Hi!!
So, I'm taking part in a Epilepsy blog relay that's running for an entire month with input from many amazing people who's lives have been touched by Epilepsy in many ways, how exciting! I have to admit I'm very snowed under with college assignments at the minute and trying my best to sleep every second I can get free plus I've got a heavy case of Carbamazepine brain fog going on. So I may have cheated a little bit and used a previous post of mine that just so happened to be on my chosen topic of Tech and Innovation in Epilepsy. I also have to admit that ironically I'm not very good with technology myself and I'm seriously hoping that this post will go live at the correct time... I just spent a good while trying to figure out the time difference between Eastern Time in America and Greenwich Mean Time in the UK (we're 5 hours ahead incase you're wondering..). Anyway there's me babbling on usual here's my blog on my wonderful piece of Epilepsy technology that is literally a life changer!
This is the Epi-Care Free sensor and I can safely say it has truly been a lifesaver! I'm head over heels in love with it simply because it's given me some of my independence back. It means I can live alone again with my mind slightly more at ease knowing that when I experience a seizure someone will be contacted to come and help me.
Right, let me explain how it works... (with pictures whoopee!)
This is the sensor itself. It comes in a handy wrist watch design that is very lightweight and fully adjustable to for even tiny adult sized wrists (yay). When I have a tonic-clonic seizure the sensor picks up the odd and repetitive movements and sends a distress signal over to the sensor box...
The sensor box which you can see in the picture is about the size of a little house phone and sits in the corner of my living room plugged into the mains. Upon receiving the distress signal from the sensor watch, the box sends out an alarm call. This is a very loud beeping sound that alerts anyone that might be in the house at the time. On top of that the box also sends a signal over to the Telecare system...
The Telecare box is linked up to a dedicated call centre via a landline in my bedroom. It is essentially a hands free telephone, you can see there's a speaker on the box and various buttons. When the Epi-care box starts alarming the Telecare box automatically dials the call centre for assistance. Once connected, which only takes a matter of seconds, a member of staff then talks through the speaker to see if they can get a response from me. Obviously if I'm still having a seizure I will not respond. In this case the call centre then tries to ring my mobile phone to see if I answer (incase its a false alarm). Again I'm not going to be able to answer if I'm seizing. They then start calling people I have chosen to be my responders. Failing anyone answering their phone and being able to come and help me, the emergency services will be called to my address. I can also simply press the big red button if I feel an aura or otherwise unwell and the call centre will arrange for someone on my list to come over and see me so I don't have to figure out my phone etc if I become confused.
It's all very clever and I can report that the system does indeed work! The sensor also picks up "wandering off" so if the sensor goes out of range of signal the alarm will be triggered. I'm lucky that it has this feature as my complex focals are on the rise at the moment and tending to cluster.. apparently I like to wander off. It does mean however that I absolutely have to remember to take the watch off before leaving the house!
It's great as I can wear it almost all of the time so whether I'm awake or asleep a seizure will be picked up. The one thing I can't do is wear it in the shower. So instead I have a little pendant which has a button on it to press that I keep in the bathroom. If I wake up after a seizure in the shower I can press it and the alarm will be triggered. Sometimes though I simply don't wake up after seizures so to make myself extra safe I always call either my landlady who lives down stairs or my friend to tell them that I am about to have a shower and call them again when I'm out of the bathroom and have the watch back on again.
It's great as I can wear it almost all of the time so whether I'm awake or asleep a seizure will be picked up. The one thing I can't do is wear it in the shower. So instead I have a little pendant which has a button on it to press that I keep in the bathroom. If I wake up after a seizure in the shower I can press it and the alarm will be triggered. Sometimes though I simply don't wake up after seizures so to make myself extra safe I always call either my landlady who lives down stairs or my friend to tell them that I am about to have a shower and call them again when I'm out of the bathroom and have the watch back on again.
I hope that makes sense! I'm very lucky to be able to have this system in place and I am incredibly thankful for it.
NEXT UP: Be sure to check out http://livingwellwithepilepsy.com/category/emilys-perspective for more on Epilepsy Awareness!
