I recently saw this in the news and thought it worth sharing. It seems strange to me that light (especially flashing light) can cause seizures, but that colored lasers might be able to calm the neurons. The brain is a mysterious thing.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8441983.stm
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
What to Track: Euphoria?
Sometimes I wake up in the morning feeling great. Almost euphoric. I used to love that feeling. It feels as if nothing in the world is wrong.
But I've learned from too many experiences....when that great feeling strikes, so too do seizures. Has anyone else ever experienced that? I know some of you have. I remember sitting in an adult support group listening to everyone speak, and almost half the group experienced the same thing.
I'm not sure if there is a medical explanation for it, but isn't that just so typical of this disease? We just can't let our guards down for a minute....
But I've learned from too many experiences....when that great feeling strikes, so too do seizures. Has anyone else ever experienced that? I know some of you have. I remember sitting in an adult support group listening to everyone speak, and almost half the group experienced the same thing.
I'm not sure if there is a medical explanation for it, but isn't that just so typical of this disease? We just can't let our guards down for a minute....
Monday, December 21, 2009
What to Track: Lights
After tracking my seizures now for three years with EpiTrax, I have begun to see a pattern in work environments. Basically, I was having more seizures on Monday and most in the morning, right after I got to work.
I asked my doctor about this and he mentioned that some people have reflex seizures caused by computer screens or even fluorescent lights. I investigated a little more and here is what I found on epilepsy.com:
Reflex epilepsies are a group of epilepsy syndromes in which a certain stimulus brings on seizures. The stimulus can be something simple in the environment or something more complex like reading, writing, doing arithmetic, or even thinking about specific topics.
The types of seizures that may occur are varied, but 85% are generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. Other seizure types include absence seizures (staring) and myoclonic seizures (jerking of the eyes, head, or arms).
The most common form of reflex epilepsy is photosensitive epilepsy, in which flashing lights trigger seizures. These seizures are usually found to be primary generalized seizures. Occasionally, partial seizures (arising from a small portion of the brain) may also present as a reflex epilepsy.
Does anyone else experience these?
I asked my doctor about this and he mentioned that some people have reflex seizures caused by computer screens or even fluorescent lights. I investigated a little more and here is what I found on epilepsy.com:
Reflex epilepsies are a group of epilepsy syndromes in which a certain stimulus brings on seizures. The stimulus can be something simple in the environment or something more complex like reading, writing, doing arithmetic, or even thinking about specific topics.
The types of seizures that may occur are varied, but 85% are generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures. Other seizure types include absence seizures (staring) and myoclonic seizures (jerking of the eyes, head, or arms).
The most common form of reflex epilepsy is photosensitive epilepsy, in which flashing lights trigger seizures. These seizures are usually found to be primary generalized seizures. Occasionally, partial seizures (arising from a small portion of the brain) may also present as a reflex epilepsy.
Does anyone else experience these?
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Weather and Seizures
It's been a while since I've posted anything. Sorry 'bout that. I've been kinda busy.
In any case, I've recently been talking to John Coyle, who runs a non-profit called Shake that Seizure. His organization is dedicated to measuring the effects of weather on seizure activity. If you have a feeling that weather might be causing your seizures, have a look. You can find it at www.stsepilepsy.org.
In any case, I've recently been talking to John Coyle, who runs a non-profit called Shake that Seizure. His organization is dedicated to measuring the effects of weather on seizure activity. If you have a feeling that weather might be causing your seizures, have a look. You can find it at www.stsepilepsy.org.
Monday, January 14, 2008
What to track: alcohol
According to epilepsy.com, a drink every now and then does not cause seizures. In fact, some alcohol can have beneficial effects. Binge drinking and alcohol withdrawal are the real problems. In addition, seizure medicines can seriously lower your tolerance for alcohol, so the immediate effects of alcohol consumption are greater.
Have a look at this helpful page for more information on the effects of alcohol on seizures: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/provoke_alcohol
Have a look at this helpful page for more information on the effects of alcohol on seizures: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/provoke_alcohol
Thursday, December 13, 2007
What to track: sleep
Ok...I've got a bone to pick about this topic. Most epilepsy web sites report that sleep deprivation can cause seizures, and hence, it is important to track in your seizure diary. But that's not always the case. For example, sleep deprivation never causes my seizures. Too much sleep, or waking up, and then falling asleep again, seems to have a greater effect on my seizure activity.
I'm not saying that sleep deprivation doesn't cause seizures. All I'm saying is that sleep, in all of its forms, is something to track in your seizure diary.
