Hi, my daughter is diagnosed with absence seizures. During those seizures, she looks like she’s daydreaming. I don’t know enough about her condition, can you tell me something about it?
Hi, absence seizures affect both sides, but not the entire brain. Your daughter may look like she’s daydreaming, but she actually isn’t aware of anything that is happening in her surrounding. Don’t try to wake her up, because she will momentarily unconscious. Many children have symptoms such as chewing, smacking their lips or swallowing repeatedly. When the absence seizure is finished, don’t expect your daughter to remember what happened. She will only have a feeling that she missed something. Absence seizures last very short-usually few seconds. Sometimes they can appear several times a day. Absence seizures aren’t that harmless as they look. Children are missing information, and this can easily affect their learning.
Hello.
Absence seizures, sometimes called "petit mal" seizures, are brief episodes where a person loses awareness of their surroundings. They often last just a few seconds and the person may appear to be "spacing out."
It's important to start by saying that all treatment and management decisions should be discussed with a neurologist or an epilepsy specialist.
Regarding non-medication approaches to seizure management:
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Diet: The ketogenic diet and its variations (like the modified Atkins diet) have been used for almost a century to treat drug-resistant epilepsy, primarily in children. The diet is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, which forces the body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates for energy. This produces ketones, which can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in some people. However, the diet is strict and can be challenging to maintain. There are potential side effects and it isn't effective for everyone. Any dietary changes, especially one as significant as the ketogenic diet, should be undertaken under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
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Sleep: Sleep deprivation or irregular sleep patterns can trigger seizures in some people with epilepsy. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and ensuring adequate sleep can potentially help in reducing the frequency of seizures. Furthermore, addressing any sleep disorders like sleep apnea, which can be common in older adults, might also be beneficial.
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Stress Management: Stress is another potential trigger for seizures. Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can be helpful in managing stress.
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Other Factors: Alcohol intake, flashing lights (photosensitivity), certain medications, and even hormonal changes can act as triggers in some individuals. It's crucial to identify and manage potential triggers where possible.
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Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): While this is a medical intervention, it's worth mentioning as an alternative or supplement to medications. VNS involves implanting a device that sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve, which can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in some individuals.
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Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): These are more invasive treatments that involve implanting devices into the brain to help prevent seizures. They're typically considered for people who don't respond to medications.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.