March 2019 Epilepsy Blog Relay Post Uploaded

Hi Readers!

I want to let you know that my post for the Epilepsy Blog Relay is uploaded on the Living Well with Epilepsy website now. The topic is "A System of Support." I hope you enjoy reading it.Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com/2019/epilepsy-blog-relay/mar-19-ebr-posts/system-of-support.html

Epilepsy Blog Relay--March 2019

The Living Well with Epilepsy Blog Relay has begun for March 2019. Enjoy reading all the different perspectives about this disease and learn how people cope with it.

I have a byline on the Living Well With Epilepsy website, and will post my story there instead of here as I have in years past.

Thanks for reading!

https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com/blog
https://livingwellwithepilepsy.com

International Epilepsy Day Celebration in Turkey

International Epilepsy Day falls on the second Monday of February. This year, it was on February 11, 2019. I happened to come across an article just now about a bridge in Istanbul, Turkey that was lit in purple to raise awareness about epilepsy. This kind of symbolic action is meaningful and is a first step in removing the stigma of epilepsy, especially in those countries with less access to healthcare and education.

https://www.dailysabah.com/istanbul/2019/02/12/istanbuls-bridges-light-up-in-purple-to-mark-international-epilepsy-day

Living with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator—Going on 5 Years

It’s been almost five years since I’ve lived with the Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS). I had it implanted in late November 2014 and activated at the beginning of December 2014. See my posts:

https://soosepilepsycorner.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-truth-about-vagus-nerve-stimulator.html

https://soosepilepsycorner.blogspot.com/2014/12/vagus-nerve-stimulator-vns-update.html.

Announcement--Facebook Live: “A Mind Unraveled” with Kurt Eichenwald

On January 16, 2019, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, a Facebook Live event for people with epilepsy will take place. It is a talk with award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Kurt Eichenwald, about his book A Mind Unraveled, about his life with epilepsy.

They will be offering free copies of his book. However, it is first-come, first-serve and there are a limited number available.

The event is supported by Neuropace, Inc.

https://www.epilepsy.com/event/facebook-live-mind-unraveled-kurt-eichenwald

https://www.epilepsy.com/article/2019/1/facebook-live-mind-unraveled-kurt-eichenwald

Epilepsy Doctor and Hospital Recommendations

I hope you all had a very happy holiday season! May we all strive toward a healthy and seizure-free 2019.

One way to get there is to find the right doctor and hospital. Phylis Feiner Johnson posted two useful links on her blog Epilepsy Talk. One is a patient-recommended list of neurologists, epileptologists, neurosurgeons, and pediatric doctors. The other is a list put out by U.S. News and World Report of the best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery. I hope they are useful to you!

Resources

https://epilepsytalk.com/

https://epilepsytalk.com/2019/01/03/2019-patient-recommendations-for-top-neurologistsepileptologistsneurosurgeonsand-pediatric-doctors/

https://epilepsytalk.com/2019/01/05/2019-top-rated-hospitals-for-neurology-neurosurgery/

https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/neurology-and-neurosurgery

Happy New Year!

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!

I hope 2019 brings more advances in epilepsy treatments and seizure freedom (or at least reduced seizures) to those who suffer from the effects of epilepsy.

With our advocacy, I am optimistic that the outlook will improve.