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Seizures During Sleep

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 22:16

 

Hi, I'm new to this site. I have most of my seizures in my sleep or in the morning after waking up.. my last one being two days ago. It seems that either illicit drugs, alcohol or lack of sleep bring most of my seizures on, and I'm working on getting them under control by giving up these things rather than taking my medication, I find the medication Valpro has some bad side effects.

I think my last seizure  was a big one becauseI have been a scattered mess since then, I've slept for two days straight now and I have yet to leave the house. I can't think straight so if this doesn't make any sense I hope u understand why. My whole body is aching and my memory is slowly returning.

Anyways I'm almost 25 and I was diagnosed about 2 1/2 years ago.. does anybody else experience sleep related seizures?.. I truly believe if I can get enough sleep I will  get my epiliepsy under control.

Thanks for any of your comments.

Comments

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by rowfan55 on Thu, 2009-03-12 - 01:26

Morning, I have partial complex during waking hours and generalized tonic-clonic seizures only during my sleep. I sleep alone, so how do I know? I wake up out of a hard sleep, half the time the bed is wet. The pillow is wet from drool and sometimes that is bloody because I have bitten the sides of my tongue or the insides of my cheeks. I can't move right and I feel like I've been run over by a steam roller. For a day or two after the seizure, I am "stupid"—don't remember things well at all, sometimes forget things right after people tell me, slurred speech, and I don't get jokes or figures of speech. I am not taking medication for them because I only have four or so a year and they must not be very severe because compared to other people I seem to recover comparatively quickly. Also, they had me on such a high dose of Dilantin to control them that I felt like I'd had a couple of beers all the time. It wasn't worth it to me. I learned what my triggers are—not enough sleep or protein in my diet, too much sugar or starch, and too much caffeine—and I work to avoid them. Obviously I have not consulted my neuro; I don't want to have to go back on the meds. But I would never recommend you do that. If you're going to try to control the seizures by avoiding triggers, please do so in cooperation with your neuro. Also, there are some new pillows out there for people who have seizures while sleeping. You might want to check them out.

God bless,

Rowfan 

Morning, I have partial complex during waking hours and generalized tonic-clonic seizures only during my sleep. I sleep alone, so how do I know? I wake up out of a hard sleep, half the time the bed is wet. The pillow is wet from drool and sometimes that is bloody because I have bitten the sides of my tongue or the insides of my cheeks. I can't move right and I feel like I've been run over by a steam roller. For a day or two after the seizure, I am "stupid"—don't remember things well at all, sometimes forget things right after people tell me, slurred speech, and I don't get jokes or figures of speech. I am not taking medication for them because I only have four or so a year and they must not be very severe because compared to other people I seem to recover comparatively quickly. Also, they had me on such a high dose of Dilantin to control them that I felt like I'd had a couple of beers all the time. It wasn't worth it to me. I learned what my triggers are—not enough sleep or protein in my diet, too much sugar or starch, and too much caffeine—and I work to avoid them. Obviously I have not consulted my neuro; I don't want to have to go back on the meds. But I would never recommend you do that. If you're going to try to control the seizures by avoiding triggers, please do so in cooperation with your neuro. Also, there are some new pillows out there for people who have seizures while sleeping. You might want to check them out.

God bless,

Rowfan 

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by sonettidamore on Fri, 2009-03-13 - 22:11
Mine don't seem to have anything to do with how I'm sleeping, anything I drank/ate (although I don't drink alcohol at all anymore and eat very healthy), or any other factor. They just happen every so often. I wake up in the middle of the night with this LOUD sound in my head. It's kind of terrifying. I've learned the hard way NOT to get out of bed under any circumstances, because I tend to fall and hurt myself. I just have a trash can beside my bed and lean over the side because I usually vomit while I'm unconscious for a minute or two. It happens too fast for anybody to help me, so I've just figured out my own strategy. Actually, think of it this way - having a seizure lying in bed can in fact be safer than having one standing up (and then falling on a hard surface)! I've had insomnia all my life and Lamictal makes it a little bit worse, but I've found that exercising 5 days a week REALLY helps. My guess is that if you cut out drugs and alcohol and get yourself into a good routine of regular exercise, water consumption, and nutritious eating, you'll feel a lot better. DO NOT stop your meds suddenly, though, or you risk having a massive seizure. Talk to your doctor about a step-down schedule. It'll take several weeks to a couple three months, depending on your situation. If you're interested in alternatives to meds that might work for you, I recommend "Epilepsy: a new approach - what medicine can do for you and what you can do for yourself" by Adrienne Richard and Joel Reiter, MD, published by Walker & Co., New York, 1995.

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by rcmaster on Wed, 2009-04-08 - 17:53

 

Hi,

I'm 29 and had my first Grand Mal seizure in 2002 when I was 22. I have had two seizures while asleep, awoke with memory loss but realizing that I must of have had a seizure. Within 5 minutes I was completely conscious. I don't smoke or drink and I exercise and eat healthy regularly. I am reluctant to take any medications whether it be for headaches, colds or seizures. I took Valproic Acid for about 1 1/2 years and it made the seizures worse as I would have small seizures along with the big ones. Against doctors orders of taking double the dosage, I stopped taking mediction. I then had two Grand Mal seizures every year as opposed to 1 a month along with smaller abscent seizures. Since November of 2007, when I had my last seizure I began taking NOVO-CLOBAZAM mainly to get my license back. Well, I have been seizure free since then. I hate intoxicating my body with chemicals, but I can't find a way to stop them without the medication. I had a friend who last year was diagnosed with epilepsy........2 weeks ago he died from a seizure while asleep. Loss of breath and suffication. It's difficult to answer your question because seizures occur for so many reasons. Some, like mine "unknown cause". It may help to get regular sleep but the cause is unknown. Until or if you are able to find the cause you should get some medical advice, whether it be chemicals or a natural way like naturopathy or homeopathy. I know of someone who was anemic and would have seizures every time his blood level would drop. A medical doctor couldn't help him or didn't care to, but a naturopath through herbs was able to help him. He is seizure free.

R.I.P (Awet),

your friend.

 

Hi,

I'm 29 and had my first Grand Mal seizure in 2002 when I was 22. I have had two seizures while asleep, awoke with memory loss but realizing that I must of have had a seizure. Within 5 minutes I was completely conscious. I don't smoke or drink and I exercise and eat healthy regularly. I am reluctant to take any medications whether it be for headaches, colds or seizures. I took Valproic Acid for about 1 1/2 years and it made the seizures worse as I would have small seizures along with the big ones. Against doctors orders of taking double the dosage, I stopped taking mediction. I then had two Grand Mal seizures every year as opposed to 1 a month along with smaller abscent seizures. Since November of 2007, when I had my last seizure I began taking NOVO-CLOBAZAM mainly to get my license back. Well, I have been seizure free since then. I hate intoxicating my body with chemicals, but I can't find a way to stop them without the medication. I had a friend who last year was diagnosed with epilepsy........2 weeks ago he died from a seizure while asleep. Loss of breath and suffication. It's difficult to answer your question because seizures occur for so many reasons. Some, like mine "unknown cause". It may help to get regular sleep but the cause is unknown. Until or if you are able to find the cause you should get some medical advice, whether it be chemicals or a natural way like naturopathy or homeopathy. I know of someone who was anemic and would have seizures every time his blood level would drop. A medical doctor couldn't help him or didn't care to, but a naturopath through herbs was able to help him. He is seizure free.

R.I.P (Awet),

your friend.

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