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Epilepsy and Swimming

Sun, 05/16/2010 - 11:30

Hey,

I've recently been diagnosed with TLE, but have not been prescribed meds for it yet (the process is taking rather long). I've always enjoyed swimming and had planned to pick it up again. I'm okay with this, but my boyfriend is angry about my decision to go swimming. He says I should wait, and that it's too dangerous. I say that, as long as I'm with a friend who knows I have seizures (I've only had ONE since being diagnosed 4 months ago), and as long as there are lifeguards, I honestly believe I will be okay.

What do you think? Is it okay for me to go swimming? I can't just stop my life because I have epilepsy. Swimming is something that helps relax me and makes me happy, so I do not agree with my boyfriend and think he is being a bit ridiculous. I understand he worries about me, but it's my life, my decision...not his.

Thanks. 

Comments

Re: Epilepsy and Swimming

Submitted by tonialpha on Wed, 2010-05-19 - 17:20

That is when I stopped diving. 

I did laps w/ my dad when I was younger.  When I was older my seizures started to get me confused.  I did water exercises and I did it with a lot of people in the pool and I was having more seizures and that is when I decided the pool was not a friend anymore. :(

That is when I stopped diving. 

I did laps w/ my dad when I was younger.  When I was older my seizures started to get me confused.  I did water exercises and I did it with a lot of people in the pool and I was having more seizures and that is when I decided the pool was not a friend anymore. :(

Re: Epilepsy and Swimming

Submitted by tonialpha on Tue, 2010-05-18 - 16:43

Amy 1021,

 My father was an olympic pace swimmer.  I lived in the pool all the time.  When the seizures were evidenced I only went in the pool w/ someone  that was aware that I had them.  I have had 4 seizures in the pool.  Three times I ended in the ER.

When I woke up one time,   they had me on my back, pulling me out of the pool and I blacked out again.  I was not going to let it stop me because I felt I was part fish!    When I first had seizures, I swam all the time.  I did not have any trouble.  At this point 40 years later I moved to a different climate, it is more humid and I had a harder time breathing in the pool.  THis is when I had the trouble at the pool in the change of climate. It was from the west coast where I have lived all my life to the east coast which is new to me.

I started walking and I actuallly see beautiful people and fantastic sights. 

There is really no limit, I just think of it as new opportunities.

Amy 1021,

 My father was an olympic pace swimmer.  I lived in the pool all the time.  When the seizures were evidenced I only went in the pool w/ someone  that was aware that I had them.  I have had 4 seizures in the pool.  Three times I ended in the ER.

When I woke up one time,   they had me on my back, pulling me out of the pool and I blacked out again.  I was not going to let it stop me because I felt I was part fish!    When I first had seizures, I swam all the time.  I did not have any trouble.  At this point 40 years later I moved to a different climate, it is more humid and I had a harder time breathing in the pool.  THis is when I had the trouble at the pool in the change of climate. It was from the west coast where I have lived all my life to the east coast which is new to me.

I started walking and I actuallly see beautiful people and fantastic sights. 

There is really no limit, I just think of it as new opportunities.

Re: Epilepsy and Swimming

Submitted by Allyson L on Tue, 2010-05-18 - 19:29
Don't give up doing anything that you enjoy. I allowed the fear to take over my life, until I realized that I was missing out on everything. A seizure will happen "whenever". But life goes by quickly. And if other people try to take your happiness away, do without them. It's worth it in the end.

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