Suzanne Stewart’s StoryStory

from jenni@stars.org.uk or call 01789 450 564

Were your blackouts ever mistaken forepileptic seizures, or did years passbefore an accurate diagnosis was made?Did your irregular heart rhythm go undiagnosed for a long periodof time before you were referred to the correct specialist?Would you be prepared to share your experiences with the mediaand potentially help hundredsof other people who are sufferingfrom blackouts due to irregular heart rhythms, but don’t knowwhere to turn? Please turn over tothousands of lives. see how sharing your experience can change

www.stars.org.uk

The problem About a third of people diagnosed with epilepsy in the UK do not in fact have epilepsy, but an irregular heart rhythm. This translates as 150,000 people who have potentially beenprescribed unnecessary medication, whilst their true condition has been left untreated. Blackouts can also be a first symptom of a fatal irregular heart rhythm, which causes over 100,000 deaths every year in the UK. Many of these lives could be saved with appropriate diagnosis and treatment. The Solution

Syncope Trust And Reflex anoxic Seizures (STARS) is a charity that is working to raiseawareness about heart-related blackouts, and to promote their prompt and accurate diagnosis. Many of our members and friends who have experienced a misdiagnosis or lack ofdiagnosis of blackouts, have shared their stories with the media. In doing this they have helped us to get in touch with thousands of other sufferers around the UK.There are a lot more people out there who need our help. And we would reallyappreciate yours. If you are interested in helping us, please get in touch. A form to help you outline your experience can be downloaded from the STARS website, www.stars.org.uk. Oncecompleted, you can send this to us either by email or by post, and we will be in touch to discuss our awareness activities. Thank you for your time. We hope to hear from you soon For more information please contact STARSEmail: trudie@stars.org.ukTel: 01789 450564

Address: PO Box 175, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8YD

One of our members, who suffers with vasovagal syncope, asked for our help recently. “My young daughter does not understand when I faint and is frightened, please help!” “That’s easy, we need a fairy story,” replied Jo, our creative Education Offi cer. And here it is…