I have Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy which I have had for 11 years, since I was 17. The teen years is usually when JME starts (hence the "Juvenile". Throughout the years I have learned my triggers. By far the biggest, main trigger for people with JME is sleep. I have to get lots of sleep and I can't get up early. (You may think that sounds great but I actually miss out on a lot!) Another trigger for me is my menstrual cycle -- when I ovulate and especially when my period is at it's heaviest I have more seizure activity. (Sorry for TMI!) I don't have grand mal seizures very often since I am on medication, but I have "jerks" -- muscle spasms in the arms that if I don't control my triggers I eventually have a grand mal.

Two years ago I radically switched up my diet to avoid the severe constipation I experienced. My jerking immediately got a lot worse. Through much Internet research (Dr. J and others) I discovered the connection of epilepsy and food. What I had done was starting eating whole wheat and whole grains. Previously I had only eaten white flour and very occasional whole grains.[/B][/B] I switched back to eating white flour, in moderate amounts and added more fruits & veggies, to avoid constipation.

I had also completely cut out cheese to avoid constipation, a food that I had eaten a lot of very regularly previously. Unfortunately when I slowly started to add back things in small amounts like cheese, I discovered I couldn't tolerate it -- my head felt very strange, and I would jerk worse the next morning or even shortly after eating. I also experienced panicky feelings after eating foods like whole wheat.

I recommend to anybody planning to switch their diet radically to instead do it gradually. Also expect that you may never be able to go back to your old way of eating. Don't let that scare you though if it helps your seizures.

I am still learning every day what I can and can't eat. Besides my epilepsy, I also have to think of constipation, and my interstitial cystitis, and just health in general such as my weight. I often get discouraged because it doesn't seem there is anything I can eat. I like variety, and there is only so and so many potatoes and eggs I can eat a day...a week...a month!

This is what I have discovered personally myself, through Dr. J, other websites, and trial and error (I haven't even bothered mentioning this to my md or neuro) :

-absolutely NO whole wheat
-absolutely NO Parmesan cheese
-absolutely NO soy

I avoid the above 3 like the plague, and soy seems to be in everything!! I have become an obsessive label-reader!

I also quite strictly limit :
-white flour
-any grains
-any cheese
-seeds, beans, nuts
-sugar

I have always hated artificial sweeteners, so it hasn't been too hard for me to avoid that one, too! Yuck, it makes me feel awful & tastes horrible!

I have never had a problem with corn, rice, dairy in limited quantities, chicken, eggs, most meats (I've never eaten much meat anyway), and veggies. Fruits I try to eat the ones with the lowest amounts of sugar.

That's my own personal experience. Anybody else out there who has JME or have children who do?