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  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Women with Epilepsy
  • Cited by 10
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
November 2009
Print publication year:
2003
Online ISBN:
9780511545030
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030
Subjects:
Medicine: General Interest, Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medicine
Information

Book description

In this handbook for sufferers, their clinicians, families and friends, Martha Morrell assembles a team of experts to review the special problems faced by women with epilepsy. In many ways epilepsy is a different disease in women than in men, given the biological and gender differences between the two. Epilepsy treatments affect fertility, and can cause pregnancy complications and birth defects, but most of the available drugs have been tested on men. Moreover, hormone effects on seizures are of particular concern to women at puberty, at menopause, and over the menstrual cycle. Many health-care providers are not informed about the unique issues facing women with epilepsy. This book, published in association with the Epilepsy Foundation of America, fills that gap and provides women with epilepsy with the information they need to be effective self-advocates.

Reviews

‘The book is beautifully designed, printed, and produced … Women with Epilepsy deserves the attention of the wide audience for whom it is written. Men with epilepsy need not feel neglected because there is much content that is applicable to their seizure-related problems.’

Source: The Lancet

'The fantasy of conjuring up experts to answer vexing conundrums in medicine is made real in this tidy little paperback. This could well have been titled Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Epilepsy … But Were Afraid to Ask.'

Source: Psychiatry

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Contents

Page 2 of 2

Contents
  • 23 - The impact of epilepsy on relationships
    pp 237-248
    • By Patricia A. Gibson, Department of Neurology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter examines how epilepsy may impact the important relationships in a woman's life: parents, partners, children, and friends. If the parents have a healthy attitude toward epilepsy and encourage normal functioning, the child can grow up with epilepsy in its proper place, just one part of what makes up that person. People who run from relationships on the basis of learning about the epilepsy are not really ready for a mature relationship. The parental relationship with children can also be affected by epilepsy. Some parents, not wanting to burden their children, may try to keep the epilepsy secret. Without healthy discussion of the facts, the child has to depend upon other sources for information, such as friends, which may or may not be accurate. For each person, the experience with epilepsy is a little different. The chapter also presents some suggestions of coping strategies.
  • 24 - Parenting the daughter with epilepsy
    pp 249-262
    • By Joan Kessner Austin, Indiana University School of Nursing, 1111 Middle Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA, Janet Austin Tooze, Biometry Research Group, 6130 Executive Boulevard, Suite 3131, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Parents want their children to grow up to be independent, kind, loving, well educated, and competent. When a child develops epilepsy however, it adds a whole new layer of difficulty to parenting. This chapter focuses on three parenting tasks: learning about epilepsy, helping your daughter, and coming to terms with having a daughter with epilepsy. The first one involves trying to learn as much as a parent needs to know about epilepsy and handling future seizures so as to take good care of the daughter. Secondly, the parent can try to help the daughter to deal with having seizures and the side effects of the medication. Lastly, the parent has to come to terms with what epilepsy was doing to him/her. The parent has to handle his/her own emotions so as to be able to be effective in helping the daughter.
  • 25 - Safety issues for women with epilepsy
    pp 263-268
    • By Patricia Dean, Maimi Children's Hospital, Department of Neuroscience, 3100 SW 62nd Avenue, Miami FL, USA
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter discusses reasonable safety measures for people with epilepsy to consider. Until recently, women with epilepsy have received little or no education on safely caring for a child. Many seizure-related injuries are preventable. It is important that women are aware of the steps they can take to reduce the risk of injury and how they can live safely with seizures. There are many different types of epilepsy. Some people need to make minor adjustments to their lives because of epilepsy, whereas others must make significant life changes. Maintaining personal safety is crucial for all women with epilepsy. For many, parenting and maintaining a household raise additional safety concerns. By working together with health-care professionals, women with epilepsy and their families can better understand their seizures, assess work and home situations, and make the adjustments necessary to manage epilepsy and lead an interesting and productive life.
  • 26 - Legal issues facing women with epilepsy
    pp 269-280
    • By Jeanne Carpenter, McDermott, Will & Emery, 600 13th Street, NW, Washington DC 20005, USA
  • View abstract

    Summary

    This chapter addresses the legal issues of importance to women with epilepsy. These include employment, motor vehicle licensing, family law, and insurance. The employment provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) provide that 'no covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability because of the disability in regard to discharge of employees and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment'. For women with epilepsy in particular, the issue of whether they will be able to keep a child in a custody battle, or even adopt a child, is the legal issue that may cause greatest concern. The area that has probably been least affected by the disability rights movement is the underwriting of health and life insurance. Many health insurance policies have requirements with respect to the nature or the length of exclusion for preexisting conditions that adversely affect the insurability of individuals with epilepsy.
  • 27 - Work issues and epilepsy
    pp 281-286
    • By Jim Troxell, Epilepsy Foundation, 4351 Garden City Drive, Landover, MD 20785, USA
  • View abstract

    Summary

    Unique issues for women in the workforce include the need for more high-quality day care, more flexibility with leave time policies from employers, and more job training for women entering employment. Women with epilepsy who are working must confront the realities and dynamics of this contemporary environment while also living with the realities and dynamics of their condition. Before exploring specific facets of employment, this chapter examines factors common to the experience of epilepsy that make the disorder uniquely challenging. Many women with seizure disorders are successfully employed. Having epilepsy does not prevent women from having successful jobs and careers. It is important, however, that careful decisions are made, that support is sought when it would be beneficial, and that qualifications and experience are promoted as the most important factors in a successful job search.

Page 2 of 2

References

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