Simulating Real Life: Epilepsy A Battle Between Mind and Body

1. Simulating Real Life:Epilepsy A Battle Between Mind and Body Presentation By: Paul D. Acquaro

2. Outline • Identify Epilepsy • Discuss Two Particular Types • Introduce Person with the Disorder • Hear from Family as to effects of Disorder on family life • Hear from Co-workers as to effect on professional life

3. Outline • Discuss what to do for someone having a seizure • Hear from people who have observed a seizure • Discuss effects of treatments • Assistive Technology • Questions and Answers

4. Getting Started • “Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention and/or behavior. They are caused by abnormal electrical excitation in the brain” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000694.htm).

5. What is Epilepsy? • Epilepsy is a disorder in which a person experience seizures or episodes of abnormal brain function that occur on a regular basis. • There are five types of seizures: • Tonic-Clonic Seizures • Tonic Seizures • Absence Seizures • Complex Seizures • Simple Partial Seizures

6. Experiencing Two Types • Tonic Clonic: also known as grand mal seizures these seizures often are characterized by loss of consciousness, bladder control, twitching of muscles and brief periods of confusion. • Absence Seizures: also known as petit mal seizures these seizures are characterized by loss of consciousness, apparent day dreaming, and flushness in complexion.

7. Case Study • Paul D. Acquaro • 32 years old, married for seven years • Father of a 3 week old baby • Retired Naval Officer • Cause of seizure disorder is believed to be from Brain Tumors and subsequent surgeries in February 2001 and May 2003.

8. Interviews with Case Study and Wife • A brief interview from me explaining • The types of seizures • How seizures have effected my life • What to do if you witness seizure • Video Clip 7

9. Interviews with Wife • My loving, supportive and understanding wife: • Stacey Munsky Acquaro • Video clips 3 and 4

10. Interviews at Work • Dean of Students • Jane Owen • Video Clip 1 part 1 • Director of Student Life • Rachael Lerner • Video Clip 1 part 2

11. How can you help? • Be mindful of the student’s warning signs and auras. • Support the student’s use of a proper identification regarding their disorder (id bracelets). • Encourage the student or the student parents to visit the class and talk about the disorder.

12. How can you help? • On the onset make the student comfortable such as a pillow under the head, loosening tight clothing or removing sharp objects from area around the student. • Do not place anything in or near the students mouth. • During the seizure keep other students calm. • During the seizure make room for the student.

13. How can you help? • Send a student to get the school nurse. • Pay attention and note any attributes of the seizure so that the student may provide documentation to their doctor.

14. Interviews with Witnesses • Associate Director of Student Life • David Owyero • Video Clip 4, 5 and 8 • Student Assistant and Friend • Robert Greco • Video Clip 9

15. What a person with seizures can do as a precaution. • There are countless numbers of medications for epilepsy. The student’s doctor will work with the student to come up with the best medication. • Some medications are: Nueronton, trileptal, depakote, pamalor, topamax, elival, etc. • It is important to understand however a side effect of all seizure disorder medication is lethargy.

16. Assistive Technology • One relatively new option is the implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator which is used to assist in the stimulation of the brain in cases where medication has not provided satisfactory control of the seizures.

17. Assistive Technology • The VNS Therapy System delivers VNS Therapy in two ways. • First, a doctor programs a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week "dose" of periodic stimulation. • “The second way VNS Therapy is delivered is when a patient, a family member or a caregiver senses a seizure coming on and passes the magnet over the area in the chest where the generator is implanted to activate an extra, on-demand stimulation” (VNS Therapy, 2005).

18. Conclusion • Some friends and family have at times used my disorder as the brunt of jokes and cause for hostility, but I have come to deal with it. • At times my situation is frustrating not only because of I sometimes feel weakened in my abilities but also because I feel as though I am a burden on others. This is because of my not being able to drive, hold the baby at times and in situations when I wake up to find I might have embarrassed myself. • I have learned that the smile on my child’s face is all I need to have to feel better.

19. Helpful Links • www.epilepsyfoundation.org/longisland/ • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000694.htm • http://www.tiresias.org/guidelines/seizure_disorders.htm • http://www.vnstherapy.com

20. Resources • Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2006 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000694.htm. • VNS Therapy Patient Essentials. (2005). Cyberonics, INC. Houston, Texas.

21. Questions & Comments