Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, the hallmark of which is recurrent, unprovoked seizures. While Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, there are still a lot of misunderstanding about this disorder.
Some common risk factors include:
- Babies who are born small for their age
- Babies who have seizures in the first month of life
- Babies who are born with abnormal areas in the brain
- Bleeding into the brain
- Abnormal blood vessels in the brain
- Serious brain injury or lack of oxygen to the brain
- Brain tumors
- Infections of the brain: abscess, meningitis, or encephalitis
- Stroke resulting from blockage of arteries
- Cerebral palsy
- Conditions with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Seizures occurring within days after head injury (“early posttraumatic seizures”)
- Family history of epilepsy or fever-related seizures
- Alzheimer’s disease (late in the illness)
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Fever-related (febrile) seizures that are unusually long
- Long episodes of seizures or repeated seizures called status epilepticus
- Use of illegal drugs such as cocaine
- Mild head injuries, such as a concussion with just a very brief loss of consciousness, do not cause epilepsy. Yet the effects of repeated mild head injuries and epilepsy is unknown.
The good news is, treatments are available that can stop or control seizures for most people with epilepsy. Our team specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of adult epilepsy. Through medicine and lifestyle management, we work closely with patients to create treatment options that improve their ability to manage their disorder.
Resources:
Marlene C. Bultemeyer, M.D.
NEUROLOGY / EPILEPSY
Dr. Bultemeyer is board certified in Neurology and Epilepsy. Hailing from Northeast Indiana, she returned to the local area to begin private practice in 2010. She received her M.D. from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. She continued at the I.U. Medical Center to complete her general Neurology Residency and additional professional training, completing a Fellowship in Neurophysiology as well. Through the Fellowship she received advanced training in Epilepsy and associated EEG testing protocols. Dr. Bultemeyer is an Assistant Professor for IUSM and serves as the director of the Neurodiagnostics department at Fort Wayne Neurological Center. She also is director of the Neurodiagnostics Department at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne and was instrumental in the department achieving status as the only Accredited EEG lab in the region.
EDUCATION
- B.S. in Biology, 1997, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana
- M.D., 2005, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
RESIDENCY
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2005-2009
FELLOWSHIP
- Neurophysiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2009-2010
CERTIFICATION
- Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Epilepsy, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010 – present
- Medical Director of the Neurodiagnostics Department, Lutheran Hospital, 2014 – present
- Chair, Utilization/Review Committee, Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2010 – present
- Lutheran Hospital, Physician Leadership Committee Member, 2016 – present
- American Academy of Neurology Member
- American Epilepsy Society Member
- American Heart Association Member
- Indiana Neurological Society Member
- Indiana Medical Society Member
- Fort Wayne Medical Society Member