dreading july

[msuder0583]

Well not a few years back when I was welcomed into adulthood with epilepsy it took me a few tries to get my meds right and I've been all over the place with them. So it seems every year I'm on more and more, but that's not the point of this thread. The point is - every single year since I turned 18 (even when seizure free throughout the whole year) I have a nocturnal seizure in the latter part of july. Kinda weird actually cause my little sis' birthday is on july 17th. I asked my neurologist if a brain could plan out every year when it wants to mess with me (not in those words) and she just laughed and said no but I find it hard to believe that its a coincidence. They seem to me to be breakthroughs, but why the same time every year?

[Nakamova]

Well, I suppose sunlight, heat and humidity could be a factor -- July in Baltimore, right? But maybe stress is playing a role too, since at this point your system knows to expect a seizure and gets anxious as a result. Either way, now's the time to start visualizing a seizure-free July! Start each day off by meditating on how you'll be having a seizure-free day and night. Reward yourself each morning with something nice -- maybe listen to your favorite song -- and then before you go to sleep at night, imagine yourself having a calm restful night. Really imagine it, perhaps even draw a picture of your smiling sleepy self. I know it seems silly, but the more positive reinforcement and imagery you can generate the better.

[Endless]

In the second week of every May I end up on a road trip to a neighboring town. Then I remember it is the anniversary of my brother's death and that I'm driving to the place where he is buried. I end up visiting the cemetary and crying my eyes out.

For some reason almost the entire year I forget about my brother's death and the date. For some reason I/my subconscious remembers on the date itself, and so does my body. And there I am. The mind and body are amazing things.

Did anything meaningful in your past happen in the month of July? Might your parents, friends, and/or siblings remember something you may have forgotten?

[msuder0583]

Meditation it seems never works for me. I have tried so many times, but my mind always floats somewhere else. I can never concentrate on just one thing. Plus once I start having the panic attacks its hard to think happy thoughts, but I will definitely try. You are right....the mind is a very powerful thing. And in response to the other post, I don't believe anything bad has happened in July. Or anything of importance. Just my sister and best friend's bdays; on the same day actually.

[elizzza811]

You might want to check the following websites daily. I don't think it's coincidence at all. The sun and earth go through seasonal changes throughout the year, so perhaps your body is sensitive to these changes? The last two websites are ones that can be searched backwards in time, too. If you check them daily, you might see a pattern...I know auroras pick up in the fall, so the sun does have its seasons.

Space Weather Now:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SWN/index.html

*Check the Magnetic Field Component (is it North, South, or Neutral?), Solar Wind Speed, and Dynamic Pressure.
*Pay special attention to days when the Dynamic Pressure Drops to zero, especially when it's zero and neutral for a long period of time.

Todays Space Weather:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today2.html

*Read the 3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecasts.
*Check the Solar X-ray Flux graph for an increase in strong solar flares, especially M-class and X-ray class flares.
*Check the Satellite Environment Plot's 'Estimated Kp' graph for red and yellow bars (which indicate geomagnetic storms underway and an unsettled geomagnetic field).
*Check the Proton Flux and Electron Flux graphs. Pay special attention to days when the blue line in the Electron Flux graph goes 'crazy jaggedy' or when any of the lines in the Electron Flux graph start to dip or 'zig-zag' on you.

Space Weather Archives (Click on 'Currently in Effect):
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/archive.html#2006

*This one is pretty self-explanatory - check for X-ray and radio events, proton events, electron fluxes, sudden impulses, geomagnetic K and A storms, stratwarms.
*This website can be searched backwards and then compared to your 'seizure diary'.

Space Weather - Sunspot Page:
http://spaceweather.com/

*Check for sunspots and coronal holes. Also, solar wind speed and density.
*This website can also be searched backwards and then compared to your 'seizure diary'.

[msuder0583]

wow. thanks so much for that. only problem is that there was no suspicious activity going on during the nights in which i had a breakthrough

[elizzza811]

There may have been though...be sure to check them daily. And all 4 of those websites, since those first two websites can't be searched backwards in time...only the latter 2.

Also, sometimes things are going on, but they don't post an article on the Sunspot Page until days later...literally. For example, if there's a CME (coronal mass ejection) or a magnetic filament it's not always posted on the day it occurs.

I check these daily...all 4 of them...and I can always tell when something has changed. For instance, I started feeling lousy today around 1:30 or 2pm, and the K4 storm underway had stopped by then and a coronal hole had appeared (since this morning when I'd checked). I actually feel better during K-storms? I don't do well at all with electron fluxes though?

Seriously though...check them daily.

[msuder0583]

yeah starting yesterday its almost as like my body is starting to buildup....maybe its paranoia - i dunno. but since the seizures occur on the right side of my brain the left side of my body is affected first, and for the past couple days i've noticed my left arm getting weak and numb. maybe its like that all the time, but im only noticing it now cause its july. i dunno. scared to go to sleep

[Nakamova]

Try doing things with the left side of your body (to "distract" it and your right brain): If you're right-handed, practice writing and drawing with your left hand. Listen to music through the left ear only (using an earphones of course). Lift light weights with your left hand, brush your teeth using the left hand, kick a soccer ball with your left foot... you get the idea. And consider getting a massage to relieve stress, with particular focus on the left side of your body.

[msuder0583]

yeah thats what i've been doing. not those exact things but like whatever i happen to be doing at the time, i will only use my left hand and left arm, but i only do it when it gets real bad, and it sorta takes my mind off of it for a bit

[Nakamova]

Oh, and shift your watch to the other wrist! Every evening before you go to bed, write with your left hand: "I will not have a seizure" or "My brain is healthy and calm" or "My brain is frigging awesome" (or whatever floats your boat). It may sound silly, but there's something to be said for the mind-body connection, and it can't hurt.

[msuder0583]

that is actually so funny what you said about the watch for two reasons: #1 that you knew that i wore one, and #2 because i get paranoid the most when im wearing cause it weighs my left arm down. im constantly shaking my wrist