Friday, February 22, 2013

Communication With Children on Health Issues.

     So my previous post on communication with children was setting the stage for talking to children about their health conditions. Most of the time we do a good job of communicating with our children. Sometimes we could do better. When it comes to health issues it is crucial that we get it right.

     My story is this.   It happened a long time ago...in the late forties. The world was a different place. When I was seven or eight years old I began having "spells" as my mother called them. I was taken in to the old country doctor and he diagnosed my condition as epilepsy. I'm not sure if he explained to my mother what the condition was . I'm not sure if my mother understood what was going on. I certainly didn't understand and had many misconceptions that frightened me. I thought I had something that I would die from! My mother was warned to watch that I didn't swallow my tongue. I thought the condition I had related to my heart and even little kids knew that heart attacks kill people. I also sensed that there was a great stigma related to this condition. People had strange ideas about it and thought those who had epilepsy were somewhat deranged. This adds to a kid's anxiety.

    I was given medication. I was given responsibility for taking the medication. Often I didn't take the medication so had more seizures. 

    So my example illustrates what I have to say. It is extremely important that we explain to children what medical condition they have. Children understand much more than we give them credit for. Sometimes the child's anxiety and loneliness is worse than the condition itself. Yet, people still do not take the time to fully explain conditions to children.

    Fortunately I had what is known as juvenile epilepsy and when I hit puberty the epilepsy stopped. 

   Now three years ago I was diagnosed with seizures again! Of course, I thought the diagnosis was wrong because after all I had experience with seizures and these seizures were not remotely the same as what I had as a child. So I came home and immediately went on the Internet and found that my specialist was right. 

    It's now known that in many situations a seniors forgetfulness and confusion is caused by senior epilepsy.

   So maybe communication has to be carefully done with older people too or at least with this elderly person.

   I am doing well. I do not have any seizures. I take my medication but the medication has side effects. It bothers my balance.

40 comments:

  1. When I was in grade school (late 60's) a girl in my grade had epilepsy and not well controlled. She had seizures every now and then. To a ten year that's scary to watch. At the time I didn't know that's what it was. It would have been so much better if someone had just explained rather than just saying she would be ok.
    Good communication is essential at any age.
    Glad you're ok Red!

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    1. Over my teaching years there was usually someone who had seizures that could not be controlled. They usually had a friend who could take care of them.

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  2. Red...you are one strong guy. Seems like you've been through a lot, and more than most! Glad you are looking after yourself!

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    1. Seizures do not bring pain or great worry contrary to what it looks like.

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  3. Like Carletta said, I can also remember a girl in elementary school who had epilepsy. Her mother was a great communicator.. explaining to other kids just what her daughter's condition was about. It helped to be less fearful of the girl's seizures and more importantly to help look out for her in the event that she had one.

    I'm glad you're on top of your health, Red.

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    1. Epileptics usually had a trusted friend who looked after them. I'm thankful for good health in particular mental health.

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  4. Keep taking the tablets and keep active. Good luck.

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    1. Don't worry . I will be fine. Senior seizures that I had invloved not making new memories.

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  5. Ignorance isn't bliss when it comes to your health. I can't actually think of a situation where a person would be right to withhold crucial information about health issues from someone else - even if that person was a child. Good luck with your ongoing management of this condition.

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    1. Yes, I think it works best with information. Thanks for the good wishes.

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  6. Red, you are an inspiration and still teaching. I appreciate all the time and effort you put into each post, for we always walk away with some new information. Thank you for being just who you are.

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    1. Thanks! Really I thought I was just some wind bag!

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  7. Senior epilepsy? Maybe I should look it up, too. I've been rather accident prone lately, and I wonder if I've got some undiagnosed condition. It's rather scary to look, since I'm sure I'll find that I've got everything listed! Glad you are okay and not having any more seizures. :-)

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    1. Our lessening of peripheral vision, stiffness and slower reaction time cause us to be a bit uncoordinated. Not to worry.
      I'm OK thanks. I have a wonderful neurologist.

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  8. i'm sorry you had such a poor experience as a child - you're right, the world was different back then. people didn't understand medical conditions as we do today. i'm just sorry you didn't get better communication to soothe your fears.

    as for today's diagnosis, i'm glad you don't have the seizures and that meds are helping. but the side effects of some drugs are almost more worrisome or troublesome than what they treat.

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    1. My hope is that communication is better today. It's a situation that I gained from.

