Safety for people with seizures

[Endless]

Lately I've been concentrating on making my house safe for me for when I have complex partial seizures. It's been hard figuring out solutions. I have a great handyman whose helped, but I thought maybe swapping hints in here might help us all. Both the things inside the house, and outside the house.

Everybody has different categories and types of seizures, so their needs will be a little different. For example, a person who has a tonic clonic would need something different than someone who usually sits and nods their head during a complex partial, who will need something different than someone who pushes buttons or goes walking around during a complex partial.

I have complex partials, and tend to do almost anything during them, like push buttons, go outside, eat strange things, do strange things. Here's what I've done to my house to try to make it safe.

• Put baby latches on the cupboard doors and put knives and other sharp things on the bottom shelf inside the cupboards.
• Locked up toxic substances - I put a locking door handle on the door of the pantry
• Put a lock on the front door that requires a key to open it, no matter what side you are on (and inside the key is kept in a drawer need the door)
• Put a guard over the buttons on the stove (available from the baby proofing section at the hardware store)
• Put museum putty underneath the breakables on my mantle and entry table (especially glass)
• Use acrylic glasses for everyday (There are some really cute ones at costco right now)

The only thing that really alarms me is when I go outside (REALLY dangerous - could go out in the road and be hit by a car), or when I eat something like when I ate dogfood this week. (ick, but it could have been drain cleaner)

What have you all done safety-wise for your types of seizures?

[tkopi]

It looks like you're on the right track on making your house safe, but I know theres only so much you can do. If you can and you have stairs you might want to put some type of door's at the top of them.
I've also found praying helps quite a bit. Praying and alot of bandages.

[travel bug]

Because I usually have simple partial motor seizures that cause my arm and head to turn backwards as far as possible and draws my leg up, I fall forward without any control so I'm afraid of sharp or pointy objects. My first ever seizure was actually a tonic clonic that occurred just a couple of feet from a particularly nasty corner of a kitchen counter. I've put baby bumpers on that and other corners and moved some furniture so that sharp edges are out of my way.

But goodness, Endless, you've had to be really creative in your seizure-proofing of your home. I guess I'm lucky because what I have to guard against is fairly straight-forward.

[dfwtexas]

I am blessed to have one of my adult sons live with me, to watch over me. I have told him that I know he would prefer to be living on his own now, but he said he would never forgive himself if he wasn't here for me so it's a small price for him to pay. Great son

[Endless]

I've heard some people in here with tonic clonic's saying they made sure their water temp in the water heater was turned down, and they've quit using their stove. I think that last one is a lot harder than what I have to do!!!!

[Nakamova]

Ideally, I would wear oven mitts and clothe myself in bubblewrap.

Ideally I would have an entourage to catch and cushion me. And a hunky cabana guy to shower with me. Just to be safe.

[little fruitcake]

I want one too!

[Endless]

Oh, my! I want the hunky cabana boy! Can you get one mail order?

[travel bug]

I've heard some people in here with tonic clonic's saying they made sure their water temp in the water heater was turned down, and they've quit using their stove. I think that last one is a lot harder than what I have to do!!!!

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on how you look at it), I can't cook to save my life, if it can't be nuked in a microwave, I don't make it. So not using my stove/oven isn't a big loss for me.

My water temperature isn't an issue, but until I felt I had good seizure control, I put a lawn chair in the shower. It's much more secure feeling than the little benches that are made specifically for the shower. But I really like that cabana boy idea

[Dutch mom]

My son needs a lot of equipment for safety.
He is a special needs boy, he can not walk (he's in a wheelchair), he can sit by himself but he can not sit on a normal chair, couch or even just on the floor (only on our lap or attended by an adult next to him or near by.) He sees no danger and would let himself just fall off and hurt himself bad.

He has several types of seizures, they are reduced since he's on the ketogenic diet, but he still can have mean tonics, atonics and tonic-clonics out of the blue. The absence seizures and complex partials are not dangerous in his situation, but the 'falling and shaking ones' are.

He sits in his wheelchair, in his special needs chair or stroller, or he is playing in his 'soft play safety box'. He has a special needs bed with high doors and the inside is covered with soft bysonyl material for not hurting his head. He always is attended by camera's when we're not near by, as well as in his bed as in the living room, we have 3 camera's and 3 mini monitors + sound in the living room, our bedroom and the study.
So Big Mom and Dad are allways watching Big Brother (and are listening when we sleep.)


box.jpg bed.jpg chair.jpg camera.jpg monitor.jpg

[Endless]

Dutchmom,

You are an AWESOME mom. So are the rest of the moms and dads in here. I stand in awe of you all.

[Rae1889]

Holy Crap! that play box looks amazingly fun! why is it kids have cooler toys and stuff now than I did? and baby toys are so amusing!

I like Nakamovas ideas! Cabana Boy!!!!

I dont do anything different than I used to. Other than making sure someone is around when I shower or cook or use my flat iron (so many burns from that). We bought a carper cleaner last year so that it can help clean up blood, and thats it. lol

[Dutch mom]

Dutchmom,

You are an AWESOME mom. So are the rest of the moms and dads in here. I stand in awe of you all.

*** You make me blush Endlessly ***

This very special awesome boy also has a very special awesome brother and sister.

Here are my youngest two (my twins turned 7 last thursday) safety guards attending their Big Brother so he won't fall out.

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[Endless]

You have such beautiful children!

[mel239]

After 2 years I started canning again-am covered in cuts and burns and my bad days have increased and I have to hit garden at night-its in 90's this week-but I feel a sense of accomplishment I havent felt in 2 years and everything sealed up so I must be doing okay even if I dont remember everything.

[seizingbeauty]

I hate to say it but I'm doing the ostrich with its in the sand thing. I honestly try not to think about it. At best if I'm feeling "off" I'll be more careful but I have t/c's so baby proofing won't do me much good. I am a likely to fall into the metro as I am to land on my couch.

[epileric]

Metro= Subway in Montreal