Seizures During Sleep

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by pegallina on Mon, 2009-11-02 - 19:13

My husband (66) had a traumatic head injury 24 years ago followed by a stroke 14 years ago. His first sz were what we called absence type and they were seldom.  He had his first big one at night two years ago and has had 5 since then, always at night and with a long hangover period after.  We've never been able to figure what could be a trigger. He is on tegretol 200mg and neurontin 100mg 3xday and the doc has said he can switch to Keppra.  I'm kind of reluctant after hearing all the negative reports about personality changes and meanness with keppra, but it seems like each sz makes it harder for him to get back to what passes for normal for him.  He has left hemiplegia and cognitive issues from the head injury.  His memory problems  are worse after each sz.

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by carmila on Tue, 2009-11-03 - 01:34

Please do not stop your medication unless you tell your doctor and see if there is something you could take with less side effects. My son's seizures are almost always at night during sleep and have been that for about 10 years. What has become very clear to him is NO drugs, No alcohol, or anything else that alters his body chemistry. You will only have more seizures if you continue any of them. They lower your seizure threshold and thus a seizure will break through. He does not use caffeine or cigarettes either. Has given up all in his attempt to control his seizures. You will learn you cannot control seizures. That is part of what is learned. My son thought the same thing. The key to reducing their frequency is adequate and very consistent sleep patterns, lots of exercise, yoga if you can, eating good, and no outside chemicals to your body. It is not a lot of fun, but neither are those seizures. He has torn up his room, etc. and is on two medications.  He has learned what possibly can bring them on and is better prepared at night for the seizure. He does wear a mouthpiece but not all doctors want this. He bites his tongue and this has helped. If there is any way, stress reduction is very important as well. Most importantly, communicate with your doctor and stay away from alcohol. My best to you,  C

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by George R on Thu, 2009-11-12 - 13:27

35 YEARS--MOST SEIZURES DURING SLEEP

That's right. I've had epilepsy for over 35 years, have tried over a dozen "seizure preventitives" but still find that the majority of my seizures occur during sleep. And most often in the early morning, upon awakening. Maybe that's because my blood sugar is at its lowest then. Or because I'm as relaxed as possible. Or that I'm just worried about getting up and facing another day. God knows. I've stopped trying to figure it out, and pretty much accept it. I do know that when this occurs I am fairly washed out for the day, and usually require several more hours of sleep. For far too many years I tried to figure out the psychological side of things, but after lots of reading from people pretty much like those who're writing in here, I can see that a large percentage of we "E people" do have our seizures while sleeping. And every neurologist and epileptologist in practice seems to have a different explanation. Is it possible that Mama Nature plans it that way for a majority of us to keep us safe? Oh, who knows!