Epilepsy information

Leanne - hi, I can totally relate to this. If I have a drink then I am very reluctant to take my meds that nite.

Dandylion - I totally relate to u as well.......ave missed or been late with meds, and if coupled with any other factor - eg; lack of sleep etc - then I'm destined for a sz or 2.......

Wow, so many responses! I used to drink and stay up till 4am, get up at 8am and wonder why a day or two days later I'd have a seizure. My neuro said it's a combination of alcohol withdrawal and lack of sleep. The alcohol takes a while to fully get out of your system and then your body craves it so in combination with lack of sleep you can often get a seizure. You don't need to get drunk to have fun. If I ever drink nowadays I have a huge meal beforehand and only drink around close friends who know what to do. I have never had a seizure whilst drinking but the next two days are my uncertain period so I never drink on a work day. Just be sensible. For every malibu and coke I have at least 1, normally two, large tap waters and of course my meds and it really helps. I don't go out late anymore and I make sure I stay in bed for at least 8hours once I am home (and of course getting up to take meds at correct time) Oh and have a snack ready by your bed for when you wake up to help your body out... more food the better I find. Oh and don't plan anything for the day after your night out, chill all day so your brain doesn't have too much to think about. The positive is that we are really cheap dates!!! Teehee.... although the downside is if you are on water and its 'your round' and you pay a fortune for everyone else's alcohol.... my friends know however that I don't drink so don't expect it of me... I buy them drinks individually when I can hope some of my rambling helped..... FOOD, MEDS, WATER, LOTS OF SLEEP,CLOSE FRIENDS, SENSIBLE DRINKING, DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING!!!!!!! XXX

One of the most important things I learned regarding alcohol and epilepsy is that alcohol stays in your system for three days, and therefore can have an effect on your epilepsy for three days. I tend to stay away from alcohol if I'm seizing more than once a week. But that is just me. I also find that when I am able to drink alcohol effects me a lot faster than other people (for example: I'm walking in a wavy line after just one drink). The only way to truly see how alcohol will effect you is by trial and error. Hope I helped.

I'm quite surprised reading all the posts that people still drink whilst on AEDs! My experience is once I started my Lamotrigine back in February 2012 which now I take 175mg of it, I stopped drinking completely as I've always had in my head medication and alcohol don't mix therefore don't take it to minimise a risk of fitting which I know you might have one anyway teetotal but I don't drink at all now. But then when I did I wasn't a big drinker anyway.

People are different and I chose not to at all being safe for me also my gp and neurologist saying that it is advisable not to drink which influenced me the most.
I hope whatever you chose to do that it's the right choice for you x

Hi, first time poster here.

I have suffered from Gelastic epilepsy since around 2 years of age.

I believe it is totally up to the individual - for me it was weighing up the severity of my seizures and how important driving is to me.

I drink regularly, like a non-sufferer - I chose to do this because a) I don't need a car now in London b) the severity of my episodes are quite low.

I have chosen to accept that if I drink and have a hangover then I will 'take the hit' and increase the chances of having an episode. However, if I needed to drive and my episodes were serious, there would be no way I would drink as excessively as I do now.

I will stop this in a couple of years but for now, I am happy to accept the consequences.

could you explain exactley what gelastic means? I was a music o'genic and couldn't listen to guitar riffs can you imagine? I used to leap around in the high street (shops with music etc.... b****y murder it was

There you go granny http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/syndrom ... c-epilepsy

Google is your friend

\oh elp sounds worse than mine was by the way neuro ops for epilepsy are on utube my right temporal op was on there, ugh our brains are all b****y waxy

well it appearts to be a reflex type of e as mine was with music. doesn't it?

don't you granny me oh lord I still can't believe it there I was in this mad bikerclub and here I am now a grandmother....Mind you're a grandad as well aren't you geoff? you can't keep pretending to all those on the forum that you're a swinging teenager you know I doubt any of them believe you anyway.

Hey

My name is Becky and I am a 17-year-old college student.

I know that it may be hard for some but I'm going to be 18 in a few weeks and I am just not going to drink. It would be easier for me because I just wouldn't feel comfortable.

I am hoping that if/when I get into uni and go to clubs with my friends, I hope that they will accept me when they hear me say "I don't drink." If they don't accept it, then obviously they are not my friends.

I know that I am probably the minority who will just not drink, and I am not having a go at any of you, and if you want to drink, then drink, because it is none of my business. I just feel as if that I can't take the risk because I am too frightened of having a seizure.

Once, my dad said to me "Just try some white wine and lemonade, I promise that I won't put a lot of it in". So hesitantly I tried it and only took a few sips to make out that I was just going to try but in the end, when I went to bed I think that my sister saw straight through what I was doing and finished it for me.

I just don't want that risk anymore, whether my doctor reckons that I should try, even if it is around my family or not. Technically I have, but I just changed my mind out of fright. Having a seizure is my number one biggest fear.

So yeah... so that is it. This is just me and my views, and I have nothing against any of you


From Becky

Hi Becky

You must do what is best for you so if no alcohol is the way you want to go thats fine, I've never drank alcohol mainly due to my seizures but I just don't see the attraction. My workmates drink because thats what your meant to do & then they come in with the hangover from hell & Sunday was wasted cos they were so drunk, if I was being twisted I could tease the life out of them about what they had or had not done while drunk and free of all inhibitions. When you ask your boss "do you remember admiring your boss's cleavage and telling her husband that he must have used prostitutes, just dos he's a sailor?" No he didn't remember but he never went on a night out with that boss again - I had a great laugh watching him try to avoid the same boss for the next few weeks.
If your only drinking to be the same as everyone else thats up to you but as long as you respect yourself and still have fun take care
Mo

I think it depends on our type of e, I find that alcohol affects my seizures if I have too much one or two drinks and I am ok but more than that is dangerous for me.

Because I don't drink alcohol too often it affects me very quickly so more than 2 glasses of wine or 2 pints of lager tipsy. Find it easier to drink soft drinks, plus I have a couple of friends who are now in wheelchairs, as they had strokes after having drinks spiked Stick to what you think is best for you, like you said they are not worth it if they want you to change your mind Welcome to the forum.Take care luv Juliexx

i think you're all mad skipping your meds and boozin' everything in moderation eh? good luck you'll need it.