Working out and Seizures

Hi,

I was wondering if anybody had a problem like me where they only really have seizures when working out, and usually not that often. I have several test with several doctors but nothing has come up, just wanted to know if anyone esle was getting anywhere. I am on zonegram but it doesnt seem to be working well.

Thanks

Comments

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by belimawr on Fri, 2008-06-20 - 00:11

Nope, but you might try taking a b-complex and try slowing down. B complex helps a lot for me, with blackouts. I have weightlifted since 1988, heavy since 1991. It helps me with mood and insulin reactions, flattens things out.

But I did during a time of serious reactions ,titrate back to just a half hour, under Drs suggestion. The insulin reactions improved and were much more controllable. You might try reducing length of time and seeing how it works. Increase your veggies and vitamins, try even with increasing meat-b12 helps bipolar for example. Then , see what happens.

Nope, but you might try taking a b-complex and try slowing down. B complex helps a lot for me, with blackouts. I have weightlifted since 1988, heavy since 1991. It helps me with mood and insulin reactions, flattens things out.

But I did during a time of serious reactions ,titrate back to just a half hour, under Drs suggestion. The insulin reactions improved and were much more controllable. You might try reducing length of time and seeing how it works. Increase your veggies and vitamins, try even with increasing meat-b12 helps bipolar for example. Then , see what happens.

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by woodland on Mon, 2008-06-23 - 09:03

I had the same issue in High School when I began lifting weights. I had an increased frequency of seizure activity after starting the weight lifting program. Once I stopped the heavy weight lifting (changed from "bulking up" to simply "toning"), the seizure activity went away. The way that it was described to me, everytime that their is a "strain" involved in a movement, the blood vessels are being restricted resulting in a decreased amount of blood/O2 making it to the brain. Also, remember to exhale when lifting as opposed to holding your breath like many do. For me, it came right down to the fact that decreasing the amount of oxygen resulted in seizure activitiy. Everyone may have a different reaction but this is what I found out about my particular experience with weight lifting, lack of oxygen.

Steven

I had the same issue in High School when I began lifting weights. I had an increased frequency of seizure activity after starting the weight lifting program. Once I stopped the heavy weight lifting (changed from "bulking up" to simply "toning"), the seizure activity went away. The way that it was described to me, everytime that their is a "strain" involved in a movement, the blood vessels are being restricted resulting in a decreased amount of blood/O2 making it to the brain. Also, remember to exhale when lifting as opposed to holding your breath like many do. For me, it came right down to the fact that decreasing the amount of oxygen resulted in seizure activitiy. Everyone may have a different reaction but this is what I found out about my particular experience with weight lifting, lack of oxygen.

Steven

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by Running Free on Mon, 2009-06-29 - 21:38

I don't deal with the problem when exercising, but I'd have to agree that you should start slowly and very gradually increase your workouts. If your blood oxygen levels are causing the seizures, you need to build up your endurance levels, -they will increase over time, just slow down and/or go for less time and build up from there. Your blood oxygen levels will improve.

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by dart on Sat, 2011-05-21 - 11:49

I have often wondered about the strain aspect of weight lifting which is a part of my workout regimen (every other day). Good to remember to exhale and inhale in a deliberate manner during weight lifting. Not sure if there is a relationship or if it is coincidence.

I have had some momentary feelings of pre-seizure condition (not aura's) only during Stairmaster work outs but never developed into full fledged seizures (possibly a partial seizure).

Going slow and building up may be very good advice. I have often wondered about the effect of straining on the O2 flow to the brain. Fighter pilots learn to strain to minimize effects of negative G forces and blackout. This could be a valid situation as far as constricting blood vessels for people with seizure disorders.

Staying with excercise program, particularly cardio workout to hopefully improve O2 levels to the brain.

Good subject for people with seizure disorders. Liked to hear more.

I have often wondered about the strain aspect of weight lifting which is a part of my workout regimen (every other day). Good to remember to exhale and inhale in a deliberate manner during weight lifting. Not sure if there is a relationship or if it is coincidence.

I have had some momentary feelings of pre-seizure condition (not aura's) only during Stairmaster work outs but never developed into full fledged seizures (possibly a partial seizure).

Going slow and building up may be very good advice. I have often wondered about the effect of straining on the O2 flow to the brain. Fighter pilots learn to strain to minimize effects of negative G forces and blackout. This could be a valid situation as far as constricting blood vessels for people with seizure disorders.

Staying with excercise program, particularly cardio workout to hopefully improve O2 levels to the brain.

Good subject for people with seizure disorders. Liked to hear more.

