Product Description
Treatment options, lifestyle strategies,and emotional support for two million Americans. Epilepsy, once mistakenly associated with demonic possession, has for centuries been a poorly understood illness. Today, though it affects nearly one out of every one hundred Americans, little comprehensive information can be found on bookshelves regarding this common and complex neurological disease. Until now! Using his expertise in pharmacology and neuroscience, Dr. Carl Bazil demystifies epilepsy and other seizure disorders and offers medical, practical, and emotional support to patients and their families. He explains how and why seizures occur, and thoroughly discusses treatment options, the pros and cons of surgery, experimental and alternative treatments, strategies for daily living, and much more. Substantiated with case examples, this useful book provides a much-needed window into epilepsy so that patients can achieve the full life they deserve.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 3 reviews)

Informative, general information by C. Wagner (On the banks of the Wabash far away)

4 Stars
March 07, 2009
Albeit a few years old, Bazil presents an informative overview of the various conditions (which I do not personally consider a "disease"), although I wish he had discussed memory loss in greater detail. The text stresses working with the diagnosing specialist and gives a general overview of the drug treatments generally prescribed in 2004, including the still prescribed and apparently effective Keppra. As with any medication, a close read of the pharmacy paperwork, a serious discussion with the physicians concerning side effects and drug interactions is certainly in order. Good management of the condition is obviously imperative to the patient's physical and mental health. Readers may also find the general, albeit also dated, publication "Partial Seizure Disorder" by Waltz to be of interest. In addition to web information, periodic subject searches on Amazon for more current information is also in order.

Ready for an Apology... by Jimmy Stevenson

5 Stars
August 13, 2007
This is an excellent book and helps you deal with the brain disease of a loved one. I read this book because my wife of 21 years suffers from epilepsy. She was first diagnosed with it about 20 years ago, while I was an Army officer assigned to Germany. She only had one seizure then and the doctors said it was probably stress-induced, so she reduced her stress levels. She did not go on any medication then. The book talks about this type of seizure and how many people in this scenario will only experience one seizure in their lifetime. She remained seizure free until about two years later when we moved back to the states. The stress of the move, coupled with two new babies (they are 14 months apart) triggered her to have another one. And then another one 3 days after that. She started having seizures every few days. One seizure even occurred while she was driving down the interstate with our two kids in the backseat in their car seats. She luckily could feel it coming on, pulled the car over, put the car in "Park", then had the seizure. The book discusses this phenomenon and I understand it better now. The book also talks a lot about medications available. In my wife's case, the doctors were able to successfully stop the seizures by putting her on the anti-seizure drug called Tegretol. She still takes it religiously 3 times a day. The book also talks about the history of epilepsy. How the churches have been telling everyone for 2000 years that it is caused by "demon possession". And about how in many parts of the world the churches are still doing this practice. I can understand this mistake. I mean, if you can't explain a phenomenon truthfully, why not just make something up, like "demon possession"? And then tell all your constituents that you better get in here so you don't get it, too! After all, it just makes good business sense. And their offerings went way up, after this little fib. And it's really no big deal except that the "aura" of it still lives on today here in the US. That's why we haven't been able to tell our 18 year old daughter's boyfriend that her mommy suffers from epilepsy. My wife has been seizure free for the last 4 years. But over this past weekend she was staying in a rental house with the family to celebrate her brother's wedding. With the stress from our daughter going off to college in a few weeks, along with my wife being in that wedding, she had another stress-induced seizure Saturday night. She woke up in the middle of the night in that rental house, and ran to what she thought was the bathroom. But she was confused and mistakenly ran into the room where our daughter's boyfriend was sleeping alone. She proceeded to have a seizure attack and fell and broke her ankle. This one was a little different from the other seizures she has had. With this one, she not only urinated herself like all the others, but she also defecated herself this time. All in front of our daughters' just awoken, startled and freaked-out boyfriend. Needless to say, she missed the wedding. To some, this all might seem funny. But it's not all that funny if you are actually living it. And to the churches, I want to especially thank you all for the added "stigma stress" that she must also endure. Caused by your naked lies. And don't get me wrong, for I am a Christian, and a member of the Methodist church for which I have great respect. But you all have a reckless disregard for all of us who suffer from brain diseases, and you increase our suffering. This book discusses this stigma. Caused by our churches. I just discussed it a little bit, too. I believe a unified public apology from all our churches is needed. I hope and pray for this everyday.

Very informative by S. Williams (SW FL)

5 Stars
April 15, 2007
Out of the blue my completely healthy 12 year old son went unconscious, fell to the floor and started having what I now know is called a tonic-clonic (or grand mal) seizure. After a week of extensive testing and several doctor visits he was diagnosed with Primary Generalized Epilepsy. Like most parents I HAD to know more---how does this happen, what exactly goes on in the brain leading up to a seizure, what do the antiepileptic drugs do to his body, etc. This was the first book I found on the disease and it has really helped me gain a better understanding of what's happening with my son. It does get a little technical, which I liked & with my modest "medical" type background I had no problem following it. (I took several anatomy & physiology classes which probably helped me with that!) I'm now in search of a book that will explain it in terms my SON will understand...

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

	Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide by M.D. Orrin Devinsky (Author) Taking the lead from real patients' questions and insights, this new edition of a best-selling guide gives must-have information to those diagnosed with epilepsy — the most common neurological disorder in children, adults, and the elderly. Written by a leading expert, this guide answers common questions, assuages patient's fears, and encourages epileptics to take an active role in their medical care.
	Treating Epilepsy Naturally : A Guide to Alternative and Adjunct Therapies by Patricia Murphy (Author) Hard-to-find information on epilepsy, presented by an author living successfully with the condition Drugs commonly used to treat epilepsy have some extremely harmful side effects. Treating Epilepsy Naturally is an empathetic, practical, empowering look at treatment options, lifestyle choices, and ways of living well. Written by an author who has been successfully living with it herself for most of her adult life, this comprehensive guide offers alternative treatments to replace and to...
	Epilepsy: A New Approach by Adrienne Richard (Author), Joel Reiter (Author) This book is a unique collaboration between a gifted writer with epilepsy and a skilled physician who has brought new insight into the treatment of this condition. At the age of twenty-six, when Adrienne Richard was seven months pregnant, she was diagnosed with epilepsy. For years she took anticonvulsant drugs to control her seizures, but she wanted to wean herself from the powerful drugs if she could. During the first ten years without medication she had only one seizure. Her goal was to live...
	Epilepsy Explained: A Book for People Who Want to Know More by Markus Reuber MD PHD MRCP (Author), Christian E Elger MD PHD MRCP (Author), Steven C Schachter MD (Author) In the last five years, approximately 2.7 million people have been treated for epilepsy and it is estimated that as much as one in one-hundred of the world's population will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. It is further estimated that 60 million people worldwide have epilepsy and in the United States alone, between seventy to eighty thousand people are newly diagnosed each year. Despite being such a common problem, most people know little about the disorder and people with epilepsy...
	Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life (American Academy of Neurology) by M.D. Ilo E. Leppik (Author) People diagnosed with epilepsy face many difficulties and lifestyle changes, but a proper understanding of the disease is a vital first step toward maintaining a normal life. Written in simple terms, this invaluable resource answers commonly asked questions about epilepsy and explains how it is diagnosed and treated, both with medications and other treatment options. Filled with helpful tables and illustrations, the guide offers current, reliable information on diet, surgical treatments,...