The Causes of Tetralogy of Fallot

As I continue my search, trying to find the causes of this defect is rather difficult. One thing that I did find out is that the defect occurs due to abnormal developments and this happens the first eight weeks of pregnancy. A baby's heart begins to form shortly after conception and is complete by the end of the second month of pregnancy, during that time this is where tetralogy of fallot can occur. In my research I was not able to find out what are the causes of this heart defect because they are unknown. (The Internet Encyclopedia Of Science) Some believe that it is heredity, and can be past on to the next child or children but this can't be one of the main causes because for example no one I know of in my family has had this defect so there has to be another cause.

Another topic that runs through my mind is sudden death dealing with tetralogy of fallot. In my research that I learned that sudden death is still problem even though now surgery is being done to those who have this heart defect. The sudden deaths are hard for me to understand because it's not explained in the simplest terms. It's so many things that can go work during and even after the surgery, this is something that I am going to continue to look up and you'll find out the exact causes of sudden deaths with tetralogy of fallot as soon as I do.




"tetralogy of fallot." The Internet encyclopedia of science. 1 May 2008 .

Dangerous medications

There are many different drugs that people are taking to control their epilepsy. Out of all the medications there are, some of them can cause death. They are very dangerous. So this is another side effect of having epilepsy. You have to be very careful about what you are taking and how it affects you. One of the dangerous medications that are out is called Dilatin. This medication seems to make people react to it by having a seizure that can kill them. Most doctor's say that it's SUDEP. But others think this medication needs to be recalled. If it's suppose to help calm your seizures down, why is it making people have them? No one can answer this question but researchers are willing to find out. These medications can also cause bone deterioration. Who wants to take medicine that makes your bones deteriorate? I believe no one does especially not me! I just want medicine that works and that gets my seizures fully under control.
Everyone who has epilepsy is trying to either get it under control or keep it under control. But they can't if the medication or medications they are taking is causing them to react to it and have seizures and is making their bones disappear. So is taking seizure medication something dangerous? Is this puting your life in danger. as well as eating at your bones?(Gardner) Now I have to be cautious about the medication I am taking. I have been taking it for a year now and nothing has happened to me. So maybe I just have one of the good medications that isn't dangerous. This is something very serious that everyone has to look in to. This is definitely something not to play with especially when it involves your health and most importantly your life. This is more information that I found out about the effects of epilepsy and the medications for it. This is something important that everyone needs to know about whether they have it or not.
Gardner, Amanda. "Epilepsy drug linked to bone loss." washingtonpost.com 04 28 2008 30 04 2008 .

The Death Situation That Scares Everyone

I found out that many people have died from epilepsy. It's called Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). If a person dies suddenly with no cause that cannot be found after examination is SUDEP. Five hundred people die a year from this unknown cause of death. The causes of this death is still unknown till this day. Doctors say that the brain may have something to do with causing this. The brain can stop someone from breathing while they are having a seizure. After the seizure passes, it is said that that person will start breathing again. But the people that this has happened to did not get to breathe again they just stopped breathing and it caused them to die.
No one knows whether it's the epilepsy that causes this to happen or if that person already has problems with their heart and/or lungs. Most people that are at risk of this happening are people with poor control of their seizures, have seizures during their sleep, have a learning disability, young adult males, people who are not taking their medication and/or people getting frequently changes in their medication.
I found out that there are ways to reduce the risk of SUDEP. Some of the following are:
if seizures are not under control go see an specialist consistently, always take your medication, make sure that you never run out of your medication, and never make changes to or stop taking your medication without seeing your specialist. So now there are many things to know about epilepsy and the thing that scares everyone, DEATH!
"Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)." Epilepsy Information SUDEP 12 2007 28 04 2008 .

More Things to Know

My essential question is, what is the best strategy or plan someone can put in place to stop sudden death from epilepsy? There really aren't any strategies or plans that can really stop sudden death from epilepsy. But there are some ways to prevent it that can help but won't stop sudden death completely. One example would be driving. People with epilepsy cannot drive. They can't drive because they may have a seizure while driving and can cause an accident. It's a very dangerous risk to take. There are laws about driving for people with seizures. Some people can drive but they have a limited time that they can drive and can't drive after certain hours. I hate it because my seizures are not under control. So it prevents me from driving. Everyone is cautious because they don't want me to have a seizure behind the wheel. Most people in my position are banned from driving. And trust me it's nothing fun when you can't do what you want to. The rules varies on how bad that person has seizures and how often.
Another that is banned that epileptic people can't do is swim or bathe. Now about the swimming thing, people who have seizures very often like me, sometimes without knowing you're about to have one, cannot swim or play in water. Things such as a pool. It is dangerous because if you are trying to swim and you have a seizure, you can drown. I love getting in the pool and trying to swim. So it's very hard to try to enjoy yourself when you can't do anything.
Now about the bathing situation. Some people can't bathe because of the same thing with the pool situation except the water isn't as deep. But this is some more info. that I found out about epilepsy and how it affects me and people like me.
"Epilepsy Risk Management." Epilepsy Australia 25 04 2008 .

