Sleep and epilepsy?

[whwept]

Hey everyone. First post, so glad to see other people I can relate to. ^_^
I have a question, my mom says I should sleep more. Mind you I probably should xD.
Do you guys think that more sleep helps prevent seizures? Every time she tells me that I should go to bed and get more sleep a couple days later I get seizures. Not every time but after a month or so without great sleep. And I haven't been sleeping well lately, and I had 3 seizures yesterday. So what do you guys think, does a good sleep schedule actually help prevent seizures?
Thanks guys!
I'm glad to be here and really appreciate any help?

[epileric]

The people here are great to relate to. You should go the the foyer & tell everyone about yourself. It's the best way to break the ice with everyone.

As for how sleep goes I can only speak for myself. I find that I do need lots of sleep & to be well rested to lessen the chances of seizures but I've also found that oversleeping can worsen my seizures just as much as too little sleep. I have to be very aware of my sleep schedule which can be hard because I love to sleep in, probably because of the meds.

[Bernard]

Hi whwept, welcome to the forum.

Do you guys think that more sleep helps prevent seizures? ... So what do you guys think, does a good sleep schedule actually help prevent seizures?

Yes. I think that a good, established sleep pattern is as big a factor in seizure control as managing stress. At least, that has been the case with my wife.

Some threads you might find interesting: on the importance of sleep

... You should go the the foyer & tell everyone about yourself.

I've moved this thread to the Foyer so folks can say hello.

[RobinN]

Hi whwept -
Welcome to CWE. Glad that you joined us.

Even though I have tried to help my daughter establish a good sleep schedule, as we all feel better when we do, I have not seen this to be a huge trigger for her.
I know being a migraine sufferer in the past, it was suggested that even getting up at the same time each day was important.

For me I notice it is the balance of the over all day that is extremly important. Less stress, conflict, during the days, means less stress during sleep (restless dreams). So in that regard a good schedule over all is the ideal.... at least for me and my daughter.

[Cetacean]

my mom says I should sleep more[/u]. Mind you I probably should xD.

Do you guys think that more sleep helps prevent seizures? Every time she tells me that I should go to bed and get more sleep a couple days later I get seizures. Not every time but after a month or so without great sleep. And I haven't been sleeping well lately, and I had 3 seizures yesterday. So what do you guys think,

does a good sleep schedule actually help prevent seizures?

...

Yes, and a bad sleep schedule will definitely trigger them.



In my long experience with complex partial seizures, lack of sleep and seizures go hand in hand. It's a vicious circle. If I don't sleep regularly and well, it triggers seizures. And nocturnal seizures interrupt sleep and lead to early waking, more seizures, and more insomnia. All of which leads to more irritability, more social conflict, more stress, less sleep, and more seizures.

Too much sleep is much safer than too little, in my experience.

My medications include a sleep med - Klonapin - which also happens to have anti-seizure effect.

It sounds like a good idea to pay attention to your mom's instincts. A mother knows a child's body's habits well from long and hard experience. She is probably the person best able to know your 'signs'.

That may be aggravating to hear depending on how well you get on with her, but the truth will save you whatever the source, and nothing else will do but dumb luck.

Please, definitely, devote care to sleeping well, and if it remains a problem, sleep when your body says sleep, just get it when you can, IMHO.

[joey]

hello im sure good sleep is good but im not sure i always get about 8 hours of sleep at least.

[joey]

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[jgbmartin]

I had been thinking about posting this week and read your post. Do any of ya'll have vivid dreams about having seizures? I have been searching the web, but it seems this is the best place to start. Is it a dream or is it really a seizure in your sleep?
Up until this week, I have been seizure free for two months. I don't have vivid dreams and usually would be hard pressed to even remember if I had a dream. But Sunday night, I had a dream so vivid, I can describe every little detail. It started off, I was in my office (that is where I have had 90% of my seizures..I work in an office that is very isolated from others). In my dream, I felt a seizure coming on (I get yawning attacks) and went to the bathroom (I hide out there when I know one is coming on) and when I came back to my office...someone had taken my computer, files, etc. I got angry and went to go outside to smoke..only as soon as I stepped out...I was somewhere else..another office building...totally lost and confused.
At that point, I woke up I was very angry that someone was playing a joke on me ...I was confused still trying to figure out where I had ended up. The confused state made me wonder if I had really just had a dream or had I had a seizure. The last two nights, I thought I slept ok..but in the mornings...I was so exhausted and felt like I had been up all night. Then this afternoon, I had a seizure at work. But today, I didn't get my yawning attack and it caught me off guard. Right now, I am angry that this happened..I am frustrated in that I thought this was in controll and I am scared that I didn't get my yawning warning...plus I really don't want the dr to up my Keppra.

[whwept]

Thanks to everyone who replied so quickly. I went to my doctor today and asked the same question as this and he said that yes sleep will help me, so I guess I know what to do for me now and see how that works out

[skillefer]

Hi whwept! Welcome to CWE. As everyone else, and your neurologist said, getting adequate sleep, and having an established sleep schedule is very important. Also, try to lower the stress in your life. For many of us, stress is a huge trigger.

