Place Your Advertisement Here. All ad revenues support the mission of the Epilepsy Therapy Project.
 
Thu, 2/9/2012

Welcome to the redesigned epilepsy.com

It is now easier and faster than ever to access news, articles and community content. With less clutter and an improved navigation system, your favorite content is now only a click away.

The new features include:

  • Streamlined design with less clutter to promote important content and sections
  • New slider masthead
  • New horizontal menu across the site to ease top level navigation
  • Re-designed content pages that are easier to navigate
  • Overall new, fresh look!

Place Your Advertisement Here

Take control of your epilepsy and seizures. Seizure management has never been easier.

TAKE CONTROL TODAY

Sign up for our Newsletter!



Second Opinions

When should I consider getting a second opinion?

In general, a patient with epilepsy usually is first cared for by a primary care doctor (general practitioner, internist, or pediatrician). If seizures are not controlled, the patient should be referred to a neurologist. If after further evaluation and treatment the seizures are still uncontrolled, the patient should be referred to an epileptologist.

What's the best way to obtain a second opinion?

To get a second opinion, it is probably best to ask your doctor for the name of a neurologist or epileptologist. You may also get a list of names from the local affiliate of the EF or from a friend or relative. It is important that care be coordinated. The referring, or primary, doctor and the second doctor should communicate, and the primary doctor should send copies of your records to the second doctor. You may wish to continue care with the second doctor, but usually the primary doctor remains in charge of the case.

How do I go about changing doctors?

Changing doctors may be awkward and uncomfortable. Ease this transition by doing the following: Call the doctor's office and tell the secretary, office manager, nurse, or doctor that you are changing doctors.

Write a brief note asking that your records be forwarded to the new doctor or directly to you. (Patients have a legal right to have a copy of their medical records.) The note can be very simple: "Please forward all of my medical records to Dr. — ," and give the new doctor's address. It is helpful to call the new doctor's office before the appointment to make sure that the records have arrived.

Avoid burning bridges when you change doctors. You may turn out to like the original doctor better than the second one, or your original neurologist may be on-call if you are brought in for an emergency room visit.

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
Last Reviewed:12/15/06


Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.

No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.



Place Your Advertisement Here

Title Posted
Normal vEEG-what next?  
ao_kiddo
Frustrated, Confused and Scared-Any advice is much appreciated  
ao_kiddo
View all Forums

Title Posted
Epileptic Seizure Monitor Alarm System  
onemarvy
Are these normal migraine symptoms or is there something more to it?  
xtheotherside
5 year old worsening seizures. Pls help???  
TIM_C28
Trileptal dosage  
myejk
SEN and epilepsy  
Kim Norris
possible non convulsive epilepticus?  
rayraykay
Fight with the sidewalk  
jasssmit
Focal activity followed by generalized activity but no epilepsy  
BendyPianist
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Feeling Like a Human Guinea Pig  
christopherpaul
View all Forums

Title Page Views
my.epilepsy.com Updates  
epi_help
topamax and weight loss  
alexia mom
kepra  
brian mattingly
Possible cure for absence seizures  
pdl1
How exactly do aura's feel  
WendyBendy
Sexual Side Effects  
George R
MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s  
picnupthepcs
Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised  
spiz
electrical shock in head?  
Maggie
Weight Gain and Depakote  
galinda
View all Forums

Title Posted
new neuro?  
ladybugg31186
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference  
bryan_farley
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
The Sunday Dreads  
johnverling
Giant Stuffed Animals For The Toddlers  
zacharysmith
Frederick's of Hollywood Announces the "Hollywood Love Story Contest" Valentine's Day  
cn-lightings
Seizures and medical marijuana  
seizureprone134
From muscle problems to seizures in 6 weeks or less  
ArizonaAbby
Speech at Epilepsy Pipeline Update Conference -2012  
dayna
The Doors.  
BowlofMush
marijuana  
ccraven
View all Blogs

Title Page Views
my partial complex seizures  
Zanna1211
Topomax... The Dreaded.........  
Dr Jason
Brain Zaps, tics & twitches  
JudiS
How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens?  
epl_controller
Feeling Sick  
JBJ1984
side effects of phenobarb.  
pksmom
Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds  
Butterflygrl
TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES  
cmscribbles
Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures"  
teft
newborn seizure  
Sunny_80
View all Blogs

Title Posted
Had the worse seizure of my life last night! Complex Partial  
jlamont
Self-Management of Medication  
columbia.epilepsy.study
Dravet Spectrum Disorder  
mytboy
Diving with eplilepsy  
p59
Moms of epileptic toddlers  
Xaviersmom2
Autism  
Aaron Chan
brain surgery  
jen020309
People in their 20's with epilepsy  
Mandy911
TEAM ETP  
krisj
24yr old male  
Dave24
View all Groups

Title Posted
My Story - Still Don't Know What it Means  
arobertshaw85
Help me plz. I can't go on like this  
Lindsea
For my daughter  
britni1780
Why can't I find out what is going on with me?  
dgreer27
nightime seizure  
ishaq
my grandchild with possible panayiotopolous syndrome  
krys
Please Read and Help  
WALLIGAT0R
Hello. I'm new to the forum  
Tom S.
Maxx  
MDS2006
Lyme Disease as a cause for seizures  
ssidah
View all Stories