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?