Hospitals across Lanarkshire will light up purple on 26 March, to mark the international day for epilepsy.
Epilepsy is not just one condition, but a group of many different ‘epilepsies’ with one thing in common: a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.
There are over half a million people with epilepsy in the UK, so around 1 in 100 people.
Carol McMillan, Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, said: “There are about 40 different types of epilepsies. It is a condition that is very individualised to the specific person.
“With that can come a lot of individualised problems along the way. This can be anything from the emotional and psychological impact they may experience to those struggling to gain some seizure control. People can be on a wide variety of medications dependent on their form of epilepsy.
“Since the condition is so individualised, some people can be fine and be able to go on with their lives with minimal support. Other people may face lots of challenges and that’s when they come to our team of paediatric epilepsy nurses for support and signposting to available information.
“The one thing that all people with epilepsy do have in common is that every person takes seizures. They can just take different forms such as absences, tonic clonic seizures and myoclonic jerks. Some people have epilepsy that they grow out of and others will be affected throughout their childhood and rest of their lives.
Carol added: “This awareness day gives recognition to this neurological condition. Epilepsy is a condition where someone can look absolutely fine and you don’t realise what they are going through.
“Our team wanted to raise the profile of this condition, which currently affects over 400 children in the Lanarkshire area.”
To raise awareness, Carol and the team also organised a bake sale within University Hospital Wishaw, raising £50 for Epilepsy Action, who provide support sessions and helplines to support emotional wellbeing.
Carol added: “We always say that epilepsy shouldn’t hold you back from enjoying your life. Epilepsy doesn’t define a person.
“We encourage all of our patients not to let the fear of a seizure spoil the here and now. Embrace each day as it comes.
To find out more about epilepsy, visit: https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/
