Searching for an answer
Seizures strike thousands each year
For Judith Fields, 63, of New Albany, Ind., the search for an answer and treatment of her seizures has been a long road. Fields is one of millions of Americans whose life is significantly impacted by seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Kentucky, one in 10 Americans will experience some type of seizure in their lifetime, often with no apparent warning or cause.
“I first began having seizures in 1986,” Fields said. “In the past several years, my symptoms and seizures have changed.”
Shortly after her seizures began, Fields was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), a congenital disorder that affects the veins and arteries. A small percentage of people with AVMs experience seizures, memory loss and blackouts, especially when the AVMs are located near the brain, as in Fields’ case.
“There is so much we still don’t know about the brain,” said Rebekah Woods, D.O., epileptology. “For patients like Judy, our best hope for finding a cause and developing a treatment plan is through a series of tests and monitoring.”
Contrary to popular belief, epilepsy is not a disease, and not all seizures are epilepsy. According to Woods, a seizure is a temporary disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain, which affects the brain’s normal functions and can produce changes in a person’s movement, behavior or consciousness.
Seizures aren’t keeping Fields from doing the things she loves most, like sewing and crocheting, but finding an effective treatment is a priority. “There are limitations and struggles, but I do what I can to stay active and upbeat,” she said.
“Every person deserves a normal, balanced life free of the fear of seizures,” Dr. Woods said. “So our goal is to find the cause of seizures and treat that cause.”
–Steven Jenkins
Norton Audubon Hospital and Kosair Children’s Hospital are home to the region’s newest seizure monitoring units dedicated to helping diagnose and treat seizures and epilepsy. Both units use state-of-the-art video electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring to provide continuous readings of brain activity that aid physicians in diagnosing and effectively treating seizures.
For more information about Norton Audubon’s new adult seizure monitoring unit or Kosair Children’s pediatric neuro-monitoring unit, call (502)629-1234.
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