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tv and seizures, resuming seizure triggering activiies

Sun, 10/03/2010 - 16:04
Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Adults
Does anyone have seizures associated with watching television?? I don't watch a lot of tv, but when I'm feeling unmotivated to do anything, I will turn it on. While I have certainly watched tv with no seizures, about 15-25% of the time I do, and when I do I have one within seconds to 30 min. of watching. Time of day doesn't matter. In the evenings I haven't noticed as specific a pattern, but I do typically have seizures in bed at night just before or after I fall asleep anyway (whether or not I've watched tv). Is tv a common trigger? Is 15-25% association between a seizure and a possible trigger enough to identify it as a trigger, or should this % be closer to 100%?? I would hate to give up my tv, esp. because I like video games (I have a PS3). I haven't played a lot of games lately, because I'm in a stage where my medication is affecting my concentration, so I'm not yet sure if video games are a trigger. I'm hoping responders are going to say 'no, tv is not commonly a seizure trigger, so don't worry about it, but speaking medication: Let's say someone's seizures are under control with medications. If that same someone has identified a particular trigger for some of their seizures, now that their seizures are know to be effectively under controlled in all other situations, can they safely and effectively resume that triggering activity?? (I REALLY hope this makes sense. I've spent the last 10 minutes trying to reword it so it does-lol)

Comments

Re: tv and seizures, resuming seizure triggering activiies

Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Mon, 2010-10-04 - 11:52

I think what you're suffering from is Photosensitive Epilepsy.

If you have photosensitive epilepsy, certain types of flickering or flashing light may incite a seizure.  The trigger could be exposure to television screens due to the flicker or rolling images, computer monitors, certain video games or TV broadcasts containing rapid flashes, even alternating patterns of different colors, in addition to intense strobe lights.

And surprisingly, seizures may be triggered by natural light, such as sunlight, especially when shimmering off water, even sun flickering through trees or through the slats of Venetian blinds.

I'm sorry for the bad news...about the TV and video games...    Phylis Feiner Johnson   www.epilepsytalk.com

I think what you're suffering from is Photosensitive Epilepsy.

If you have photosensitive epilepsy, certain types of flickering or flashing light may incite a seizure.  The trigger could be exposure to television screens due to the flicker or rolling images, computer monitors, certain video games or TV broadcasts containing rapid flashes, even alternating patterns of different colors, in addition to intense strobe lights.

And surprisingly, seizures may be triggered by natural light, such as sunlight, especially when shimmering off water, even sun flickering through trees or through the slats of Venetian blinds.

I'm sorry for the bad news...about the TV and video games...    Phylis Feiner Johnson   www.epilepsytalk.com

Re: tv and seizures, resuming seizure triggering activiies

Submitted by honestjoe on Mon, 2010-10-04 - 13:16

          I watch 6 hours of tv per night usually, and its more the repetetive sounds that effect, or trigger seizures. Light doesn't cause, or pose much of a problem, but when those certain certain types of sounds come on they can get one started. I am going to continue watching television, since there not much else to do in the evening hours.

 

                                                                                  Good luck with evertything,

                                                                                  Joe :)

                                                                               

          I watch 6 hours of tv per night usually, and its more the repetetive sounds that effect, or trigger seizures. Light doesn't cause, or pose much of a problem, but when those certain certain types of sounds come on they can get one started. I am going to continue watching television, since there not much else to do in the evening hours.

 

                                                                                  Good luck with evertything,

                                                                                  Joe :)

                                                                               

Hello. I am new to all this

Submitted by Momof3boys_5ac17c0c6bd24 on Sun, 2018-04-01 - 20:40
Hello. I am new to all this seizure stuff. But my 9 year old son started having seizures in January. He has had ab 1 seizure a week to total 12 seizures now. I have just recently noticed that most of his seizures are when he is watching TV... or iPad or computer time. 2 that he had at school he was on his computer... 3were when he was looking at an iPad or phone and 3 were when he was watching TV. Also most of them are in the morning.  He is on medication but not on the right dose  yet to where it’s stopping his seizures. I am going to ask the neurologist when we see her this month! 

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