Shake That Seizure

EpiTrax - Software for Seizures

2008-07-16T21:13:00.003-04:00

Hello All,

I would like to introduce you to EpiTrax if you haven't already heard of it. It is a journal / diary software used for tracking seizures. I would encourage you to check out their website: and download the trial version to get a better idea of the flexibility of this program.

I would like to note that the company that makes this software and Shake That Seizure are not related, however, you can certainly export your information from EpiTrax and send it to us at your own discression. I think it is going to be a real nice way of keeping your doctor up-to-date as well as your loved ones. And of course, if you are tracking someone else's seizures for them, this product seems very suitable.

"NeoMed Software makes EpiTrax, an advanced seizure diary software program designed to track and analyze every pertinent detail surrounding your seizures, your medication and your possible seizure triggers." - NeoMed Software

I am going to try it out and I thought it would be nice to pass the information along.

Cheers,

John Coyle

Health Beat: Kansas Girl Brings Awareness To Epilepsy

2008-07-10T23:38:00.004-04:00

WICHITA, Kansas, June 27, 2008 – Three million Americans suffer from epilepsy and many of those are children.

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While there is still no cure for the condition, a young Kansas girl has begun a crusade to help others learn more about it.

“It's like no one really likes you, and don't want to be around you,” said Libby Heflin.

Looking at her you wouldn’t think anything was wrong, but without warning, frequent epileptic seizures could stop her in her tracks.

“Most of the time she seems perfectly normal, but she'll have a day where she's having a hard time because of where the seizures are effecting her,” said Libby’s mother, Lena.

Seizures are like short circuits in brain cells. For those who have epilepsy, those seizures are unprovoked. Sometimes you won’t notice one happening at all. But in the worst cases, they can be debilitating and sometimes deadly.

Historically, research of epilepsy has been under-funded. It becomes clear when the condition is compared with other diseases, many which affect fewer people.

The numbers were enough for Libby and her mom to take their fight to Washington D.C.

While parents demanded more research funding the kids went in and told their stories. Among those Libby told her story to was Kansas Congressman Todd Tiahrt.

She’s hoping for big changes in the future, but once she gets home she’s starting with a small one. She says despite her epilepsy, she wants other kids to know she’s just like them.

Along with funding, Libby and her mom also pushed Congress to restore the Americans with Disabilities Act, which the House passed on Wednesday.

SHINGLES, VARICELLA, EPILEPSY, AND THE WEATHER

2008-07-04T13:10:00.004-04:00

"SHINGLES, VARICELLA, EPILEPSY, AND THE WEATHER" by J. Pereira Gray, April 3, 1920 for The Brittish Medical Journal

Sir, - I have read Dr. James Taylor’s paper (February 28th, p. 282) with keen interest, as it dealt with subjects which have attracted my attention for a good many years. There is, no doubt, a close connexion between shingles and chicken-pox. At any rate, they frequently occur together or closely follow each other. But whether the one is the cause of the other or both are dependent on a common factor must be left an open question.

There is, also a very close relation between shingles and epileptic fits. For instance, on February 9th, the report of the Meteorological Office was “considerable amount of low cloud,” and I saw on that day one case of shingles and a patient who had four severe epileptic fits. On February 10th, with “sky mainly covered with low cloud,” I had another case of shingles and another of epileptic fits. On February 20th, with “much low cloud,” I saw two fits and a case of herpes zoster. At the Exeter Poor Law Institution we know when to expect fits by noting the meteorological readings for the day. It might well be that chicken-pox, like shingles and epilepsy, are “pressor diseases” due to vasomotor changes caused by atmospheric pressure.

There is a clinical fact which I have not seen alluded to before which lends support to the theory that fits are precipitated by arterial hypertension. I allude to their complete cessation in pyrexia. Chronic epileptics who contract a disease by which the temperature is raised immediately become free from fits during that period. I believe that it is the gradual rise or temperature during the fits that brings the attack to an end. On these premises I have been in the habit of exhibiting vaso-dilators – the citrates, the nitrates – with the occasional addition of bromides to my epileptic patients. When an epileptic states that the bromides do him good, but unfortunately they bring out an ugly rash, the correct thing to do is to administer the drug in combination with vaso-dilators, and the bromide rash will not appear. In the prevention of the bromide and iodide rash vaso-dilators are infinitely superior to the much lauded arsenio.

There is one other disease which has a very close connexion with chicken-pox, and that is impetigo contagiosa. It is a very common experience with me to see this skin disease rampant during an epidemic of chicken-pox, and it is caused obviously by local inoculation in children immune by a former attack of chicken-pox. – I am, etc.,Exeter, March 1st (Published in The British Medical Journal on April 3, 1920)
J. Pereira Gray

Happy 4th and Welcome To Shake That Seizure News!

2008-07-04T01:57:00.000-04:00

First,

Happy 4th of July! Also, we are happy to have this news blog for all of you....

More to come!

Cheers,

John Coyle