Seizures and eating disorders?

[crazychick10793]

i was 12 when i had my first seizure, and the whole time i was in 7th and 8th grade, 13-14 years old, i was anorexic. a year later, 15 years old and after about 8 months of being fully recovered i had another isolated seizure incident while on the phone with my friend at 1 am. now fast forward another full year seizure free, and suddenly about 2 months after my 16th birthday i have one on the school bus, and from there i have at least 10-20 little episodes a day, and an occasional grand mal in my sleep. could my eating disorder have brought the seizures back with a vengence, even though i have been fully recovered almost 2 years?

for the record, i know i didn't get much sleep the night before the bus episode, and that is a possibility, but i've really been wondering about the eating disorder thing lately.

[RainbowBrite]

I wouldn't think that the eating disorder could do that. When people with eating disorders have seizures it's usually due to electrolyte imbalances (low sodium,calcium,potassium) or dehydration which are remedied with proper restoration of fluids and nutrients. Another problem that causes seizures with ED's is trouble regulating sugar. If you're doing better with eating/staying hydrated than I think anorexia isn't causing the seizures. I've heard that long term malnutrition could cause lesions on the brain but I'm sure you would know if that were your case and seems like it'd be something very rare. I certainly know how much it sucks to deal with an eating disorder as well as epilepsy and I hope you're doing well!

[huskymom]

I think I must row this boat that we are in! A few years ago I became anorexic, and still am, although I am battling with it everyday. At one point I weighed 86 pounds. (5'7") So, that was bad!!!! I ended up with 3 brain lesions and epilepsy. So I would say that your food intake has a large part in all of this. Not only that but the fact that your body will start to eat your muscles to stay alive. I lost my total core muscles. Needless to say, huge problems with vitamin deficencies!! Anywho, now I am back up to 119 (which I hate, but there ya go) and I am taking multi vitamins with my anti-epileptic drug's. Try to keep you vitamin levels up! I will be rooting for you!!!

[crazychick10793]

I think I must row this boat that we are in! A few years ago I became anorexic, and still am, although I am battling with it everyday. At one point I weighed 86 pounds. (5'7") So, that was bad!!!! I ended up with 3 brain lesions and epilepsy. So I would say that your food intake has a large part in all of this. Not only that but the fact that your body will start to eat your muscles to stay alive. I lost my total core muscles. Needless to say, huge problems with vitamin deficencies!! Anywho, now I am back up to 119 (which I hate, but there ya go) and I am taking multi vitamins with my anti-epileptic drug's. Try to keep you vitamin levels up! I will be rooting for you!!!

i am recovered now, still flinch when i go up a pants size, but i would never go to the lengths i did. i lost over 100 pounds there, going from 4'11 and 170 pounds, to 5'6 and 65 pounds. my friend jumped in and literally forced food down my throat, and of course i hated her at the moment, but i am eternally greatful to have her now. they did see some sort of brain abnormality on the MRI, but the doctor told me it had nothing to do with my epilepsy and was nothing to worry about. being a size 0 isn't worth all of that. a size 5 isn't all bad honestly.

you can do it! keep going strong, recovery is tough, but it is so worth it in the end

[Cint]

From: http://www.something-fishy.org/dangers/dangers.php

Seizures - the increased risk of seizures in Anorexic and Bulimic individuals may be caused by dehydration, hyperglycemia or ketoacidosis. It is also possible that lesions on the brain caused by long-term malnutrition and lack of oxygen-carrying cells to the brain may play a role. SOME type of antidepressants can increase the risk of seizure and usually carry a warning against prescribing them to people with Eating Disorders, unless the benefits significantly outweigh the risks.

[Rae1889]

From: http://www.something-fishy.org/dangers/dangers.php

I think it has a lot to do with the extreme weight loss. Your essentially losing body mass and therefore, muscle and organ mass. You shrink your brain and that can cause several problems.