tablets

If you have fits your Doctor will normally give you tablets to stop the fits from happening or
happening so often.

You should take your
tablets in the way your Doctor tells you to. Tell you Doctor if the tablets make you feel ill or you forget to take them.

Your triggers (write them down):

Taking tablets can make you feel
different. Some people get side effects from their tablets and some don’t.
Different tablets cause different side
effects.

Side-Effects

Your medicine is called Epilim. It has another name called Sodium Valporate.

Side effects of this medicine can be:

Drowsiness

Dizziness

Upset stomach or sickness

Increased appetite or weight gain.

Hair loss

Keeping records of your fits

Keeping a note of your fits can be very helpful.
It can show how well the tablets are working and then the Doctor can
decide if you need less or more tablets.
Sometimes people try new tablets which might work better in stopping their seizures.

The staff or should write on the chart when you have a seizure, what time it happened, how long it went on for and what they saw happen during the seizure.

First Aid for Fits

Keep Calm. Phone and get help from staff or other
carers.

Don’t move unless she is in danger.

Protect head so she doesn’t bang it on the floor or other objects. You might put a pillow under her head

First Aid for Fits

Don’t put anything into mouth when she is having the seizure. It would be dangerous to do this.

Call an ambulance if:
The fit goes on longer than 5 minutes
has another fit after the first one has finished
Jo is injured
You are worried about how Jo is

Stay with until she feels better. Then you can carry on as before the
seizure.

Written by Julie Day 01926 317700