Participant Highlights

Phillip Strouse, 58, of Ithaca, Michigan has suffered from epilepsy most of his life, a condition that affects more than 2 million Americans. Despite anti-epileptic medications and additional interventions to improve seizure control, he continued to have as many as 41 seizures a month. “You can’t live a normal life when you’re always worrying about the next episode,” explains Phillip.

Also diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a disorder that causes temporary suspension of breathing during sleep, Phillip spent most of his days feeling tired and fatigued. “I just couldn’t get a full night’s sleep,” he admits. Turning to research suggesting a link between epilepsy and OSA, doctors hoped that if Phillip could get better quality of sleep at night he might have fewer seizures throughout the day.

In January 2005, Phillip participated in a five-month randomized, placebo-controlled study at the University of Michigan Health System, through the Department of Neurology and the General Clinical Research Center, to explore whether treatment of OSA in epilepsy patients could improve seizure frequency, daytime sleepiness and health-related quality of life. Phillip was treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), a machine that helps individuals breathe more easily during sleep by producing a flow of air that creates enough pressure to keep the airway open.

Phillip has seen dramatic health benefits since participating in the study - enough to eliminate neurosurgery, an option he previously considered. Today, he averages just 1.5 seizures a month. “I don’t have seizures that frequently now. With the CPAP, I’m getting better quality of sleep,” he says. “I’m able to lead a more free life. I hope that others can benefit from my experience.”

"Mr. Strouse's experience has been very encouraging to us in our quest to improve the lives of patients with epilepsy,” says Kevin Weatherwax, Multi-Center Trial Project Manager, University of Michigan Health System, Center for the Advancement of Clinical Research. "We are optimistic this research will add important information to the relationship between sleep disorders (specifically, obstructive sleep apnea) and epilepsy.

"Our primary goal is to improve the overall quality of life in patients with epilepsy and possibly improve seizure control by treating co-existing obstructive sleep apnea,” he adds.