Memory Frustration and a Healthy Body

I have to vent and educate in this article/blog.  I get EXTREMLY FRUSTRATED BY, and made fun of, for my poor memory both of which are getting worse.  It’s been said that people who have suffered head injuries, have seizures, take anticonvulsants, or suffer any kind of chronic pain tend to be more forgetful.  The article by Daniel Pendick refers to epilepsy as a storm in the brain and that memory loss is one of the most common and disabling effects of epilepsy.  I want to add that it’s even more damaging in a person with active epilepsy, i.e. still having seizures not in the ones they had in a distance past.   

Also, chronic pain and anti-convulsants can lead to brain shrinkage and degradation of neurons. People with emotional distress and chronic pain are more susceptible to brain atrophy. Varying pains have varying effects on brain and affects different regions in our brain. Such conditions can be improved and memory can be improvised by realistic psychotherapy and medication.  If you’re already taking pain medicine or AEDs then the taking meds option is not something you or I want to do. 

It is often observed that we remember traumatic events better than happier moments.  Of course, I forget both happy and not so happy event’s that have occurred in my life and at times that may be a good thing.  It’s the things I did yesterday or last week that frustrates me beyond no end.  A study is being used now to improve memory conditions by treating our brains with a kind of protein to make our memory everlasting. Another study goes on to prove that zinc helps to improve memory especially in children. This study has been used at the grass root level by more health drink and medical supplement manufacturers who target their zinc fortified drinks, cereal, and nutritional supplements to adolescents.

There are ayurvedic, alternative medicine, cures in the market that claim to guarantee similar results like "Memocare", http://www.ayurvediccure.com/memocarecapsules.htm, This product is a mix of herbs that promises to reduce stress and anxiety. It also promises to accelerate brain function and improve memory. There are hosts of other companies too offering similar promises like Brain quicken that claims to be effective in one hour but it mainly targets to improve short-term memory. Its constituents are a complex mix of nutrients and other propriety constituents.

The reliability of memory is still a question as in most cases it is distorted by suggestions. The certainty of memory depends on the encryption it had on the minds of individuals and the duration too. Diminishing memory is a result of neurons malfunction, there are three ways that can help us identify factors that can stimulate are memory. We should figure out ways to stop neurons from dying and stimulate growth of new neurons and by getting to have the existing neurons function efficiently. Memory i.e., is a chemical compound known as Ampakines that enhances neurons functioning. Other generic ways to improve memory is to start taking memory training and practicing games such as cross words, brainteasers and other memory exercises. Apart from them consuming healthy diet rich in Omega 3 fats and antioxidants also helps. Five small meal patterns should be followed as it prevents blood sugar from lowering i.e the primary source of energy to the brain. Jogging and brisk walks helps in blood circulation and have been proved to reduce the risk of Alzheimer disease. Getting proper sleep and stress reduction helps curtailing the production of cortisol in our body that harms memory and is known to shrink memory center in brain.

Regular practice helps us give a jog to our memory that is as fruitful as the physical jogging. We should let our brain run thru as many facts as it can to retain and associate each memory with some picture, color or number to make it easier for recall. But accuracy of recall depends on proper functioning of three aspects of the brain that form, stores, and receives memory.  

So next time, for me it’s all the time, your memory fails you just know there is help. 

Adaptogen for Seizure Control

I forgot tell you where you can get Adaptogen.  www.nopalfitness.com.   When you arrive click on the Products for Welness tab.  You'll see a selection for Adaptogen 10.   If you afford it, add HCY Gaurd to your order and take with the Adaptogen.  It may be too expensive for some of you but if it works to reduce your seizures than price may not be a factor.  

