Weight Lifting and Epilepsy

[recall92]

Hi everyone. I usually have complex partials. 4-7 a week and also simple partials. About 1-3 simple partials in the last month. Only 1 tonic clonic and it happened about 2 months ago after waking up during the night. Didn't even know it happened. Just finished it and my mum and dad were beside me. Anyway I want to know if anyone here lifts heavy weights. Neurologist said take it light at the moment but in the future I want to bench press and lift heavy. Just worried I could have a tonic clonic while bench pressing 290 pounds. Thx. Oh I started meds about 2 months ago as well.

[epileric]

I'm lucky in that I get enough warning in my seizures that I can put the weights down (though I'd never even dream of pressing 290 lbs). What I did notice was that when I worked out 4 times a week the number of seizures dropped sufficiently. The facilitators of a course I was taking told me that they could always tell when I'd been to the gym because I had a lot more energy even though I felt dead tired.

I have had seizures in the gym & if I'm not sure about them I just shower & go home rather than risk an accident. If it's a smaller one where I have little or no post-ictal effects then I just stay & finish my routine.

[recall92]

Yeah I get warning as well. I have an aura before my complex partials only lasts a few secs. I'm just worried about having a tonic clonic and droping that much weight on myself.

[EoUnus]

I think the doctors are just more concerned with seizures during the lifting itself. Yes the rush of blood to the head probably isn't good for you, but that is a normal feeling. The feeling after maxing out on squats is actually pretty similar to my aura before a seizure, so i tend to watch out especially on squats.

I have had no difference in seizure activity from my lifting, good or bad, but at least it still give's me something from my "normal" life I can still do. Epilepsy took away football, it will not take away lifting from me.

[alivenwell]

Can you have somebody readily available to guard you? Or use a device which has notches in it that automatically catch the weight?

[Loopy Lou]

I use the weight machines instead. I feel much safer, and there's only two of them which could really risk damage by pulling my shoulders out of joint. Not had any problems so far, but if i start feeling like somethings not right, then i stop for a bit.

[TeeTees]

I get aura's too, and lucky for me they give me enough time to put the weights down; put the bar back on the rack; walk down the stairs, and hide away in the gents loo before it kicks in.

If I ever feel BEFORE I go to the gym, a bit under the weather, then I'll just skip the session rather than risk anything happening.....sometimes it just better for me to rest up - a day off isn't gonna kill me, but a barbell could !

Usually, like epileric, I'll still go back and finish off the routine...lol I think it's just something that's programmed into my brain, and I still have plenty of energy left after the seizure to finish the workout.

alivenwell has a good point regarding a training partner, or using the Smith machine, rather than using free weights on your own though. I'm lucky where I have never just dropped, and always had an aura, but if YOU are unsure and concerned about the risk factor, I'd move across to the Smith machine or use dumbells - at least the dumbell will just fall to the floor and not choke you !

[music man]

Hi
I guess its a personal decision. I have tonic clonic seizures and i am an avid cyclist. Take your pick dropping 290 lbs or getting run over by a Mack Truck some days i ponder it some i don't .
Ed.

[kyrissa]

Several other members know that I have seizures and are near. I usually run on the treadmill and then my weights. I do not use the free weights, but use the devices. I feel this is safer.
Working out has significantly lowered the # of seizures for me. I do make sure I have a medic alert bracelet on.

[music man]

Sound advice

[skillefer]

Actually, there might be several reasons to be concerned about lifting that you might want to keep an eye on:

1) hyperventilating
if you breath to hard and fast (hyperventilating) THAT can trigger a seizure

2) blood sugar
Low blood sugar can trigger seizures...so make sure that you eat a protein snack and drink an electrolyte drink whenever exercising.

3) free weights vs. machines
I prefer machines. I have tonic clonics and just because there are other people nearby doesn't mean they will be able to help me if I use free weights. I can be combative when I seize. Machines offer a certain degree of comfort in that I have less chances of getting crushed.