Highlights from an Epilepsy Foundation publication for women, sponsored through a grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
Updated: August 7, 2006
In Her Own Words
Women with epilepsy share their stories.
Lindsay Woucyna recounts how entering her junior high school years dramatically changed her life.
Marylou Olin talks first hand about her time with the machine: 'The electrodes dig cruelly into my skull.'
Angela Hall, now a successful entrepreneur, had finally had enough self-pity and self-sorrow. She was done letting seizures stand in her way.
Living life with epilepsy can be a colossal struggle. But, if you are Stacey Chillemi, it is a challenge and an opportunity to help others. Stacey Chillemi is 32 years old, a mother of three, a wife and writer. Stacey also has epilepsy.
Posted: August 7, 2006
Nothing upsets parents more than learning that one of their children has a health-related problem. This is even more likely if the problem is due to something that they don’t really understand, such as epilepsy.
Posted: August 7, 2006
The levels of seizure frequency in women with epilepsy might be influenced by their menstrual cycles, according to a recent study presented at the American Academy of Neurology meeting in San Diego. Women with epilepsy having a shorter or longer than normal menstrual cycle reduces ovulation. In turn, evidence has been found that lack of ovulation boosts the frequency of seizures.
Posted: April 12, 2006
Most women with epilepsy maintain normal reproductive cycles and sexual lives, but some degree of sexual dysfunction exists in 20 to 30 percent of women with the condition. Besides the possible effects of seizure medication on sexual dysfunction, the seizure activity itself in the brain may have an affect on sexual dysfunction.
Posted: April 12, 2006
'This was my chance to be seizure-free and have a normal life again'
Most people would agree that a new health insurance plan and finding new doctors can present some hassles. But for Frederick, Md., native Michelle (Greene) Brazelton, what could have been a hassle actually brought new hope to her life. Brazelton has epilepsy.
Posted: April 12, 2006
Millions of American women use anticonvulsant drugs to treat a variety of chronic health problems, including epilepsy, migraine, nerve pain, and mood disorders. Recent research on the long term effects of some anticonvulsants on women's health and during pregnancy has sparked a national educational campaign to alert healthcare providers to the new information and encourage women to be more involved in decisions about their health care.
Posted: October 24, 2005
The Epilepsy Foundation held its first Women's Health Forum June 21, 2005. The forum addressed lack of knowledge regarding the use of anticonvulsants by women during child-bearing years.
Posted: August 17, 2005
The Epilepsy Foundation and its most dedicated advocates try to increase epilepsy awareness in many ways, such as congressional visits, cross-country bike rides and news articles. Erin Conway took a different route and spent her summer fighting against epilepsy unawareness by doing something not only unique, but extraordinarily artistic.
Posted: July 18, 2005
For four days hundreds of doctors and health care professionals attended dozens of seminars at the American Epilepsy Society conference in New Orleans . During that time various topics, ranging from recent developments in computational modeling to the latest in pediatric treatment of epilepsy, were discussed. But no topic was touched upon nearly as much as pregnancy and epilepsy.
Posted: April 20, 2005
Representatives of four world-wide pregnancy and antiepileptic drug registries recently spoke at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. Each individual's overriding message was that more reported pregnancies are needed to continue studies if they are to continue to serve as important sources of information as to how antiepileptic drugs affect pregnancy.
Posted: April 13, 2005
A study published in the March 22 issue of the medical journal Neurology reported that there are minimal risks of a birth defect when pregnant women with epilepsy take Lamotrigine (Lamictal).
Posted: March 23, 2005
Ordinarily, when someone gets a driver's license, it doesn't make the newspaper. But Becky Willis' story is anything but ordinary. Until she passed her driving test in October, Willis, 45, had never been licensed to drive. That's because since age 5, she's had epilepsy.
Posted: December 16, 2004
Blanca R. Vazquez, M.D. answers questions about several issues related to living with epilepsy including employement, sports, sleep, and birth control.
Posted: October 13, 2004
In this report Dr. Jacqueline French provides answers to questions concerning epilepsy and mood swings, menopause, and bone disease.