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Sun, 2011-05-22 - 00:34

Hi Dart, Having epilepsy doesn't prevent the possibility of also having other disorders resulting in paroxysmal attacks. While on a zero carbohydrate Dr. Atkin's Diet, I had bouts of hypoglycemia that were different from my epileptic seizures, but still having many characteristics of seizures. I later discovered that I could somewhat induce attacks of hypoglycemia through reactive hypoglycemia tests. The type of test I took was just repeatedly measuring blood sugar levels, while abrubtly consuming a large amount sugar, and mapping blood sugar levels for the sharp increase, and then the overly sharp drop of reactive hypoglycemia, before the levels would rise back to more normal levels after the precipitous drop (too big of a drop, or too long lasting, can be fatal). Both painful and painless migraines I developed in my last semesters of university also confuse some doctors into thinking I'm having epileptic seizures (other doctors try to tell me that my simple partial epileptic seizures are just migraines). Then, as in my previous response, I think I have LQTS that was also the originating cause of neurological damage resulting in epilepsy. LQTS can mimic epileptic seizures itself, especially during strenuous excercises. Very brief gaps in consciousness during heavy weight-lifting exercises brought weight-lifting to an end for me, because the most noticeable result was dropping anything heavy that I was hanging on to during an attack, getting everyone's attention and then some. LQTS is more frequent with epilepsy than once thought: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677528/ Paramedics can also mistake a frontal subdural hematoma as being post-ictal neurological events of an epileptic seizure. Tadzio

Re: Working out and Seizures

Submitted by wic0929 on Wed, 2008-10-08 - 17:08

I have never had one while lifting weights, but I only have them now during cardio sessions, whether it be jumping rope or running. I always drink v8 before working out, because of the b12 and because its less expensive than making my own juice. I recently have stopped cardio except for jump roping a couple times a week under dr.'s orders. If anyone has any advice I would love to hear it.

I'm extremely prone to

Submitted by Katierose94 on Wed, 2017-07-12 - 15:19

I'm extremely prone to seizures during/after exercise. My neurologist has yet to take notice of this issue and acts as if it's not particularly a big neussance. However, I worked out for years previously when I was in the Navy before I was medically retired and didn't have any problems so I haven't any idea what happened. I've had to limit my exercise drastically the past two years because it seems to have effected me more so now than ever. I've had a great number of partial seizures during average body weight type exercises as well as a grand mal seizure on a bike. I can typically work around absent seizures, although they will stop me dead in my tracks if I were doing push ups or crunches or something alongs those lines. It's become unbearable. It's relieving to hear others have the same struggles, I was beginning to think it was just me.

You're not alone in this. I

Submitted by Whitealbum23 on Wed, 2018-06-13 - 14:03

You're not alone in this. I've come to the conclusion that my seizures are also caused by over working out. More often after back exercises. My seizures happen while I sleep. I wake up feeling extremely sore and feeling confused. Embarrassing to say, but I also end up wetting the bed.

I am noticing since the

Submitted by Jmecks on Mon, 2018-07-02 - 23:05

I am noticing since the intense workout class boot camp I am waking up with attacks

I also get seizures when I'm

Submitted by Aubrey on Thu, 2018-08-16 - 09:49

I also get seizures when I'm training. Especially if it's a tough workout. But my seizures stopped with the shaking, falling down and tilting my eyes. Now what I do is, be unconscious, but move and talk like usual but do something stupid or say something stupid. Like my last two were at the gym and at my work. At gym I tried to take the dumbbells from a woman's hands , but for some reason they don't want to tell me the rest. The other occasion, I took my pants off at work. I don't know what the people are thinking who don't know the whole story.

Almost one year later, heavy

Submitted by Drew_5c71ae80dc993 on Sat, 2019-02-23 - 15:35

Almost one year later, heavy cardiovascular activity is most certainly what has triggers my seizures. It's not an official diagnosis, because my doctor diagnosed me after the more standard tests, which did not cause outwardly noticeable seizure activity; but, riding my wheelchair bike/trike nothing (with the exception of an EPICALLY high fever years before the seizures on my wheelchair bike) has ever caused a noticeable seizure in my case.

triggered

Submitted by Drew_5c71ae80dc993 on Sat, 2019-02-23 - 15:36

*triggered*

I had epilepsy surgery and

Submitted by Terri Pajares on Tue, 2020-04-21 - 21:19

I had epilepsy surgery and most of my seizures are gone. However, I seem to have a seizure after working out also. I never had these type of seizures before surgery. I have petit mal seizures. I used to have about 5 or 6 a day and after having surgery they seem to be completely gone. However I am now having seizures after I work out. I have left mesial intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. I am so happy for having surgery, my life has become so much better. I just have to be easier on myself in working out.

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