So why is sleep a problem? It seems the experts don't know for sure. But what they do know is that the sleep-wake cycle affects brain activity. Epilepsy.com has an interesting article on this very topic, although they (in my humble opinion) improperly entitle it "Sleep Deprivation".
Tracking sleep in a seizure diary is not that difficult. I track when I go to bed, when I wake up, how well I slept (if I can remember), and whether anything affected my sleep (such as jet lag or cold medicine). By doing this, I can look for the sleep patterns that seem to work (e.g. sleeping 7 good hours works, anything beyond seems to cause problems).
Which brings up another point: don't just consider too much sleep or too little sleep. Look for the combinations that affect sleep patterns. In my case, I track exercise and sleep, alcohol and sleep, and medicines (such as cold medicine or sleeping pills) and sleep. All of these affect how well I sleep.
Good luck and happy tracking.
I'm not saying that sleep deprivation doesn't cause seizures. All I'm saying is that sleep, in all of its forms, is something to track in your seizure diary.
So why is sleep a problem? It seems the experts don't know for sure. But what they do know is that the sleep-wake cycle affects brain activity. Epilepsy.com has an interesting article on this very topic, although they (in my humble opinion) improperly entitle it "Sleep Deprivation".
Tracking sleep in a seizure diary is not that difficult. I track when I go to bed, when I wake up, how well I slept (if I can remember), and whether anything affected my sleep (such as jet lag or cold medicine). By doing this, I can look for the sleep patterns that seem to work (e.g. sleeping 7 good hours works, anything beyond seems to cause problems).
Which brings up another point: don't just consider too much sleep or too little sleep. Look for the combinations that affect sleep patterns. In my case, I track exercise and sleep, alcohol and sleep, and medicines (such as cold medicine or sleeping pills) and sleep. All of these affect how well I sleep.
Good luck and happy tracking.
Friday, December 7, 2007
What to track: caffeine
Coffee. As a caffeine addict from a very early age, I can tell you how much I love it. As someone with epilepsy who takes 1800 mgs. of Tegretol XR a day, I can tell you how much I need it.
The problem is, caffeine can be detrimental to some individuals with epilepsy. According to Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues, "when you consume caffeine, the drug begins its effects by initiating uncontrolled neuron firing in your brain. This excess neuron activity triggers your pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that tells your adrenal glands to produce adrenalin." The adrenalin picks you up for a while, but also leaves you tired when it wears off.
According to epilepsy.com, "it does act as a stimulant and a few people report having seizures after they consume it." I fall into that category. But not everyone does. For that reason, it is important to track. If you can rule it out as a seizure trigger, then you can enjoy it without fear.
In my case, when I realized it was a trigger, I started to cut back, drinking less of it and drinking half-decaf. I tracked this new combination for awhile, and this seems to have done the trick. However, I also know that my body has become more sensitive over time. So, I continue to track my intake in case the less potent coffee starts to become a problem.
How do I track it? I use EpiTrax to record the approximate time I drink it, and then record what I drink, e.g. "large 1/2 decaf latte" or "small 1/2 decaf coffee". Over time, I can see the trend of my caffeine intake or look for trends between seizures and coffee.
For more information on coffee and seizures, check out this search on google.
The problem is, caffeine can be detrimental to some individuals with epilepsy. According to Stephen Cherniske in his book, Caffeine Blues, "when you consume caffeine, the drug begins its effects by initiating uncontrolled neuron firing in your brain. This excess neuron activity triggers your pituitary gland to secrete a hormone that tells your adrenal glands to produce adrenalin." The adrenalin picks you up for a while, but also leaves you tired when it wears off.
According to epilepsy.com, "it does act as a stimulant and a few people report having seizures after they consume it." I fall into that category. But not everyone does. For that reason, it is important to track. If you can rule it out as a seizure trigger, then you can enjoy it without fear.
In my case, when I realized it was a trigger, I started to cut back, drinking less of it and drinking half-decaf. I tracked this new combination for awhile, and this seems to have done the trick. However, I also know that my body has become more sensitive over time. So, I continue to track my intake in case the less potent coffee starts to become a problem.
How do I track it? I use EpiTrax to record the approximate time I drink it, and then record what I drink, e.g. "large 1/2 decaf latte" or "small 1/2 decaf coffee". Over time, I can see the trend of my caffeine intake or look for trends between seizures and coffee.
For more information on coffee and seizures, check out this search on google.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