Posted: July 29, 2004
Epilepsy and its effects on pregnancy is a common concern among women living with this neurological condition. Dr. Mark Yerby addresses this concern by answering questions that pertain to a safe pregnancy and a heatlhy baby.
Posted: July 16, 2004
More than one million women and girls in the United States are living with seizure disorders. A number of individuals joined us online Thursday, May 20, 2004, for the chance to ask a top expert about issues facing women with epilepsy. A transcript is now available.
Update Posted: June 2, 2004
Thousands of pregnant women with epilepsy are signing up with pregnancy registries in an effort to determine which antiepileptic drugs are safest during pregnancy, and which carry the greatest risk to the developing child.
Posted: April 14, 2004
A new Foundation survey reveals that, following the Women & Epilepsy Initiative's Campaign for Women's Health, health care providers are more aware of unique issues facing women with epilepsy than they were in 1998. The survey results were presented at the American Epilepsy Society's annual meeting in Boston.
Posted: April 14, 2004
Osteoporosis, thinning of the bones, is a concern for many women as they age. For women with epilepsy, concern about bone health may be more pressing.
Posted: April 14, 2004
Joanne Gonzales and Nancy Black met at a horse stable when they were teenagers. After losing touch for more than 20 years, the friends were reunited through another common bond.
Posted: April 14, 2004
All available birth control methods can be used by women with epilepsy, however there are unique issues that should be considered for each option.
Posted: March 11, 2004
When Anna Crowel of Concord, Calif., witnessed a person with complex partial seizures (aimless wandering and loss of awareness) get arrested by police who assumed the person was on drugs, she decided to take a stand on behalf of people with epilepsy.
Updated: March 10, 2004
At fifteen, Julia Thomas thought life was a trial. Juggling a social life, high school classes, cross-country and other sports was tough, and she never thought she could squeeze anything more into her tightly woven life. Little did she know, whether she was prepared for it or not, something big was about to interrupt her life permanently.
Posted: September 30, 2003
As a middle school adolescent, Lindsay Woucyna was not yet aware of the many obstacles in life or the true meaning of pain. As she entered eighth grade, her life started to change dramatically.
Posted: September 30, 2003
When 31-year-old Darcy Johnson of Montrose, Colo., thinks of her 27-year-old younger brother Dirk, she thinks of bravery, courage and success. After all, Dirk Johnson was signed as a player by the Philadelphia Eagles football team just this year. Darcy is proud Dirk has realized his dream. Beyond that, she said Dirk was her inspiration to take on the biggest challenge of her life — having brain surgery to stop her seizures.
Posted: August 19, 2003
Two large clinical trials on the use of hormone therapy (estrogen plus a progestogen) by postmenopausal women have provided new knowledge that experts say has altered its benefit-risk ratio for postmenopausal use.
Related Story: Questions and Answers about Hormone Therapy
Posted: March 21, 2003
"The electrodes dig cruelly into my skull," says Marylou Olin in this first person story. "The bandage strangles my head. The IV lock's razor-sharp needle bites into my vein. The humidity is melting my energy quicker than the polar ice caps."
Posted: March 21, 2003
A report from a research team headed by the director of the Harvard-based Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Pregnancy Registry details for the first time the risk of birth defects in women taking a widely used anticonvulsant drug.
Related Story: Pregnancy Registry Still Seeks Enrollees
Posted: February 28, 2003
Although a pregnant woman may be excited about welcoming her new arrival, a certain amount of worry comes with every pregnancy. But since pregnant women with epilepsy often continue to take medicines for their seizures, they may be prone to increased levels of anxiety about the effect of their medicine on their babies.
Posted: December 27, 2002
Thanks to Diana Hollander, listeners to classical music radio in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area have been hearing a message of hope lately.
Posted: October 1, 2002
"One day around eight years ago, I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and do something with my life, even though I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do," says Angela Hall, who runs a wedding planning business with her husband. "I have accomplished what I set out to do, even with seizures, and I know that whatever my dreams may be, I can realize them with or without seizures."
Posted: July 1, 2002
When Lee Brown found herself wrongfully committed to a mental hospital because of her epilepsy, facing a divorce and loss of custody of her only son, little did she imagine that one day, out of her own personal battle, an oasis for other people with epilepsy would be born.
Posted: September 23, 2002
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