Seizure & Epilepsy Blog – Seize Lifes Moments

Sharon’s Ride.Run.Walk

August 6, 2018

I’ve been volunteering with the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego for 4 years since I was diagnosed. They have an amazing staff and an awesome support group. Every year, they host an event called Sharon’s Ride. It is a 15 mile bike ride (promoting helmet safety) and a 5k walk/run. I enjoy attending this event because it builds a strong epilepsy community and promotes epilepsy awareness. It also unites people living with epilepsy so they can share their stories.

About Sharon’s Ride

Epilepsy Advocates, Ketogenic Diet

Ketogenic Diet for Seizures

July 26, 2018

My favorite health quote:

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Thomas Edison in 1903

Has anyone heard about the “Ketogenic diet”, “Keto” or being in “Ketosis”? I’m sure many of you have, if not, I guarantee you will hear about it soon. I started researching the Keto diet or MAD (Modified Atkins diet) when I was diagnosed with seizures. I heard about the Keto diet when it was used in the 1920s to help reduce or stop seizures for children. Especially for children who were drug resistant with anticonvulsant drugs. That is how I first learned about the Keto.

Now, the interest in the Keto diet is at an all time high! I’ve learned that there are other significant healthy aspects about going Keto. Including weight loss, anti-aging, improving brain function, ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s and so much more. I like how some low carb, high fat supporters call it “The Big Fat Surprise”.

The media is blowing up about the Keto lifestyle. I’ve been hearing a lot about Keto benefits on podcasts, books and social media. So, what is Keto? It is a low carb diet, where the body produces ketones in the liver to be used as energy. It’s referred to as many different names – Ketogenic diet, low carb diet, low carb and high fat (LCHF), etc. Going on the Keto diet adapts your body to produce ketones in the liver to be used as energy. Eating high carbs, your body will produce glucose and insulin. Apparently, your body doesn’t give you good energy on glucose. Eat fat and burn fat! I understand that when I read the information about Keto, it is very overwhelming.

Seizures & Epilepsy

Who Loves Health Insurance?

July 23, 2018

Is it me or does the Health Care System just suck? I think we could all agree that it is very complicated. I mean, I don’t get it. My life right now is waiting on prior authorizations, managing claims and expenses. Basically, I have to deal with all the annoying tasks. My risk of having a seizure increases because my medications is dependent on approval of Health Insurance. If I miss my medications, a seizure can happen. Why is it so hard to get these damn medications? It’s not like they are Oxycodone.

Stress is one of my triggers, I am stressed because of health insurance because I’m anxious on waiting for them to approve the medications! So I have the stress of stressing and that can provoke a seizure! Nah, I can’t blame all my seizures on my insurance, but it is literally a pain. I mean I am having LIFE threatening seizures and I’m waiting on them to give me my medications. It really feels like I am bugging CVS all the time and I’m the inconvenience. It feels like I am screaming to myself, “Please, Please, I don’t want to have a seizure, I need my meds!” I seriously do that? CVS hates me.

Seizures & Epilepsy

Mel’s New Diet Lifestyle

April 4, 2018

I’ve always been self conscious about my weight. Especially the numbers on the scale! When I was in high school, I always wanted my body to be thin. I was about 125 pounds. Now being in my twenties, I wish I was my weight in high school. Lame. When I put on the “Freshmen 15” in college, I started signing up for these “fad diets”. I still do it now. I admit it. I’ve tried a lot of these diets that definitely did not work because of me (it might have worked if I finished them!). In the last 5 years, I’ve spent at least $2,000 on personal trainers, nutritionists, and those popular shakes. What is my problem? My problem is…

I have no self control and discipline. I need these to help me get to my goal of not only losing weight but feeling good. I have to WANT IT so bad that I don’t give up or cheat.

Seizures & Epilepsy

Doctor Interviews

February 16, 2018

When I was first diagnosed with epilepsy, it was so hard for me to find a good doctor, especially when you don’t know anyone with seizures who can give you recommendations. I was interviewing a bunch of neurologists from San Diego and all the way up to Orange County. My mom gets a recommendation from my Grandpa’s doctor. My Grandpa had lung cancer that spread to his brain. So that doctor recommended this new epilepsy doctor at the Hoag hospital. His name. Dr. David Millett. Apparently, he was was like an “epilepsy doctor celebrity”. That’s the best I can describe it. When we met him on our first appointment he says “You don’t need to get another opinion”. Why does he need to convince us that we should trust him ? But whatever, I needed someone ASAP.

First we begin testing to see if we could find something that is causing my seizures. The MRIS, EEGS, PT/CAT Scan, etc. There was nothing we can find. No groundbreaking results. So, the trial and error of medications began.