[Bernard]

<a href="http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j182/krazyazz_b/?action=view&current=eek.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j182/krazyazz_b/eek.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Joey, try using the [img]...photobucket URL...[/img] code instead of HTML. See the link for BB code for more formatting options/codes.

[Crazy Monkey]

Hiya Whwept

I find that sleep deprivation is a definite trigger for me, I find myself having many seizures if I have a few late nights or when I am starting to get tired late in the evening.

I believe tiredness is one of my main triggers.

Hope this helps

The Crazy Monkey

[whwept]

I am stressed a lot, and the age I'm at doesn't help any so I should start my meditation again likely. Just epilepsy scares me, I don't want to go out in public. And it takes so long for me to start feeling better after my seizures that it just....well ruins my life. I wish none of us had it. Or they could at least cure it. Anyways, I'm ranting about my misfortunes again...

[skillefer]

Hey, you're talking to the right people. Trust me, all of us have felt like that at one time or another. The thing that might help to diminish the stress and fear is to do something to actively take control. Try keeping a journal. Write down everything you eat and drink everyday, as well as how many hours of sleep you get, and any stress you're under, as well as any time spent exercising or meditating. Then, after a while, go back and see if there's a pattern. For some females, they're more likely to seize at certain points in their cycle. For other people, lights or stress or lack of sleep will trigger a seizure. For others, it's something they ate. So start taking a proactive approach and see if you can figure out what your triggers are. If you can figure out what your triggers are, then you can start making some lifestyle changes that will help with your seizure control. Just a thought. And remember...we're here for you.

[whwept]

I really appreciate all your guys' help. I really think that I need to fix my sleep schedule. My older sister also told me that she's heard that people can outgrow their epilepsy. And that the age I'm at (16) my brain is doing a lot of rewiring and changes, so I'm still holding hope that that'll be the case...what do you guys think?

[Meetz1064]

16 is one of the high hormonal ages.....your hormones are raging....I don't envy you one little bit. I would NOT want to be 16 again....no offense intended, dear.

And yes, you DO need to fix your sleep schedule. For me, when I was younger, sleep deprivation was a definite trigger. Right now, it definitely makes me shaky.....but REGULAR, CONSISTENT SLEEP, EVERYDAY is what you need. OK, it's boring. I know. But, which would you rather? Sleep, and be boring? Or, have a seizure? LOL, I know my answer!

Your sister is right, it IS possible to outgrow E. It doesn't always happen though, so don't count on it happening. I know I had wished that it had happened to me, but NO I didn't get that lucky.....I certainy hope that you do though.......

Take care,

Meetz

[tinasmom]

I think having a good nights sleep and eating healthy help to reduce the risk of having a seizure. There are many articles on how not enough sleep causes health problems, it is related to weight problems and heart problems.

I know that in todays world of rushing around all the time, we forget what is important for our health. One major health problem today is obesity. Because we're on the go all the time, we tend to eat on the go also. People today also eat out more than they used to.

Even if you don't have any health issues, you should still be getting a good nights sleep, eating healthy and of course exercising (even if it is just walking).

[skillefer]

Yup, Meetz is right on both counts. You definitely have to get your sleep regulated. Remember, your still growing. And your body grows while you sleep. Getting a good sleep habit in place will definitely help. And no, you cannot "catch up" on lost sleep by sleeping in on the weekends. Once your body has lost sleep, that's it....you can't get that sleep back.

As for outgrowing seizures...yes, it's possible. I outgrew the petite mals that I used to have when I was a teen. So yes, it's possible. However, it doesn't always happen.

[RiffRaffMama]

My seizures always follow a night or several nights of bad/little sleep, so I'm afraid I have to agree with your mum
Best wishes,
Tracy

[RobinN]

Consider looking at blood sugar levels around the same time. Starches and fruits are turned into sugar in the system and can truly throw your body into a tail spin.

I credit the nutritional changes that my daughter has made (who also happens to be 16), as one of the reasons that she has not had any seizures this month.

Here is my understanding of the idea that you can "outgrow" E.
I personally don't think it is so much that you outgrow it, but more that you are able to manage the triggers better. You might make changes nutritionally so that your body/brain is able to get the vitamins and minerals that it needs. Or your hormones begin to balance themselves and you no longer are triggered at certain times of the month. Stress is reduced because you have learned to manage lifes choices better.

We all live this I<---------------->I close to having a seizure. Our thresholds are just at different places. My daughters threshold was low there for quite a while. I believe some of that was made worse by the medications that she was put on. She is now not on any medication and any issues, symptoms that I see these days I can truly say are naturally made. We can attempt to change this rather than saying oh it is just the meds fault.
Adding higher than the RDA levels of magnesium have helped her (and others here on CWE).

Going back to the idea of "outgrowing it"... I think even if we are able to control my daughters seizures today, this month, this year, or years, doesn't mean that down the road if she begins to be overly confident and change her diet to be along the lines of the SAD (standard american diet) and her hormones change with pregnancy or menopause, that she won't have episodes again. Being given the warning that your body is in distress for whatever reason is actually a good sign. Just wish it came with instructions on how to fix it.

So keep looking for ways that you can help yourself, and perhaps you can stay away from the pharmaceutical roller coaster.