Feeling Tired Triggers Seizures
 

Hi Folks,

Most of you know that I have had sz. for 43 yrs. but one thing I never learned is what is it about being tired that can trigger a sz. for a person. What's going on in a persons brain when they are tired that will make them have a sz? I've never been able to understand that.
A perfect example is last week my DH had surgery and I stayed at the hospital and was awake for at least 24 hrs. and the next day I had a bad sz. where I hit the floor do to lack of sleep. I just can't figure this one out how can being tired fire up the neurons in a persons brain and cause sz. ? Thanks for your time and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Sue,

Gosh, I'm sorry about your seizure and fall. You must have been exhausted. Are you alright now? This hasn't triggered more seizures for you I hope.

I can't answer your question as I don't have seizures, but I know my stress levels and lack of sleep definitely affect my vertigo and even migraines.

I'm hoping that your husband is back home and recovering well. Also hoping you're feeling better too.

Well, just sending my wishes to you. You've helped me so much over the years. :hug:

Hi Lara,

I'm doing fine and I haven't had any sz. since I was at the hospital with my husband. He is doing better he's just sore in his legs and lower buttocks but that's to be expected after having back surgery for the 3rd time. Don't ever let spinal stenosis carry on for a long time before surgery that is what my husband did. My husband is home and doing much better. I'm just grateful when I had the sz. I was at the hospital and the nurse was in the room at the time so they sent me to the ER to play it safe to cover themselves which I can understand. I know I had the sz. do to lack of sleep but I'm catching up on the rest now. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hi Porkette

Hope you don't mind me helping you out with this. It's terrible that over 43 years no doctor ever told you about how lack of sleep can cause some people to have seizures! Lack of sleep doesn't do that to all seizures types. But a lot of seizure types are very sensitive to lack of sleep. We don't really know why. Often, it's the seizure types that happen during sleep, or when falling asleep or waking up. It could be related to what happens in the brain during sleep, but exactly what it is is not yet known.

The important thing to know is that if sleep deprivation causes you to have seizures, try to avoid it!

Take care of yourself...

Hi Cresent Moon,

Thanks for your info. I appreciate it. I've had absence, complex partial and simple parital sz. for most of my life. I was told yrs. ago that stress and lack of sleep would trigger sz. for me but it was never explained how lack of sleep would trigger sz. only stress. Also I found out I have seasonal sz. meaning at certain times of the yr. some people can have more sz. do to the lack of serotonin or increase of serotonin. I found that I have more sz. in the fall and winter do to lack of serotonin at that time of the yr.
Thanks again for your info. and May God Bless You!

Sue

Wow - with that many different seizure types.. both generalized and focal.. it's gotta be tough to get it well controlled. Getting overly hot can also be a trigger. And with absence, you will have seizures any time you are hyperventilating.. like playing sports or anything else that causes you to be breathless for a minute or more. Are you taking ethosuximide for the absence?

Hi Cresent Moon,
I've been on 10 or more AED's (sz. meds) only to find out I am drug
resistant to all AED's out on the market now. My Dr. did a DNA test on
me and matched up my body chemistry along with the enzymes in my liver
to find out I was drug resistant. The AED's that I'm taking now that have helped me the most is mysoline, Diamox, and Vimpat. I also take vitamin B12 once a day and that has really reduced my sz.

Before my brain surgery if I got to hot it would trigger a sz. for me especially when taking a shower but since that time I no longer have sz. do to the heat. The Dr. removed 75% of my right temporal lobe and all of my right hippocampus and this reduced my sz. 50-60% and now I have fewer complex partial and most of the time I just have absence or simple partial (aura) sz.

Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You,
Sue

Wow.. you've really been through a lot, Porkette. You are on some medicines that are often tried on hard to treat seizures. And the resections you've had are impressive.

Some of the things we hear from patients that can trigger seizures include lack of sleep, heat or over-exercise, and a lot of stress. Sounds like you've found a connection between your seizures and lack of sleep and heat.

Keep taking care of yourself like you're doing and hopefully that will keep seizures to a minimum. :)