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The Names Were Changed

Sat, 11/26/2011 - 15:41

Due to the lack of communication, I am aware of people not knowing that the names of seizures were changed, and expanded, way back in the year 1981. Just as the names of epilepsies were changed and expanded back in the year 1989. Why? Because medical research discovered that there were more than just 2 different types of seizures. As for the number of epilepsies known of before 1989, I don't really know yet. But would like to find out. What I'm ticked off about is that even some doctors refuse to use the correct names of seizures, and probably even epilepsies.

Grand Mal Seizures and Petit Mal Seizures are both generalized types of seizures. The abnormal neuronal activity is taking place on both sides of the brain. I'm not talking about the activity taking place at the same time, inside the left-hemisphere and the right-hemisphere. Let me try to give an example about activity taking place in various areas of a human brain. If you were to see a snow globe sitting on a table or shelf, which has not been moved, where are all of those little glitter particles located? Yeah, inside and on the bottom. Pick up the snow globe, shake it a few times, and all of the particles will be moving around inside that glass ball. After a certain amount of time, those tiny little particles will be settled down back on the bottom. Those tiny little particles could be about the size of abnormal activity taking place inside the human brain. The point I'm trying to make is that the abnormal activity is taking place only in various locations in the brain, just not inside the entire brain.

In and before 1981, medical research results showed that seizure activity was not only taking place in both hemispheres, the activity was sometimes taking place in either the right hemispheres by itself, or the left hemisphere by itself. So with grand mal seizures and petit mal seizures both being generalized types of seizures, then what should this seizures be called if the abnormal neuronal activity is taking place in only part of the brain, i.e., one hemisphere? How about 'Partial Seizures'?

There are many kinds of generalized seizures. And the names for each of the generalized seizures depends on what's taking place during the seizure. These seizures may cause a loss of consciousness, falls, or massive muscle spasms. There are also several different kinds of partial seizures. And again, the different kinds of partial seizures depend upon what is taking place during the seizure. The person may remain conscious but experience unusual feelings or sensations during a partial seizure, or the person may have a change in or loss of consciousness, or the partial seizure may advance into a generalized type of seizure. The ONLY time a partial seizure is an "aura", is when the partial seizure ADVANCES into a generalized type of seizure. Partial Seizure + Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizure = Partial Seizure Secondarily Generalized.

I do not know what the results have turned out to be, but did become aware of the proposals for changing some of the classifications of the seizures and epilepsies within the past few years (2008-2011). Here is a link to what appears to be the most recent proposal for the revised terminology for organization of seizures and epilepsies.

http://www.ilae.org/Visitors/Centre/ctf/documents/ILAEHandoutV10_000.pdf

Again, I'm sure that there are millions of people not knowing about the names of seizures being changed back in 1981, and the names of epilepsies being changed back in 1989, but here's my question. For the individuals who are aware about the names of seizures and epilepsies being changed back in the 80s, and yes, the individuals do include doctors, is there something wrong or is there some kind of medical rule that is keeping people from using or saying the correct names of seizures and epilepsies? Because if there is, I'm not aware of it.

For those who are reading my posting, and I thank you for doing it, the next time you see a physician and/or neurologist, or take a family member or friend to see a physician and/or neurologist, maybe you can ask them if they are aware of the names of seizures and epilepsies being changed back in the 80s. If they are aware about this, then ask them why doctors are still using the old names of 'grand mal' and 'petit mal' when they're talking to their patients?

Bruce (I'm not a doctor, but instead, an epilepsy support group leader, epilepsy advocate, who has epilepsy.)

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