where to get treatment for epilepsy seizure disorder orange county

Our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program is Orange County's only academic epilepsy program. This enables us to provide patients with access to the latest treatments in epilepsy, including clinical trials of new medications before they are available elsewhere. Level 4 epilepsy center

Full Answer

Where can I find an Epilepsy Center in my area?

The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) supports strong specialized epilepsy centers. NAEC’s search tool can help you find an epilepsy center in your area or state. Note: NAEC provides accreditation of centers that offer medical and surgical epilepsy care.

When should you go to an Epilepsy Center for help?

If you have trouble controlling your seizures, find an epilepsy center and get the specialized care you need. Epilepsy centers have experts in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of epilepsy. What is an Epilepsy Center?

What are the treatment options for epilepsy?

Treatments may include medications, surgery, devices, and dietary therapy . Your team will have experts from many backgrounds, which may include: epileptologists (seizure experts), neurosurgeons, social workers, nutritionists, and EEG technologists.

What to do if you have trouble controlling your seizures?

If you don’t know what type of seizures you have or you have trouble controlling your seizures, we recommend finding an epilepsy center. Epilepsy centers provide you with a team of specialists to help you diagnose your epilepsy and explore treatment options. Their goal is to get you the best seizure control possible.

Where is the best place to treat epilepsy?

Nationally recognized expertise. The National Association of Epilepsy Centers rates Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona as Level 4 epilepsy centers, providing the highest level of diagnosis and treatment options for people with epilepsy.

Which doctor is best for epilepsy?

neurologistA neurologist, a doctor who specializes in the brain and nervous system, is best able to diagnose and treat epilepsy. Some neurologists take advanced training and become epileptologists, specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

What therapy is best for epilepsy?

AEDs are the most commonly used treatment for epilepsy. They help control seizures in around 7 out of 10 of people. AEDs work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain. They do not cure epilepsy, but can stop seizures happening.

What is the current medical treatment for seizures in the hospital?

What Is the Emergnecy Treatment for Seizures? Emergency treatment usually involves IV (or oral medication in some people) medication such as lorazepam; other drugs may also be utilized with this drug type (phenytoin or fosphenytoin). Treatment is needed to begin soon as continual seizures lasting 20-30 min.

What is the best hospital for epilepsy?

The National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) rates all Mayo Clinic campuses as level 4 epilepsy centers, providing the highest level of diagnosis and treatment options for people with epilepsy.

Do all neurologists treat epilepsy?

Find A Doctor Who Specializes in Epilepsy For some people, seizures may be easy to diagnose and control. In that case, primary care doctors can help with the initial diagnosis. However, you should seek out specialized care. You'll want work with an epileptologist—a neurologist who focuses on epilepsy treatment.

What foods should epileptics avoid?

Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body's metabolism. Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. white flour) also seem to trigger seizures in their children.

What triggers epilepsy?

Missed medication, lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and menstruation are some of the most common triggers, but there are many more. Flashing lights can cause seizures in some people, but it's much less frequent than you might imagine.

Can epileptic seizures be cured?

They can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may cause confusion or loss of consciousness. Afterward, you may have no memory of a seizure happening. There's currently no cure for epilepsy, but it can be managed with medications and other strategies.

How long is a hospital stay for seizure?

In-hospital seizure was documented in 744 (4.40%) patients. Hospital LOS was 17.64 days in patients with seizure and 6.26 days in those without (P < 0.0001). Mean intensive care unit stay increased from 3.36 days without seizure to 9.36 days with seizure.

Do seizures show up on MRI?

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy uses an MRI machine to analyze the molecular components of tissue in a particular area of the brain. This helps doctors differentiate a seizure from another condition, such as a metabolic disorder, tumor, or stroke.

Should you go to a hospital after a seizure?

Most seizures last between 30 seconds and two minutes and will not require any emergency medical attention. However, if someone is experiencing a seizure that lasts longer than two minutes, or they lose consciousness and it does not come back right after the seizure, you should call 911 right away.

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What is the keto diet for epilepsy?

Ketogenic Diet Clinic. Some epilepsy patients benefit from the ketogenic diet, a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate known to minimize seizures in some children. At our inpatient Ketogenic Diet Clinic, registered dietitians will regulate a child’s diet closely and teach families how to continue the diet at home.

What is the TSC clinic?

Through a designation by the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, this specialized clinic treats children with tuberous sclerosis, a rare disorder that can cause epilepsy as well as growths inside the brain, heart, kidney and retinal area of the eye. Through the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance, we also have a TSC Clinical Ambassador, a parent volunteer who helps families and children deal with the emotional challenges of the disorder. Learn more about tuberous sclerosis.

How to schedule an appointment with CHOC?

To schedule an appointment with the CHOC Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, please call (888) 770-2462 and select “specialty care clinics.” Medical records and authorization to release information from the referring physician will be required prior to a new patient appointment.

Is epilepsy surgery a last resort?

Epilepsy Surgery. Surgery is not a last resort. We take a proactive stance and consider surgery early in treatment if a child has failed at least two medications. Surgery can result in an improvement in seizure control, quality of life and preventing permanent damage to the brain.

Level 4 epilepsy center

We are a Level 4 epilepsy center, the highest level designation given by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers. It means we able to diagnose and treat the most complicated forms of epilepsy with the highest quality care.

Seizure monitoring unit

We have one of the Southern California region's only specialized brain monitoring units, which allows our epilepsy specialists to track and pinpoint the origins of seizures in the deepest recesses of the brain for as many as six patients at a time.

Research that informs patient care

We also work in collaboration with the scientists at the UCI School of Medicine's Epilepsy Research Center (EpiCenter), one of the world's premiere epilepsy research facilities. At the research center, our physicians work with scientists on a wide range of basic, translational and clinical research that ultimately benefits our patients.

Personalized care

Our board-certified neurologists, who have additional training in epilepsy, provide each patient with a complete diagnostic work-up, after which they outline the best options for care and treatment.

Community Forums

Sharing your story and epilepsy journey helps not only you but others. We have a variety of online forums that will help you connect with others and share your journey, concerns and lessons learned.

Kids Crew

The Epilepsy Foundation believes kids can do amazing things. We created the Kids Crew with three areas in mind where we believe kids can make an impact.

Seizure Education

The Epilepsy Foundation offers a variety of educational training programs to help everyone from school nurses to child care personnel and first responders.

My Seizure Diary

My Seizure Diary is a FREE self-management tool to help you record, track, and manage your seizures and epilepsy. The Diary lets you record your medical history, seizures, medications, side effects, moods, or other personal experiences.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

SUDEP is a support, education and awareness program for people impacted by Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. The Epilepsy Foundation provides bereavement support for those that have lost a loved one to seizures.

Advocacy

The Epilepsy Foundation is committed on behalf of people with epilepsy and their family members and caregivers to an effective advocacy program.

Research

The Epilepsy Foundation Research Department’s purpose is to develop an epilepsy research ecosystem that covers the entire spectrum of discovery – from the idea to market. We foster the development of new scientists and support research that leads to better treatments and care.