Job number: 08VPE0414 Date of preparation: January 2009

Living with epilepsy

Patient counselling tools

Leaflet5

P A T I E N T C O U N S E L L I N G T O O L S • L E A F L E T 5

2 Job number: 08VPE0414 Date of preparation: January 2009

Living with epilepsy need not be a ‘life sentence’, but some adjustments to your lifestyle may be necessary. In order to minimize the risk of accidents and injuries during a seizure, you may need to consider some or allof the following, according to the type of seizures you have and how often they occur:1-2

• Stop driving and contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for further advice

• Taking showers instead of having baths

• Cooking with a microwave oven instead of an electric or gas cooker

• Using kitchen safety aids when cooking and using boiling water

• Keeping stairs clear of any obstructions

• Using non-slip and soft floorings in your home

• Lowering your bed

Leaflet 5

Living with epilepsy

You may also want to ask your doctor about the risks associated with any activities or sports that you regularlyundertake or play. Talking to your doctor about any travel plans you may have can also be helpful.3

There are also things that you can do to reduce your risk of seizures.

Certain environmental or lifestyle triggers can increase the likelihood of having a seizure. These include:3,4,5

• Excess physical or emotional stress

• Sleep deprivation

• Excessive alcohol consumption (more than 1–2 units per day)

• Missing doses of anticonvulsant medication

• Flashing or flickering lights, e.g. computer games, watching TV

Getting plenty of sleep, exercise and relaxation and taking your anticonvulsant medication as prescribed, can therefore reduce the risk of seizures. When using a computer or watching TV, you should take regularbreaks and use them in a well-lit room.3

Recording seizures in a diary can be a simple way of providing useful information to your doctor about yourepilepsy. They can see how many seizures you are having and whether your medication is working.

P A T I E N T C O U N S E L L I N G T O O L S • L E A F L E T 5

3 Job number: 08VPE0414 Date of preparation: January 2009

Talking to your partner, family members, friends and colleagues can help to share your feelings about yourseizures and help them be prepared if one happens when you are with them. In such cases, they can:4

• Stop you from falling/hitting your head

• Loosen the clothing around your neck

• Put you on your side if you lose consciousness

• Stay with you until you feel completely awake, not confused and can move normally

P A T I E N T C O U N S E L L I N G T O O L S • L E A F L E T 5

4 Job number: 08VPE0414 Date of preparation: January 2009

References

1. Epilepsy Action. Safety. Available at: www.epilepsy.org.uk/print/895. Accessed on November 28, 2008.

2. National Society for Epilepsy. Epilepsy and safety. Available at: www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/safelft.cfm.

Accessed on November 28, 2008.

3. The National Society for Epilepsy. Epilepsy: living a full and active life. Leisure. Available at:

http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/leisure.cfm. Accessed on November 28, 2008.

4. Merck Manual Home Edition. Seizure disorders. Available at: www.merck.com/mmhe/print/sec06/ch085/ch085a.html.

Accessed on November 28, 2008.

5. Epilepsy Action. Alcohol, recreational drugs and epilepsy. Available at: www.epilepsy.org.uk/print/841.

Accessed on November 28, 2008.

P A T I E N T C O U N S E L L I N G T O O L S • L E A F L E T 5

5 Job number: 08VPE0414 Date of preparation: January 2009