Page 10 - link magazine

10 swindonlink.com • September 2010
Rotary Club brings together people living with epilepsy in September

Epilepsy sufferers and their families will be able to meet up at a new support group being organised by the Rotary Club Swindon Thamesdown
on Thursday 9 September, 8pm, at the Holiday Inn, Coate Water, writes Joy Aldred.
Paul Parfey from Haydon Wick, difficult this is with other people. about being a drug addict. They intensity. Now it’s got to the stage
who will be club president in "If it’s an absence most people don't know how cruel they are.” that Leona will undergo major brain
2012/13 inspired fellow members don't know I'm having an attack; Mum Kathy explained, "Leona is surgery in October at Oxford’s John
to launch a three year project to sup- sometimes I can stand unconscious constantly bruised from falling over Radcliffe Hospital followed by three
port epilepsy sufferers in response for 30 seconds, then come out of it. and sometimes is cut from broken month hospitalisation.
to the needs of his wife’s niece, Occasionally the bus driver will glass. Thankfully a severe fit has Read the full story about living
Leona McKee, who suffers from a find me at the end of his trip and never happened crossing the road. with epilepsy at www.swindon-
severe form of the condition. they'll get me home. But people can But she can't have a bath without link.com
She endures all four kinds of sei- be really nasty and make comments somebody being in the house." Family members and supportive
zure, including absence, Doctors have constantly changed friends are invited to attend the
where she goes blank – Leona's medication which reduces meeting on 9 September.
sometimes experiencing the severity of the attacks for a time For details mail Paul Parfey: rcst.
up to 15 a day - through before they return to their previous [email protected]
to attacks with spasms
and jerks. The episodes
last from a minute to Lack of patients in Redhouse
25 minutes, when an
ambulance is usually forces pharmacy closure
called and she has to The Day Lewis Pharmacy Group has shut its outlet at Redhouse Vil- Shaw Chiropractic Clinic
be put on a life support lage Centre, just six months after opening.
machine for monitoring. Richard King explained, “the core business did not pick up sufficiently
Some attacks have meant to sustain the business, partially due to the fact there is no surgery in the
hospital stays. Redhouse area and the population is generally young, mobile and fit.
Leona explained how
“In a different economic climate Day Lewis may have been able to
Leona with Lyn and Paul sustain the losses for longer, but with no meaningful increase in prescrip-
Parfrey tion business the decision was made to close after consultation with the
local Primary Care Trust. All local surgeries and patients were notified.”
Osteoporosis and the Alexander Technique
Swindon Osteoporosis Support Group next meets on Friday, 10 Sep- September event to raise awarenesss
tember, 1.30pm, in the Health Hydro, Milton Road when Sue Stewart
will give a talk on The Alexander Technique. of the ‘Invisible Injury’
All are welcome to attend. For details call Chris Valters on 721882 or
mail: [email protected] Coinciding with the 9th anniversary of 9/11, Swindon Trauma Group is
running a workshop to educate the public about the causes, symptoms
and effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The group comprises ex-service been tasked with finding out how
personnel and therapeutic experts to help ex-servicemen.”
who wish to deepen public under- • Saturday 11 September, 10.30am
standing of the condition, and reach to 5pm, at Learning for Life, Base-
out to the medical community to point Business Centre, Westlea.
let them know what they can offer. Workshop on Post Trauma Stress/
Member, clergyman, author and Shellshock Treatment and Support.
PTSD expert Frank Parkinson said, Cost inc. refreshments and buffet:
“perceptions of post traumatic £25 per person.
stress are changing; we have shifted For details contact Dick Hilling on
from a ‘men don’t cry’ mindset into 608781, or mail: richardw.hilling@
a more healthy acceptance of how googlemail.com
people react differently to extreme
shock. However there is still a long • Read the full story with picture at
way to go.” www.swindonlink.com
Military veteran, former police
officer and Swindon councillor MS centre seeking
Steve Wakefield is a keen supporter injured soldiers for
of the working group. “What we oxygen study
currently do with veterans who
need to assimilate back into civilian Following the visit by Professor
society is scandalously poor. Thirty Philip James, the world expert in
percent of homeless people on our the use of hyperbaric oxygen, to
streets are ex-forces, and eight out Swindon’s Therapy Centre for Mul-
of ten former prisoners who are tiple Sclerosis in June, the centre
looking for re-housing are also ex- is still looking for military personnel
service personnel.” suffering from mild traumatic brain
The work of the Swindon-based
group is very much in demand. injury (mTBI) interested in trying
“Our past two annual conferences intensive oxygen therapy to see if
have both been very well attended their brain injury condition can be
by forces’ veterans from the UK and improved.
overseas,” said Richard Hilling, To make contact mail Jackie Wray
group chairman. at: [email protected]
He added that the group is also • Read the full story and interview
in contact with Dr Andrew Mur- with Prof James at www.swindon-
rison, MP for Westbury, who has link.com

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