Epilepsy

There are many different types of seizures, and not all are due to epilepsy. Infections, brain tumours, strokes and even some genetic conditions can cause epileptic seizures. That’s why it’s important to see your provider to determine the cause of your seizures, especially if they’re frequent. If you’ve already been diagnosed with epilepsy, we can evaluate your condition and guide you to appropriate treatment as quickly as possible.

At your first appointment, your consultant will go over your medical history and ask you to describe your seizures. Bringing a friend or relative with you who has witnessed a seizure can really help with this step. If you have a video of one of your seizures, that is often very helpful.

Next, we’ll do a physical exam and a neurological exam. These tests help us understand what might be triggering your seizures. Your consultant may also order a few more tests, including:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• MRI scan

Often, the history with description of your seizures, a neurological exam and these other tests are enough to confirm if you have epilepsy. For some people, your consultant may also ask for additional tests or review with a cardiologist. If these initial tests are not enough to make the diagnosis, you may also be referred for more tests, including:

• Ambulatory EEG
• Home-Video Telemetry

When the results of your tests come back, your care team will meet with each other and with you to discuss the findings. If we determine you have epilepsy, we’ll go over your treatment plan and answer any questions you may have. Your personalised care plan may include:

• Medications: We usually start anti-seizure medications to stop your seizures. The type of medication you have will depend on the type of seizures you’re having, your age, if you are or can become pregnant, and any other conditions you might have — like depression, anxiety or headaches.
• Lifestyle changes: There are certain things you can do to help manage your seizures, like getting enough sleep, reducing stress, being active and avoiding excessive alcohol use.

Follow-Up Epilepsy Care

Our goal is to help you manage your condition so you can go about your days with as little disruption as possible. We’ll meet with you regularly to ensure your plan is effectively managing your condition. How often you’ll need to follow up depends on your specific condition. The frequency of these visits may also change if you develop any new symptoms. If this happens, your consultant may want to order more blood tests or EEGs to guide treatment.

If you have epilepsy and are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you may need closer monitoring. Some anti-seizure medications can affect your birth control, hormone levels and reproductive cycle, and some medications increase risks to the fetus if taken during pregnancy. We also offer pre-pregnancy counseling and will work with your Ob/Gyn to ensure you receive the right prenatal care.

Paying for Private Epilepsy Care at Cleveland Clinic London

We offer two convenient ways to pay for epilepsy treatment at Cleveland Clinic London. If you want to cover the cost yourself, you may choose our self-pay services, including the optional instalment plans with our partner Chrysalis Finance. Or, if you prefer, you may also use private medical insurance.

What’s Next?

Living with epilepsy can be challenging. Not knowing when you might have a seizure and how severe it will be can affect many aspects of your life. At Cleveland Clinic London, our dedicated epilepsy specialists understand these challenges and want to help. We provide comprehensive, personalised and compassionate care for both the physical and emotional challenges you face every day.