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Single Seizure caused by altitude changes

Wed, 01/23/2008 - 08:53

Hi-

I saw an old post from 2005 from someone who had a 10 yr old daughter that had a seizure at Denver airport. My daughter's boyfriend has now had his second seizure after traveling to Colarado to go snowboarding. The first time was about 5 years ago and it happened on the airplane. Now it has happened again but he was in the car on the way home this time after the flight. He has never had any symptoms except for these two trips to Colorado and has not been diagnosed with epilepsy.

I was wondering if the little girl had any more episodes or if this was the only time it happened for her also. The original post had some links for altitude induced seizures that were no longer working.

It appears that the medical community does not have anything to say about this.

Any info would be appreciated-

Comments

Re: Single Seizure caused by altitude changes

Submitted by GingerJ on Tue, 2008-01-29 - 09:12

i have very active Epilepsy but no problems with altitude. When travelling in South America (above 14,000ft) there was no difference - maybe even less seizures. I investigated things before hand (including talking to altitude medicine specialists, they didn't expect a link). Like you, I couldn't find much information.

Could there be other factors in the trips to Colarado which might be seizure triggers eg disturbed sleep, excess alcohol? Could it be a coincidence?

i have very active Epilepsy but no problems with altitude. When travelling in South America (above 14,000ft) there was no difference - maybe even less seizures. I investigated things before hand (including talking to altitude medicine specialists, they didn't expect a link). Like you, I couldn't find much information.

Could there be other factors in the trips to Colarado which might be seizure triggers eg disturbed sleep, excess alcohol? Could it be a coincidence?

Re: Single Seizure caused by altitude changes

Submitted by kahuna9d8 on Tue, 2008-01-29 - 10:26

I am not sure if it is a coincidence. The Dr's are saying that there something skiiers can get called "whitewash seizures" (no info online). They also said that he may have been having very small seizures all along and didn't notice. He has been very active his entire life (snowboarding, skateboarding, dirt bikes) and he could have hit his head at some point. Also- he has flown to and from Colorado several times without incident.

Thanks for the response-

I am not sure if it is a coincidence. The Dr's are saying that there something skiiers can get called "whitewash seizures" (no info online). They also said that he may have been having very small seizures all along and didn't notice. He has been very active his entire life (snowboarding, skateboarding, dirt bikes) and he could have hit his head at some point. Also- he has flown to and from Colorado several times without incident.

Thanks for the response-

Re: Single Seizure caused by altitude changes

Submitted by gwhayduke on Fri, 2010-02-05 - 10:54
Hey Ginger, how you doing? I've just been diagnosed, and have some abnormalities in the right temporal lobe. Can i ask for your advice? I've lived in the mountains most my life (one summer I was at 9k and hiking up), i'm experienced in wilderness safety and nutrition. over the last few years i've been at sea level and when I have rapidly ascended to 8k or so i've felt what i attributed to oxygen deprivation and slowed down to prevent any sickness ... But perhaps there was something more to it. Anyway, with the new diagnosis, how do i go about backpacking? right now i'm on four 50 mg. lyrica / day. obviously i would have to train hard to get to 14k, etc., but for now, i just need to figure out how to do just overnights or two-day trips. trip planning? precautions? extra gear/drugs? what do i tell my companions? thanks!!! jason

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