Seizures... how serious are they and do i need to worry..my friend just had one?

ok so i dont know much about seizures and all my friend's sister said was that she had a seizure and another one at the hospital...i dont even know much about it but how serious are they??? shes only 14 and skinny if that helps with anything...how worried should i be??? (im really worried right now especially since i have no idea whats going on)

I know how you feel. About 2.5 years ago, my fiance has a seizure right in front of me. He had no history of seizure, and was out of it for over 1/2 hour. I took him to a doctor and they had him go to the hospital for tests. They said he had epilepsy (a neurological condition that causes misfiring in the brain and seizures result.) Epilepsy is the main cause of seizures and can be treated wtih medication. He has only had one more seizure in the mean time. What she needs is an EEG (electroencephalogram) which will monitor for seizure activity during different forms of stimulus and then if she is said to be epileptic, she will go on meds- usually dilantin. Overall, epilepsy can be ok to live wiht- she cannot drive for 6 months after a seizure- and can be controlled. Other possiblities are nutritional defecits (which may have been her case due to being "skinny
") or tumor. These are less likley and I would assume she has epilepsy.

The best and only thing you can do is what you are doing now which is getting info. I have epilepsy and it can be scary for others around. There are differenty types of Epilepsy. I don't know if she has Epilepsy or not, but epilepsy causes siezures, tumors as well. The basic diagnostic tests are MRI, EEG, and Cat Scan.Not every siezure is the same for another with the same condition. NEVER EVER EVER put anything in her mouth if she falls and has a siezure. Make sure her breathing airway is open. Roll her on her side while the siezure lasts. They usually don't last long if she loses consciousness. Some people with Epilepsy know when they will have a siezure. If your friend does, tell her to let you know. This way, you can make sure to clear her away from sharp corners and objects around her. It could give you time to get her to a comfortable place.She will feel comfortable knowing the fact that you will be there for her. At her age she might feel depressed and embarrassed about having Epilepsy. I know I was. I never told anyone. It is important to inform those around you so they know what to do when she has a siezure. Some people require someone to call 911. YOu can see to her and have someone nearby call 911. Never leave her alone. When she wakes from a siezure she will be confused and might not know where she is. It is good to have someone you know infront of you when you wake. Also, make sure she is eating plenty of food. There are things called triggers. These triggers can cause a siezure. For example: Strobe lights, lack of sleep, poor diet, certain video games, her mentrual cycle, stress, caffeine.If you have any other questions, let me know. Please visit www.epilepsy.com for further info.

My son has grand mal seizures as well as other health problems.
I have the little seizures and once in a while grand mals. Read up on them.
I feel having seizures is a very lonely thing. In my life anyways. Friends do not stick around when you are put on the drugs and act all weird (when you are not on the drugs after several seizure you start acting weird lol). Then when trying to take care of yourself you are not considered fun anymore.
Seizures, grand mal, can kill a person if not treated, medicated, or changing ones life (diet, exercise, common sense). I have seriously broken bones from "spacing out"...
I do not drink alcohol anymore, and I found out the hard way that some medications put me into one. Gave up our business and work for I have other health problems now too and can not pop just any pill.
My son has been on medication since he was 3. At times different medications to get the right one.
Any stress on the body makes some people go right into one. So exercising for some is a joke. I have MANY family members with these too. My son will wake up and half his face will drop during the night. His eyes, mouth and the use of his one side, like a stoke. He can not walk long distances or play sports. He is also has a form of autism but this is just my son not everyone with seizures has this too.
I saw a girl have a seizure while roller skating. I have seen another man have a seizure after he stopped his van he was driving, get out and down he went. I find it very embarrassing to have one. My son has had them in places such as Walmart, and the mall. We were at a horse training seminar and had a small one there. The general public can be really mean too! You bring your child out in public when he is sick, and shame on you for bring your child when sick (what we are supposed to stay indoors and be a recluse all our lives?).
Around that age (12 I think I was) in school my parents were called in because they said I was on drugs. My parents said well yes she is on drugs...I was getting in trouble at school for something I had no control over.

Read up on them and you will get some facts that way. Otherwise this is from personal experience. I do commend you for wanting to know more about what your friend has. Stick with your friend, because others wont. I sure wish your friend well.....

The best thing you can do for her when she has one is make sure she doesn't hurt her self. I also have seizures and what some people don't know is there are all different types of seizures. Some you can tell when the person is having one others they can just look like their day dreaming out into space. And then the kind that I have where the person goes into one and they black out and don't know what their doing or who's around them.

The best thing I can tell you is to tell your friends sister to keep note of when she has one and what time it happened and how long it lasted and when she goes to see the doctor she can have something to show him or her. Because I did that and I myself couldn't believe how many seizures I was having in just a weeks time. And when I showed it to my doctor they wanted to run test and it went from trying all types of medicine and test to having to go under surgery and that was about two years ago.

You need to be there for her. Seizures at that age can be scarry since her body is going through changes.Grand Mal seizures can be a pain just make sure if you are around when one happens to make her comfortable have a wet towel handy chances are she will bite her tongue.Seizures last about 2-3 min and it takes about 10-15min to come out of it where you are coherant enough to sit up and talk she will be very tired and Never give Her water it will make her throw up.. Give her gatorade or orange Juice helps the stomach. But be there for her ask her parents to get brochures from the doctors office about seizures.They looks scarry but there not never hold her or try to remove any thing in her mouth.She wont swollow her tongue.She might foam at the mouth.Seizures are a form of trauma to the head or from a high fever. Epilepsy is a brain disorder that you are born with/tumor Again just be there let her feel comfortable enough to talk about it it will help her as she goes through life with this disorder and she will feel more confident about the situation.