Enjoying life, finally free of seizures

Kristen Grip stood in the middle of the basketball court, motionless. Around her, the action continued as usual — the smack of the ball on the polished wood floor, the rush of her teammates as they darted back and forth, the satisfying swish and shout of victory as someone made a basket. Yet the high school freshman stared vacantly into space, her only movement a small tap of her fingers together. Later, after the coach had blown a whistle and halted the game, Kristen learned that it had happened again: she’d had another seizure. Embarrassed and frustrated, she bid her friends farewell and headed to the school nurse’s office, where she would sleep off the exhaustion until her parents arrived to bring her home. “Like a zombie” A year earlier, Kristen had been diagnosed with complex partial seizures (now called focal dyscognitive seizures). This type of seizure, which can last between 30 seconds and 3 minutes, can cause people to abruptly stop what they are doing, stare blankly, and lose awareness of their surroundings. They may also perform involuntary actions, such as moving their mouths, rubbing their hands or blinking their eyes, and may be tired and unable to remember the seizure afterward. Although Kristen had been prescribed medication, it made her feel both cranky and “like a zombie,” she remembers. Worse, she was still experiencing between eight and 12 seizures a month, often during school or basketball practice. “I just wasn’t able to live life like...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Dr. Annapurna Poduri epilepsy epilepsy center seizures Source Type: news