Lack of Sleep and Stress Equals Seizures

With me, stress and lack of sleep combined always leads to seizures.  Always has and, unless the miracle happens, always will.  Getting enough sleep is almost impossible for me and I’m sure it is with other people with epilepsy.  I can fall asleep very quickly but I rarely stay asleep through the night and almost never sleep long enough.   The reasons I wake up during the night are beyond the scope of this article    I don’t like to take prescribed sleeping pills or anything addictive so lately I’ve been taking ibuprofen P.M. at night to help me sleep.  I’ve tried different herbs over the years some of which worked and some didn’t.   If you’re having trouble falling to sleep you may want to try a few of the things I tried and see if they help. 
I’ve listed here some of the things I’ve used in the past to help me relax and get better sleep.
Valerian root: It stinks, but it's the most effective sleep-inducer of all herbal cures. You can find it in capsule, tea, tablet or liquid extract forms. Valerian root can also ease anxiety and muscle stiffness.
Chamomile Tea: Drink a cup before hitting the sheets. Learn how chamomile tea can also help out with digestive problems, menstrual cramps and more.
Celery: Munch on some; it's loaded with sedatives.
Lemon balm: It can be soothing and emit a pleasant scent.
Lavender: Take a whiff of lavender while taking a warm evening bath. It relaxes the nervous system, reducing stress hormones that often keep you awake. Lavender's scent also ups the production of relaxing alpha waves in the brain for deeper sleep. If you get migraines, lavender can help with that too.
Adaptogens can help alleviate the stress.  It may not take whatever it is that’s stressing you out away but it will lower the effects of stress.  You can find these herbs at the store but you can’t get in the store is called Adaptogen 10 – a signature TriVita product that will help alleviate stress. You will find nearly 1 million catalogued plants, herbs and botanicals within the globe, of those only 30 have been recognized as adaptogens.  Adaptogen 10 is nontoxic and natural and has the ability to help the body handle stress and help a person return to a sense of well-being.
There are other benefits as well but the one I appreciate the most is that it releases stress and helps me sleep. I'm writing this not as a doctor or person with a theory but as a person with epilepsy that can testify to the benefits of adaptogens.

As I said, the combination of stress and lack of sleep has been the number one catalyst to my seizures all of my life. And what are the two things we all experience - stress and lack of sleep. I would venture to say that most of the people that have epilepsy deal with stress and lack of sleep.
I have kept a seizure diary for the last 10 years of the 22 years I’ve been having seizures so I know for a fact that the many benefits of adaptogens relieve your stress and its negative health effects.

Rebalance your body’s system for greater wellness.  Overall good health in all areas of life will relieve the stress you have and that is a key step to better sleep.

Good Health equals Better Seizure Control

To someone with epilepsy the best health is seizure free health.  It doesn’t really matter what your dress size is or how big your muscles are.   The most important point is how to stop that next seizure from happening!
After a week stay in Parkland Hospital my neurologist had some good information and a lot of pictures from my MRI’s.   Good info yes, good news no.  I’ll always remember the follow up meeting when my neurologist said,  “Mark you have a good life, you can be a productive member of society, blah, blah, blah…”  The year was 1993.

I didn’t agree with the doctor so hoping I could find a way to stop, or better control, my seizures I began to monitor and record everything from food intake, med type and frequency, emotional states, and at one point I even recorded the stages of the moon.  This last one was something I started after reading an article on the possible correlation between moon stage and seizure activity.  I guess now a new type of seizure will have to be named the Wolfileptic seizure.  I was determined to improve my health so I could take bad health out of the “why I was having seizures” equation.

The first step to better health is to take a good, HONEST look at your present physical self.  After making this observation, then decide how you want to feel and function in the future.  Finally, get a plan of action to take you there.

So, what is good health?  The triad of health consists of psychological/spiritual, chemical, and biomechanical.   We are holistic beings composed of a mind, body and a soul.  True health is balance and harmony in each of these areas of your being.  When in poor health, you must utilize treatments in each of these three areas.

First, BE A QUITTER!

That’s right.  Be a quitter.  Quit smoking, drinking, eating junk food, and anything else that is diminishing your ability to be at your peak performance every day.  If you can, and you can, quit now!  Right now!

A disciplined approach needs to be taken in order to eliminate all causes of seizures but what you will find even more difficult than following a regimen is not imposing it on others! My family and friends grew tired of my constant nagging about cigarette smoke, my maniacal adherence to eating and going to bed at a specific time.  I alienated a lot of people through the years but with the help of God I now have my life back.   Many of them loved me from a distance. And I them.  You may have to do that to some of your friends and family that can’t accept what you need to do to get your health back.

Now, get a notebook, it can be a pocket sized one if you want, and write down everything you eat and ingest for the week.  Don’t try and do it by memory alone.

