They experience panic attacks, frequent seizures and sudden loss of consciousness. Even quotidian activities like reading a book, calculating bills, going out on that monthly shopping visit or place of worship are a bother. Can epileptic patients overcome the trauma of their condition and lead a normal life?
Having been one himself, P. Haridas believes they can. They 45-year-old, who underwent neurosurgery for epilepsy, believes that patients can be fully cured of all symptoms if they have adequate support from family and society. All his life, Mr. Haridas struggled with the debilitating effects of epilepsy and the inability to do the simple things.
His tale of struggle and eventual freedom from the disease after surgery could strike a chord with scores of epileptics and their families. To inspire others like him, Haridas chronicled his experiences of fighting epilepsy in his self-published book My Experience with Epilepsy .
“People should realise that it all depends on how they choose to lead their lives, despite having to deal with life-threatening symptoms. Proper management through drugs, family support and a sense of self-preservation are mandatory for such persons,” he says.
Close to 20 per cent of the epileptic eventually develop refractory epilepsy, a condition wherein drugs work no more. Such patients have the option of neurosurgery.
“Most epilepsy patients can be medically managed through drugs. In a third of the patients, these do not work and we usually advice them to undergo neurosurgery. Usually, there is 60 to 70 per cent chances of remission of seizures after the surgery,” says senior neurologist at NIMS, Dr. A.K. Meena.
Haridas underwent neurosurgery in Chennai in 2010.
“Before the surgery, I used to suffer anywhere between 40-42 seizures on an average every month. After two years of surgery, I have become 100 per cent free from seizures, and that has changed my life. Adjustment of medicines brought a lot of positive results. Patients and their families should never give up hope,” he points out.
Haridas can be reached on hariwelcome@yahoo.com
