What is the average life expectancy of an Epileptic?!
Question: Specifically Generalized (grand mal seizures) on seizure meds for 14 years...have had it for 14 years and have had 15 grand mals...
i know its morbid but just would like to know the honest truth.
Answers: Specifically Generalized (grand mal seizures) on seizure meds for 14 years...have had it for 14 years and have had 15 grand mals...
i know its morbid but just would like to know the honest truth.
In my experience, providing you are properly controlled on medication, there is no reason why you shouldn't live a perfectly normal life. 15 fits in 14 years is not too bad and you sound well controlled.
Try not to worry and grab life while you can, any of us could die tomorrow and it would be a waste of life to spend the whole time worrying about it.
Many live a full life span, as long as they find a way to be protected during seizures, etc.
Id say no different to anyone else, so in the uk about 78 if youre male
(unless you fall over and smash your head while fitting)
I believe it's a 'normal' life expectancy.
Two people in my family had/have epilepsy. One died, but it was completely unrelated to epilepsy. The other is still alive.
If you are taking your medication, and your medication is able to control it, then you can expect a normal life expectancy. Otherwise, you would need to speak to a doctor to find out because the severity and frequency will effect it.
I truly think it's different for everyone who has it, but I guess it probably depends on how bad your seizures are when you have them (mild to severe) and how often you have them. My brother-in-law died at 47. He had a seizure that caused a brain aneurysm (sp?). I think it's really different for everyone and when it's your time, it's your time.
Many can live a very productive life as long as they take good care of themselves and take their meds and see there doctor regularly,and have a EEG test once a year for a check up on the brain wave and see how things are doing there.My prayers will be with you,and I hope you the best of health.
Epilepsy is usually treated with medication prescribed by a physician; primary caregivers, neurologists, and neurosurgeons all frequently care for people with epilepsy. In some cases the implantation of a stimulator of the vagus nerve, or a special diet can be helpful. Neurosurgical operations for epilepsy can be palliative, reducing the frequency or severity of seizures; or, in some patients, an operation can be curative.
Many people with epilepsy lead productive and outwardly normal lives. Many medical and research advances in the past two decades have led to a better understanding of epilepsy and seizures than ever before. Advanced brain scans and other techniques allow greater accuracy in diagnosing epilepsy and determining when a patient may be helped by surgery. More than 20 different medications and a variety of surgical techniques are now available and provide good control of seizures for most people with epilepsy. Other treatment options include the ketogenic diet and the first implantable device, the vagus nerve stimulator. Research on the underlying causes of epilepsy, including identification of genes for some forms of epilepsy and febrile seizures, has led to a greatly improved understanding of epilepsy that may lead to more effective treatments or even new ways of preventing epilepsy in the future.
I have this, as well. I am 63, and have had seizures since I was born. Take your meds, and do it faithfully. Don't allow yourself to be in areas that would hurt you if you fall down. It isn't fun. It's stinks. But, life goes on, as long as you take care of yourself. I expect you to live a long and full life, as I am still expecting to live a long time. You can do that, as well. We are stronger than most people.......because we have to be. So, don't wimp out, just go with what life gave is. and Life will be a wonderful place. Be sure those who are around you the most know exactly what to do, in case of a seizure. Educate everyone you know. Be a teacher for this cause. I am. Not long ago, I was in a big grocery store, when I saw people quickly getting themselves OUT of a particular aisle. As a social worker, I realized that someone must need help in that aisle, because people were getting out of that area as fast as they could. I went to that aisle, and found a man lying on the floor in the midst of multiple seizures. I was so upset that people were just fleeing the area, leaving him to hurt himself. I sat down and put his head to the side, and, yes, he threw up all over me, and continued to have seizures. I thought it was forever, before a store employee came to the aisle, and I told him to call 911, to tell them a man was having multiple grand mal seizures. It took the ambulance 20 minutes to arrive, and the man was still having seizures. I timed what I could to tell the ambulance drivers and the man turned out just fine. Educating the public is a great thing. The idea that so many people had simply run from the man who was having the seizures just upset me so much. Still, I was very glad that I was in the store at the time the man needed help. Before I got to him, he was banging his head so hard on the concrete floor. It felt good to help him. Someday, he may need to help someone else. Stay strong, live long. I do!