If you have active epilepsy, look at your surroundings at work and at home.  Do you take sinus medication or any over the counter medicines?  Do you have seizures at any certain areas in your home?  If you work in an office do you have fluorescent lighting or work around a lot of computers?  If you had an argument with or made love to your spouse write it down. If you had an argument with your parents. How are you doing in school?  Did your favorite sports team win or lose. If you are constipated make it a point to write it down and then make it a point to get un-constipated and do you what you need to do to stay regular.  Write down EVERYTHING.

Next, buy a calendar or make one large enough to record what you eat, the meds you take, the vitamins you take, when you go to the bathroom…  I’m not kidding about going to the bathroom.

As of this writing you can find a calendar specifically for people with epilepsy at:

http://www.childrensmemorial.org/documents/seizurecalendar_2011_final.pdf

I made my own because I wanted it big enough to record everything I ate, did, and experienced.

I kept the calendar on my refrigerator and would keep all that information and more and kept a red pen handy to record when I had my seizures.   By doing this I could see what may be causing my seizures.  If you have inactive epilepsy or are just wanting to get in better shape this will work for you too.

Now that you know what you’ve been eating and putting into your body you now have a place to record what you need to start eating and putting into your body.

Overcoming Epilepsy: ACTIVE EPILEPSY AND FINDING A JOB

Overcoming Epilepsy: ACTIVE EPILEPSY AND FINDING A JOB

ACTIVE EPILEPSY AND FINDING A JOB

ACTIVE EPILEPSY AND FINDING A JOB


I could write a book on this subject and still not be able to address the many variables behind a person with epilepsy getting and keeping a job.  There is the question of how active is the persons epilepsy.  By that I mean is the person still having seizures. Are the seizures controllable when they are on the job, how much do they affect that person’s coordination and cognitive abilities?  What is the person’s recovery time after having a seizure that they are able to perform their job?  What type of seizures are they having?  What does the job require them do and can they do it? Some of the most common concerns a potential employer has during the interview process are:

• Does the person have the training, skills, or on-the-job experience needed
• Does the person have adequate transportation
• What is the attitude of other employees towards epilepsy
• Concerns about the liability or missed work.
• A customer seeing someone having a seizure.
• Extra costs of accomadating a person with epilepsy

In a perfect world the only time a potential employee's epilepsy should be relevant to the hiring decision is in a case where seizures on the job would endanger the person’s or the public's well‐being.  However most employers are ignorant about the myths and facts of epilepsy so everything becomes a reason to not to hire the person with epilepsy. Even though many employers know it’s illegal to discriminate against people with epilepsy they still do it.

Some things that may help getting a job are having a friend who owns a business or a business owner that knows you or a family member that will vouch for you.  If possible, network in person, on Facebook, in your local epilepsy group, or at church.  If you live in the country your chances of getting a job is a question that is easily answered unless you can do the job remotely.  Something possible for some people is to build business on the internet, find a good company that has an affiliate program and grow it to a point of it generating an income large enough to support them and their family.  These options will take several months or years to accomplish.   

It’s a terrible feeling to have active epilepsy but when you need to earn a living it can be a horrific and terrifying feeling.  I know that most adults with active epilepsy want to work.  Given the chance they can be productive at full and part-time jobs.   Surveys show that unemployment rates among people with epilepsy are higher than for the general population.  I feel the current number is higher and will continue to grow. President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA of 1990, which listed epilepsy as a protected disability. The ADA applies to government employers or contractors, educational institutions and private businesses with over 15 employees but the fact is that more jobs are available with companies that have 15 or less employees.  Knowing this, should you disclose your epilepsy on a job application? Generally, the answer is still no. In my experience and that of others it’s at that at point the interview is probably over or the decision to not hire the person is made.  It is not legal for an employer to ask about disabilities, medical conditions or what medications you are taking however, they are allowed to ask whether you have any conditions that would prevent you from fulfilling the duties of the job, and if you do, you should answer honestly.  If you do get the job you’ll need to decide whether or not to let your coworkers, supervisor or human resources department know about your seizures.  If you decide to be open and tell them you need to also educate them on what epilepsy is and isn’t and what to do if you should ever have a seizure on the job.   Your attitude will go a long way in putting them at ease.
The ADA says that the company must attempt to make reasonable accommodations for you however that won’t apply to companies that don’t qualify as one that needs to do so.  Some of the accomadiotns that can be made are placing the person in another position in the company that would be less problematic for that person, or that they might be excused from overtime if missing sleep provokes seizures. 

