General Medicine

» gurdeemd - Epilepsy - Need Help Understanding

While in Best Buy today with my friend she had epileptic seizures [four, back-to-back, to be specific]. They were not tonic-clonic seizures, but her right eye kept twitching and progressively through the hour she kept experiencing twitching of her upper body, mostly her upper extremities. About an hour after the first seizure she started stuttering really badly.
Now, I've never dealt with a family member or close friend having this disease and I would just like some help from anybody that can help me understand how I can help her the next time this happens (or if there really is anything I can do).
Thank you in advance to anyone that can help.

-Amanda

-- posted by gurdeemd

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» Jennifer Gerics - Epilepsy - Need Help Understanding

In response to Epilepsy - Need Help Understanding posted by gurdeemd:

Hi Amanda---

Thank you for writing. Yes, seizures can be very frightening. Thankfully your friend did not have a grand mal seizure, but I'm sure you still felt helpless witnessing the lesser seizures.
Here are two websites that give steps to take when someone is experiencing a grand mal seizure:

http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/epileps...
http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/tc/Helping...

Even for smaller seizures, you can try to make the person as comfortable as possible, and find out if they need to sit or lie down. My friend's mother experiences mild to moderate seizures due to lupus, and she basically likes to find a spot to lie down and rest during the seizures. This is not always possible, so you can ask your friend what she would like you to do, if she is coherent. Don't feel like you are being pushy asking sales people or anyone else for aid, because we're all human and need other people's help now and then. Your friend is very lucky that you care enough to seek advice!

Hope this helps.....

Sincerely,

Jennifer Gerics

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