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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

Seizures caused by altitude changes

Submitted by vhall1979 on Tue, 2010-04-20 - 15:03

Craig;

Hi, my son is almost 11 years old and he has had a seizure disorder his entire life. He suffers from several different kinds of seizures. We live in the Denver area and have for his entire life, but I am originally from the midwest (Grand Rapids, Michigan). When we go back to visit we will be there for a week and I will not see one seizure from him, but here it is a constant, daily thing.

I have asked so many neurologists and doctors if there have been any studies done, etc. regarding this and none of them seem to think it is a problem. None of them will admit that altitude has an effect on neurological disorders. It is soooo frustrating. I am trying now to reach out and see what I can find out or see if we can get a study like this started. Honestly I don't understand why it has not already been addressed.

I am sorry you have to deal with the seizures. They are not fun and can be extremely scary.

Wish you well.

Craig;

Hi, my son is almost 11 years old and he has had a seizure disorder his entire life. He suffers from several different kinds of seizures. We live in the Denver area and have for his entire life, but I am originally from the midwest (Grand Rapids, Michigan). When we go back to visit we will be there for a week and I will not see one seizure from him, but here it is a constant, daily thing.

I have asked so many neurologists and doctors if there have been any studies done, etc. regarding this and none of them seem to think it is a problem. None of them will admit that altitude has an effect on neurological disorders. It is soooo frustrating. I am trying now to reach out and see what I can find out or see if we can get a study like this started. Honestly I don't understand why it has not already been addressed.

I am sorry you have to deal with the seizures. They are not fun and can be extremely scary.

Wish you well.

Re: Single Seizure caused by altitude changes

Submitted by tonialpha on Thu, 2010-04-15 - 19:09

I went to camp in Buena Vista, CO.  When I went to camp, I had a seizure do to the fear of traveling on a bus, from California to Colorado.  Once I was there,  I had a great time.  This is in a high altitude.  It was a blast for me.

I have flown in and out of Denver many times.   One time a friend had altitude sickness.  She was sicker than a dog.  I took care of her.  She did not have seizures.

Once coming back to camp, I was just getting over stomach flu.  When I reached the airport in Denver.  I had a grand mal seizure but it was do to getting over the flu.  I apparently had a high fever.  The hospital wanted me to stay and be observed.  I just wanted to go home.

I have rock climbed and hiked in the collegiate range in the Rockies for 5 years. (Yale,Harvard and Columbia) While climbing in shale, I did not slow down and just wanted to get to the top of Mt. Elbert ( it is the second tallest mt in Colorado) for the 2nd time, I wanted to show my athletic ability at a very high altitude. I had a seizure. It wasn't comfortable, but the Rangers helped me down.  I had the easy way down.  There is less O2 at that high altitude.  I believe that was at 12,000 ft.

 I loved to ride horses in Colorado. We swam in Twin Lakes.  Traveled into Aspen.  It was a great time.  I met a lot of nice friends.  The food was great!  Actually my seizures lessened when I was in Colorado.  I was busy all the time!

I think it is an individual problem.  It may be relayed to other things a person is dealing w/ apnea, asthma, allergy.

Colorado is a beautiful state and wonderful state!

 

I went to camp in Buena Vista, CO.  When I went to camp, I had a seizure do to the fear of traveling on a bus, from California to Colorado.  Once I was there,  I had a great time.  This is in a high altitude.  It was a blast for me.

I have flown in and out of Denver many times.   One time a friend had altitude sickness.  She was sicker than a dog.  I took care of her.  She did not have seizures.

Once coming back to camp, I was just getting over stomach flu.  When I reached the airport in Denver.  I had a grand mal seizure but it was do to getting over the flu.  I apparently had a high fever.  The hospital wanted me to stay and be observed.  I just wanted to go home.

I have rock climbed and hiked in the collegiate range in the Rockies for 5 years. (Yale,Harvard and Columbia) While climbing in shale, I did not slow down and just wanted to get to the top of Mt. Elbert ( it is the second tallest mt in Colorado) for the 2nd time, I wanted to show my athletic ability at a very high altitude. I had a seizure. It wasn't comfortable, but the Rangers helped me down.  I had the easy way down.  There is less O2 at that high altitude.  I believe that was at 12,000 ft.

 I loved to ride horses in Colorado. We swam in Twin Lakes.  Traveled into Aspen.  It was a great time.  I met a lot of nice friends.  The food was great!  Actually my seizures lessened when I was in Colorado.  I was busy all the time!

I think it is an individual problem.  It may be relayed to other things a person is dealing w/ apnea, asthma, allergy.

Colorado is a beautiful state and wonderful state!

 

I moved to Denver from

Submitted by matmatt83 on Sat, 2017-05-13 - 11:09
I moved to Denver from Alabama back in November. I can honestly say in the 6 months I have been here, I've had more seizures here than I ever did in Alabama. At first I attributed it to nerves because I was moving half way across the country on my own. However, after getting settled I realized that couldn't be the case. It makes me nervous because they seem to pop-up out of nowhere and really put me down. Usually I can shake them off in about 30 mins and carry-on. Now my recovery time is much much longer. Nothing has changed for me really. If anything I drink less alcohol now (I know it's a no no). So really the only thing I can contribute it to is the altitude change. Making me think Denver isn't for me! 

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