If you have been unfairly treated on the job because of epilepsy, you have at least three levels

of recourse.  The first and best option is to attempt to work the problem out within the company. Second, you can contact your regional Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which you can find by visiting their website at www.eeoc.gov. The EEOC will hear your story and decide whether to pursue it on your behalf at no charge. If they take your case, they may communicate with your employer or pursue legal action. The third option is to hire an employment discrimination attorney. While options 2 and 3 may be successful, it also can be expensive and get you black-balled from the job market.   No employer will admit that their decision to not hire you was based on the fact you took legal action against your last employer for job discrimination.  No matter the job, people with epilepsy must want to work and be able to perform their job. 

Most people with epilepsy are capable of having fulfilling jobs. If you have epilepsy, you may have to make an extra effort to get and keep a good job in spite of some difficulties. However, the chances are good that you can succeed.   

If you’re actively  pursuing employment you need to do a few things to help you accomplish your goal.   First,    honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses. What jobs or careers are you qualified for and able to get to? You might benefit from seeing a vocational counselor who has experience working with people who have epilepsy.  Your city or local public service groups may offer transportation for people who can't drive. Social workers or job counselors may be able to tell you what is available in your area.

If moving is a possibility, you can look for a place to live that's convenient to public transportation—and give priority to jobs that are also close to public transport. Or look for housing and jobs within an easy walk of each other! You may even be able to find a good job you can do at home.

 If you’re out of options go to http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/326/~/apply-for-social-security-disability-benefits   Remember, be honest with yourself on what you can and can’t do.

Are you having an aura? Get in touch with yourself!

So what's an aura? An aura is a distinct perception –- either visual, motor, sensory, or psychological –- felt around the time a seizure occurs. Although an aura may signal a seizure because it usually happens a few seconds before a seizure occurs, an aura and a seizure may be separated by as much as an hour. Auras are not experienced with all types of seizures. They are mostly seen in individuals who suffer from complex or generalized seizures. Additionally, auras vary from person to person, and can manifest in a number of ways:

• Vision – includes distortion of images, seeing bring flashes of light or dark spots, or tunnel vision.
• Smell – certain smells may be experienced during an aura.
• Hearing – certain sounds or voices, or a distortion of sounds that are already present, may occur during an aura.
• Feeling an impending sense of doom, anxiety, or fear.
• Nausea
• Weakness, numbness, or tingling of a limb or limbs.

An aura is usually consistent in the person experiencing it. For instance, if a person is seeing flashes of light before he has a seizure, this aura will be somewhat similar each time before that person has a seizure.

While auras can be helpful in signaling to the individual that he is about to have a seizure and needs to be in a safe place, they can also help healthcare providers pinpoint the area of the brain where the seizure is originating.

_Source:

Beers MH, Porter RS, Jones TV. Merck Manual, 18 ed. 2006

That being said, do you know if you have one?  How in touch are you with what your body is telling you?  I used to own a very handsome Golden Retriever that could tell if I was about to have a seizure.  That was so cool. I didn't know he had that gift of knowing when I was going to have one until the day I had a grand mal seizure while mowing my back yard.  He was walking beside me as I was pushing the mower and he started pulling on my pants with his teeth.  I didn't catch on to what he was doing until I went into a full blown generalized tonic-clonic seizure.   What I remember next was him lying next to me licking my face very lightly.   He became my constant companion after that.  It may be not possible for most people but having a dog like that for the person with epilepsy, or the caretaker of that person so if not get in touch with your body and start to to recognize the subtle changes that may be the precursor, or aura,  you need to tell you a seizure is coming.   I started to keep a detailed diary of foods I ate, liquids I drank, and on it went so I could develop a list of what may, or would, cause a seizure. What's happening now is I start sniffing like my nose is running or I'm trying to catch the sent of good smelling cake cooking.   You may have an aura right before a seizure or several minutes before having one.  Whatever it is get to know where you recognize it. 

  If you don't already, a good place to get one is:  http://seizurediary.org/ .  

Start today keeping a diary!