Epilepsy
Triggers for epilepsy
Most seizures happen completely out of the blue. For some people, though, seizures are triggered by certain things. These often differ from one person to another, and many of the people we interviewed noted that more than one factor was involved in setting off their seizures. Many people said that stress, anxiety or excitement triggered their seizures. Tiredness and lack of sleep were also common triggers. Some people discussed having seizures because of late nights or going without sleep. One man explained that lack of rest and shift work particularly affected him.
Explains that lack of rest and shift work used to trigger his seizures.
Explains that lack of rest and shift work used to trigger his seizures.
You did?
Yeah and I did, I did nights for a full year and it started to affect me after a while. I started to feel very light headed and having dizzy spells, and I think it was all related to the fact that my tablets were balanced so that the majority of my tablets were taken at night, so that they were beneficial to me in the morning, whereas I was working the opposite way round all of a sudden. So after a while I did notice a big issue there, so I had to come off nights.
Some people reported that seizures were more likely to occur if they were ill or unwell. Several women also mentioned hormonal changes. Epilepsy can start or go away at any time of hormonal change. Some women reported that seizures were often likely to occur around the time of their period. One also said she was more prone to seizures when relaxed or bored rather than busy.
Discusses various factors that trigger her seizures.
Discusses various factors that trigger her seizures.
And you said before it was just before a period or during?
Yes just before, I mean eventually, hopefully I'm gonna stop that soon, but I still get that now sort of thing, at the same time but the middle of the month its not so bad. Its towards the, that other side of the month about the, a couple of days before its due and then a couple of times when I'm on, and then it goes sort of thing, and then it stops
Again.
So can you kind of predict when it might happen or?
Roughly, not always because I wouldn't say it didn't happen in the middle of the month because it has done sort of thing, it does do that as well. But nine out of ten times it's usually around about the time of that you know, whether its hormones or not I'm not sure! (laughs). And of course when you're relaxed, because you're relaxed, it comes on and you let it, sort of subconsciously you let it you know. And you know I think it tends to be, at first it frightens you if you don't know what's gonna happen.
Lack of food triggered seizures in some people. Others explained that excessive alcohol was likely to bring on a seizure. Some anti-epileptic drugs interact with alcohol, so alcohol should be avoided with these drugs. For other drugs, drinking alcohol in moderation will not usually cause problems. Recreational drugs, such as amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin, can increase the frequency of seizures in people with and without epilepsy.
Explains that excessive alcohol was a trigger for her seizures.
Explains that excessive alcohol was a trigger for her seizures.
So whenever you kept away from alcohol you didn't have any?
Yeah, yeah well, I mean I drink but one or two glasses of wine at a time, that's me these days! (laughs).
Photosensitivity (sensitivity to flickering light) affects only a small number of people with epilepsy. Those we interviewed found that watching television, cinema films or using a computer often triggered their seizures. One woman explained that some types of lighting affected her. Like several other people we spoke to, she also noted how her moods and emotions affected seizures.
Discusses having photosensitive epilepsy and how her emotions can affect her seizures.
Discusses having photosensitive epilepsy and how her emotions can affect her seizures.
And is that just on the telly or also in the cinema say?
Also in the cinema, I struggle with the cinema because its so dark. I have to have lights on when I'm watching the television. In the cinema it's dark and it's really loud as well and it gets quite hot. I went to the cinema for the first time in about six months the other week. We actually went to see like a, well me and my friend thought it was really scary, it was a '12' I think. We spent the whole time with our hands over our eyes! We were like! (laughs). It was good, but again it was the flipping from scene to scene.
Yes, but you managed to watch the whole thing?
Yeah and I, I just concentrate on when it will be over. I try and break it up into sections, you know sort of quarter of an hour until the break and then three quarters of an hour until it finishes.
Discusses having photosensitive epilepsy and how her emotions can affect her seizures.
Discusses having photosensitive epilepsy and how her emotions can affect her seizures.
'I mean it's difficult to say whether that's just the epilepsy or how much emotional content is involved in that as well and also what is epilepsy. It seems to me so charged with emotions, with one's own emotions. I find that when I'm happier I have fewer fits. When I'm unhappy I have more fits. Which in a sense speaks for itself and it's a vicious circle.
Certain types of sound and music triggered seizures in some people. Several noted that, although particular things triggered seizures, there was still a lot of uncertainty about when seizures would occur.
Some people mentioned seasonal changes. One man recalled having more seizures in the winter months than in the summer, and explained how anxiety can set off seizures.
Discusses having fewer seizures in the summer than in the winter, and that worry often triggers...
Discusses having fewer seizures in the summer than in the winter, and that worry often triggers...
Yeah. Did you notice that you had more seizures when you were stressed out or worried about something as well, or any other triggers?
I would say it was more likely, I remember my doctor saying to me 'don't get worried or excited'. But I was, out of those two, it was much more likely if I was worrying about something that it would help to bring on a seizure, because I would more likely be keeping it to myself - the worry - just thinking about it constantly, not concentrating on what I should be doing. And that worry would help to bring on the seizure whereas excitement, more likely joining in with other things going on, joining in with other people and things like that, it took my mind off on another subject and that would keep the seizures away I noticed. And that was one thing I found quite interesting.
Different factors affect people in different ways. For some, heat was a trigger. A few people said that physical exertion, such as sports, brought on seizures. One man also noted that certain food additives affected him. Others mentioned that seizures were sometimes triggered by certain smells.
Explains that certain food additives and exercise can trigger his seizures.
Explains that certain food additives and exercise can trigger his seizures.
So did you make this link yourself or did?
I did, that's right. I've always had to report back to the actual consultant, I did make this link, I pursued this particular link, read into it and because I've noticed there's a pattern, there was a specific correlation that when I'd eat particular foods, I thought that I just had a reaction to these particular additives. And I'd say that without the medication that I would continue to have these attacks. And as a consequence I can still carry on eating the same foods because the medication controls it these days. However, I do avoid amoxicillin as medication. And I just wonder if anyone else has had the same experience.
Have you ever tried any complementary therapies or alternative treatments?
No, no. I've always been one for exercise, I thought that exercise would say prevent attacks if anything, but it has interfered to a point, not really with say strength training but with the aerobic training such as running and rowing in particular I've experienced problems say towards the end of my, my workout or the activity. So its, its quite de-motivating. You hope the exercise will actually improve your motivation. However, when you have attacks whilst exercising, it can damage your enthusiasm.
Last reviewed May 2016.
Last updated May 2016.
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