List Price: $19.95
Amazon Price: $291.53
Average Customer Rating: 
(6 reviews)
Editorial Review: Some 2,300,000 people in the U.S. have one of forty types of epilepsy. The most well-known of these is epilepsy with grand mal seizures. However, forms of epilepsy that involve only part of the brain and do not involve convulsions are more common. Symptoms for these partial seizure disorders can vary widely: some patients have no physical signs at all, experiencing only mental or sensory changes during a seizure, while others may experience numbing, shaking, or automatic movements of one or more body parts. Although partial seizures usually do not look dramatic to other people, they can have serious consequences for patients who have them. If left untreated, seizure activity may become more severe, occurring increasingly often and spreading to affect other brain regions. There is a possibility of permanent brain damage in some cases. The physical and emotional effects of partial seizures--dissociation, loss of coordination, memory loss, fatigue, mood swings, and physical pain...
Customer Reviews:
2 of 2 found this review helpful:
Very thorough, easy reading!, 2005-10-13
This book is informative on all aspects of partial seizure disorders, from discovery to diagnosis and treatment. I loved how easy it was to read. I read this book in less than 2 days! My only disappointment is that the book didn't touch a little more on the psychological impact of the disorders (and subsequent consequences).
2 of 2 found this review helpful:
A quick read...., 2005-02-01
.......with basic factual info. A must have if you were recently diagnosed with partial seizures.
30 of 30 found this review helpful:
Fills a needed gap in epilepsy literature, 2003-09-21
When searching through libraries for information on epilepsy, I've always been able to find a lot of information on generalized seizures and little to no information on partial seizures. There is usually only a paragraph or two on them in books that primarily address other kinds of epilepsy. After repeatedly coming across the same information -- information I already knew -- I was getting tired of looking. Then I found this book, which is the exact opposite -- it is almost entirely about partial seizures, with a few paragraphs at the beginning about generalized seizures. There need to be more books like this. It lives up to the same high standards as the computer guides by the same publisher. It presents information in a clear, easy-to-read way without dumbing it down or omitting crucial details.
The different kinds of seizures are described, and background information is provided about the functions of different parts of the brain. Causes of seizures, from seizure disorders to environmental factors, are discussed, along with speculative theories about 'kindling'. The connections with migraines are explored. There is a large section on medications, with detailed and important information about each one. I learned in that section that a newer version of a medication I currently take is under development, with fewer side-effects. While I am currently free of the more annoying side-effects, that is information I might want in the future. There is also a section on alternative treatments.
The book does not stop at this technical information, though. It also contains a lot of practical advice. There is an entire section on how to communicate with your doctor about getting a diagnosis and treatment, with a number of useful tips. There are quotes throughout the book from people with epilepsy, detailing both the experience of having seizures and the social experience of dealing with stigma and discrimination. It talks about people who go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for a long time, and several dimensions of the emotional effects of having seizures. These were some of the most valuable parts of the book for me. Besides descriptions of the social and emotional aspects of having epilepsy, strategies and solutions are provided. There are sections on both work and school, as well as alternate sources of income for people unable to work. The author makes an effort to include information relevant to as many countries as possible.
I have never seen this much information on partial seizures in one place before. I would like to see books like this for all kinds of seizures, partial and generalized, rare and common. Too often the unusual (or not-talked-about) kinds of seizures fall by the wayside in discussions of the more stereotypical tonic-clonic and absence seizures. This book not only fills a needed gap in epilepsy literature, but it does so in a readable and accessible style, so you don't need to be a neurologist to decipher it. It is definitely a useful resource for me as a person with this kind of seizures, and it looks like it would be equally useful to parents and family. This will stay on my shelf as a valuable reference.
37 of 37 found this review helpful:
For Anyone Affected By Partial Seizures, 2001-09-13
Anyone whose life is significantly impacted by partial seizures, whether directly or indirectly, should own this book. This is the only book that I have come across that specifically addresses partial seizures (simple and complex), and as such it is tremendously valuable to parents, friends, family members, and people who have Epilpesy themselves. It seems that books on Epilepsy are either very cheap (and broad and shallow in scope) or extremely expensive (and bordering on encyclopedic), but this book falls nicely in the middle. It weighs in at a reasonable price and provides a wealth of information that an interested person might otherwise only find by sifting through a large volume.
I have read this book twice and I was still learning as I read it the second time. It includes lots of personal accounts, both by people who have seizures and caregivers (mostly parents of children with seizures). I think that these varied accounts provide a great deal of insight, particularly for those who don't themselves have seizures but must face its issues. The book includes lots of resources in terms of books, addresses, websites, and organizations, and also includes a good section on insurance issues. If your life is affected by partial seizures, you should have this book.
17 of 17 found this review helpful:
Lots of helpful information, 2001-08-29
The information in this book surpassed any expectation I had. What a helpful resource this book is. It explains what seizures are, clearly, for the nonscientist, and then goes on to explain how a diagnosis is arived at. The book continues with advice on living with a partial seizure disorder, dealing with school, jobs, etc., and what kinds of treatments (medical and less traditional) there are available. There is not a wasted page in this book. All of the information is valuable and helpful. If you need a book to help you understand partial seizure disorders, this book will satisfy most every need.