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  9. So sorry to hear about this problem you're having. I have an aunt who had epilepsy and she controlled it with medication and lived until ninety. I wish you well.

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    1. Funny but the guys who have the seizures don't see them as a problem. Others do. If I don't take the medication I lose my driver's license.

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  10. I have not been around anyone with this condition. I hop the medication works for you and that you can continue a normal healthy life. So far I've been in good health, although I soon will need to purchase some hearing aids. I think my wife (LadyCat) Lady of Wellington, is getting tired of me saying, "what?" :-)

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    1. The medication works well. Yes I also need hearing aides.

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  11. Excellent post. Accurate information is the key. My son has epilepsy.

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    1. I was fortunate that I had juvenile epilepsy. Yes , as a parent you will know all about epilepsy. I think it's very difficult for parents. As a teacher I usually had somebody with epilepsy .

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  12. Been down this road (having to explain a medical problem to a child)....not easy! Honesty is and always will be the best policy, and being open to questions is mandatory. Being able to answer those questions honestly is difficult, but it is also the best policy!
    Sincerely,
    The Voice of Experience!
    (Tracey)

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    1. Yes, as the voice of experience you would know. I think that in your situation "C" has been gradually been able to take on management of her situation and it's better for all of you. It's great to see you comment on this topic. You should do a post for me on this topic. It's easy. I just put you on my blog as a writer and away you go.

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  13. Hi, Red. I followed your tag from your comment on my garden show post. Any friend of DJan should probablty be a friend of mine!
    I certainly agree with you about being factual with children.

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    1. I was amazed at the flower show. thanks for all the pictures.

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  14. I can understand that it must have been very frightening as a child. I am glad you are able to control it now with medication. Side effects can be a problem, but sometimes the benefits outweigh the side effects.

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    1. You make a key point about benefits out weighing the side effects.

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  15. We had a Cheerleader in High School that had Epilepsy..it was scary and kids would holler don't let her swallow her tongue..I always felt so sorry for her.
    My husband takes a medication for his Trigeminal Neuralgia that many people take for seizures Tegretol and Neurontin..and yes it has many side effects too.
    Take your meds Red..:)

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    1. There are better meds these days and we rarely see seizures now.
      Funny that many of these drugs treat so many different things. They also are given for schizophrenia and bi polar disorder. I know that those people just hate their meds as it makes them feel way off. Far Guys situation isn't funny as it's so difficult to treat.

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  16. It's odd how things come in periods. When I was a child and a young man I came across epilepsy and also what was termed senile dementia quite a lot. I've had little to do with either over the last 40 years. They have been replaced by completely different ailments (possibly most notably cancer) amongst my acquaintances.

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    1. They've been replaced to some extent but they are also controlled better with medication.

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  17. I'm so thankful for medication...and I'm glad you have what you need.

    Stay well, my friend!

    Linda
    *♥´¨) ¸.-´¸.-♥´¨) ¸.-♥¨) (¸.-´ (¸.-` ♥♥´¨
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

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    1. I've been fortunate that I was diagnosed after only two seizures. the only thing that makes you feel lousy is the medication.

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  18. You illustrate how far we have come, Red. It's a good thing. I'm so sorry you have this health issue.
    Thanks for spreading the word, though. We've come a long way.
    Cheers from Cottage Country!

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    1. I'm okay with my health issue. The only problem is with the medication.

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  19. I like what you say about children understanding much more than we give them credit for. They need the explanations as well as we adults need them. I witnessed a bad epilepsy seizure once and though I was an adult, I was not informed and felt scared. If you are informed, you are able to keep calm and help efficiently, that's the point.

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    1. About the only thing we can do when we see people have seizures is see that they don't harm themselves. They are very rigid so there's not much we can do.

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  20. Red I think that there's very few doctors who take or make the time to explain anything to anybody these days. It's not entirely their fault, not with being so short of doctors here, and there's times when I thank goodness we have instant access to information so we can figure out what's behind the medical terminology. I had to quit looking up things for a while, I was scaring myself finding out the entire truth.

    I completely agree that children are smarter than given credit for in many situations and I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing seizures again. I sure hope the medication can be regulated so you're not off balance anymore.

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    1. There's some thinking that epilepsy can return when you're older as hormones decrease. This one is something else I guess. The only nuisance is the medication. It's the same stuff used for schizophrenia and bi polar disorder.

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