Blog #3

As, I continue my research I kind of feel bad because alot of things I should of known about this heart defect I honestly don't especially the fact that I've gone through and will for the rest of my life go through this. I learned that the heart has a wall that separates the chambers on its left side from those on its right side, the wall is called a septum. The septum prevents blood from mixing between the two sides of the heart, which is what the hole is apart of, the septum. I also learned that the hole allows oxygen-rich blood to flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, the problem with this is the blood isn't suppose to flow into the right ventricle at all. The blood is suppose to originally flow into the aorta which is the main part that leads the blood into the body, but because that was blocked oxygen has a very difficult time getting through the body, which is the reason for the operation. Before the operation the right ventricle tend to sort swell up and causes it to thickened. I'm not sure that someone can survive this without the surgery but I'm sure without the surgery isn't a good thing. I'm hoping to find out more information such as, can you survive without getting the operation? And if so how difficult is it? What exactly happens to the heart if you was to wait to the surgery? Does the heart actually swell up? There's alot of questions I really want and need answered because I feel that it's very important for those who may go through this to know all the facts, not only for myself but for also my child, if I decide to have children, my child may inherit this and I need to be further aware of this condition.

First Week

My first week of being out on the streets watching how people in neighborhoods sell drugs to people was a shock. It was a shock to me because its a real shame how many people use drugs. Also its a real shame how people that you knew for a long time just get trapped or pressured to use drugs.
I have seen people that I am very close to get addicted to drugs. I also know that the drug dealers really don't care who they sell it to as long as they get the money. Although drug dealers would probably sell to pretty much anybody, they would have to watch out for undercover cops that try to buy drugs. Just about two weeks ago someone got arrested for selling drugs to an undercover cop.
This week I found out alot of intresting facts about my topic, and next week I would like to find out more.

Blog #2

I began my research of what exactly is Tetralogy of Fallot and I learned that it is an sort of heart defect from many different heart defects. This particular heart defect causes many problems with the lungs and it interferes with your breathing. I already knew that this heart defect was basically in the simplest words an hole in your heart but the proper terms a ventricular septal defect (a hole between the ventricles). I also learned that this heart defect is a problem with the heart's structure that's present at birth). The term "blue baby" is also used to describe this condition because some babies who does not have the operation sometimes and most likely turn blue. I learned that the babies turn blue from blood not flowing throughout the body. Luckily the doctors was able to repair my tetralogy of fallot before I turned the color blue. From my research I've also learned that it's a possibility that if I was to become pregnant that I'm at high risk of having a difficult pregnancy. The changes pregnancy brings to a woman's body, can make symptoms of congestive heart failure worse. Having a baby with this condition can cause problems not only for me but also problems such as growth for my baby. So far this is what I found about my heart defect and I'm expected to learn alot more once I finish my research.




"Tetralogy of Fallot." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 22 Apr 2008 .

"What is Tetralogy of Fallot?." National Blood Institute of Health. 2007. 22 Apr 2008 .

"Sex, Pregnancy and Birth Control." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 23 Apr 2008 .

So I started my research to answer some of the questions I had. I found out that epilepsy is caused by abnormal electric impulses in groups of nerve cells (neurons) found in the brain. It can also be caused by brain injury or through the family's generation. But most causes are unknown (Rutherford).
This had lots of information about epilepsy. But I decided to go on other websites to find out about more information. I found out that epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. I also found out that it really is a seizure disorder(Camfield). Epilepsy can be controlled. I need to know about this because I'm trying to get my seizures under control. Your medication that you take controlls it. As long as you're taking your medication and it's working it will get your seizures under control. I know this is true because when I started taking my med's they were working at first but they just weren't strong enough for me. This is something you cant get rid of. It's something you will have to live with for the rest of your life. So now I know that I can never get rid of this seizure disorder that I have.
There are also many side effects that I found out about when taking your medication. Some of them are experiencing fatigue, abnormal discomfort, dizziness and blurred vision. This all can come from your medication. The medication that I'm taking causes me to have some of these side effects and it's nothing fun. This is what I found out about epilepsy so far and I'm going to continue to find out more because I know there is still lots of information about this seizure disorder that I don't know about.

Steven, Schachter,. "side effects." epilepsy.com 15 12 2006 18 04 2008 http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/medicine_sideeffects.

How to get rid of epilepsy." whfhhc 18 04 2008 http://www.whfhhc.com/Epilepsy/32167.htm.

Camfield, Carol. "All About Epilepsy." epilepsy.com 16 10 2006 16 04 2008 .http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/main_epilepsy

Rutherford, Dan. "Epilepsy - what are the causes?." NetDoctor.co.uk 03 08 2005 16 04 2008 http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/epilepsycauses.htm.

Citation

"Tetralogy of Fallot." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 22 Apr 2008 .

"What is Tetralogy of Fallot?." National Blood Institute of Health. 2007. 22 Apr 2008 .

"Sex, Pregnancy and Birth Control." American Heart Assocation. 2008. 23 Apr 2008 .

Teens Dealing Drugs; Before the Search

Today in the world drug dealing is becoming more of a problem. More people are doing it and even kids are too, because of the area they grew up in or just because they think it's cool. I became interested in this topic because I want to know what it is that make young people do this action.
I already know some things about the topic. I know that most people start dealing drugs because their parents or guardians are on drugs. Some people start doing it because their not successful at getting a job.
I would like to know what makes people want to resort to drug dealing. How can we prevent this? What is being done to stop it? What is the pecentage of young people that are drug dealing today?

Tetralogy of Fallot: My story

I became interested in this topic because this is something I was born with. When I was born the doctors were lead to believe that I simply just had what is called an heart "murmur" but as time when by and I began to get sick, in and out of the hospital for 2years which is when the doctors realized that it was more then just a heart "murmur" it was an heart defect. I was born with an cyanotic condition which is called Tetralogy of Fallot. This caused me to be very ill to the point where when I would cry I would instantly pass out, I ran out of breath easily so I wasn't able to play like a normal child . At the age of 2 & 1/2 I had my open heart surgery which was a success.

What I already know about Tetralogy of Fallot is that it's basically an hole in your heart that effects the lungs and my breathing. That's what caused me to pass out, short of breath. It also changed the normal flow of blood throughout the heart which when not enough blood is getting to the lungs it makes it difficult to get oxygen.

Growing up as a child with this disease was very difficult even after my surgery. As I began the healing process I still had alot of things I had to do so I wasn't living a normal toddler life. There was a time where I had to take medication and go to the heart doctor for an check up almost every month. I wasn't able to participate in rough sports nor do alot of running, but besides all of the problem I had to deal with I still was a happy child. I use to laugh alot and still to this day I still do. I use to get alot of enjoyment out of life by just laughing because I knew I was sick, that's one thing that I remember the doctors use to say about me is that I was so joyful and happy. I did have my days when I was just to myself, I did cry alot, I was in alot of pain.

Every single time even after have my surgery several years later the doctors still remind me of what happen to me. It use to bother me because I hated being reminded of what happen to me and how I was born. Now that I'm older and I'm mature I love thinking about that fact that I am so lucky to be alive. My family call me the miracle baby and I love that name. I feel as if I am an survivor because I was able to accomplished alot of things that the doctors said I wouldn't be able to do. The doctors told me that I would be on medication for the rest of my life. At the age of two the doctors took me off the medication. The doctors said I wouldn't be able to play any sports or do alot of running, I was an cheerleader for 6years. The doctors said I would have to visit for an check up every month for the rest of my life, I was told now that I'm older I only have to go at least once a year. Alot of things I was told growing up I was able to prove those doctors wrong, that's what makes me this strong person to day for the things I've been through in my life and I still can say that I'm happy and I have no complaints.

Sometimes I did wish that some things happen differently but some people weren't meant to be on this earth but I can honestly actually say that I was meant to be on this earth. Something could of easily went wrong in that hospital I basically lived in that hospital, scared to death that I wouldn't be able to one day go home, and still til this day I am petrified of going to the hospital, I'm scared going in the hospital and never going back home. When my parents have the suggestion of going to the hospital for something as simple as an x-ray I refuse to go, I have the fear of dying in the hospital because of my experiences of being in the hospital so much through out my life.

I do not know absolutely everything about this disease that's why I'm going to enjoy researching it because I would like to know whats exactly going on. The main questions I have is what exactly is blue baby? Which is another name for this disease, what causes this disease? Can this disease be cure? If so, how? Where does this disease come from? Can this disease be prevented? What are some other heart defects besides this one? And the big question is, what can be done to help mothers avoid heart defects in their babies?

Epilepsy; Trying to Get Rid of the Sick

I became interested in epilepsy because I have it. I had it ever since I was a baby. I still have seizures like crazy till this day. I have these weird seizures. When I have them I start to feel very sick. Sometimes I pass out or I just get this dizzy feeling. I also start to get very hot. My temperature starts to rise. These seizures cause me to have a short term memory. I could be busy doing something then all of a sudden I forget what I was just doing. I also have a problem with remembering names and phone numbers. I have to keep my cell phone with me because of my memory loss. The seizures I have really mess with my memory. I could have a seizure, after it passes someone could ask me what's my own phone number or even my house phone number and I can't remember. After 10 minutes or so my memory starts to come back to me then I start to remember the number or numbers. I just have to sit down, let the seizure pass and get myself back together.

I really have no clue about what epilepsy really is. I want to know anything and everything about it. Ever since I found out I had it, I wondered how many other people have epilepsy. I wonder if epilepsy is a death sentence? It's a scary thing to have because sometimes I have seizures and I'm not even aware of what's going on. I just never took the time to sit and do the research. The only thing I know about epilepsy is that it's a seizure disorder. I also know what I need to do when I'm having a seizure. Most of the time I just have to relax and just have the seizure until it passes. But when my temperature rises I know that I need to get somewhere where it's cool so my high temperature can decrease. Usually I just go outside or when I'm too exhausted from my seizure I'll just sit by a window.

I want to know what is the best strategy or plan someone can put in place to avoid sudden death from epilepsy? Really what is epilepsy? I wonder if epilepsy can be controlled. Can anyone ever get rid of it? What are the causes of epilepsy and what
are the different side effects?