Amusement Parks and JAE

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dlynnb

dlynnb

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Hi, I'm new here just signed up today, hoping to get some opinions. My 16 yo daughter has recently been diagnosed with absence seizures and we are starting her on zarontin and keppra and will be taking her off lamictal in the coming weeks. She has had 4 convulsive seizures since October where she stiffens up for a couple of minutes.
Her best friend is turning 16 in a few weeks and was planning to go to Six Flags for her birthday. I'm wondering if this is something we should let her do? She has been to six flags before she had her first seizure and ridden all of the scariest and biggest rides with no problems. Her doctor was kind of wishy-washy about it, but generally didn't seem to think it was a good idea. I hate to keep her from doing something that may be ok, but also don't want anything bad to happen to her. The thing I most worry about is that we're in the middle of changing her meds, maybe if she had been on the new meds for awhile already and we knew that they were working, it would be ok. Please help!
 
Hi dlynnb, welcome to CWE!

My take would be to play it safe -- either have her skip Six Flags altogether, or attend, but avoid the most overstimulating of the activities. Not easy for your daughter I'm sure, but perhaps she could make up for it with a different excursion with her friend.

Best,
Nakamova
 
Thanks, that's kind of the way I was leaning. I hate that we have to give her these limitations, I feel overprotective, but yea, it's frustrating!
 
I totally agree with Nakamova! I used to love the Octopus ride - lots of spinning. Then one day I went to a park with my cousins and I remember getting on the ride and then waking up being taken off and taken home. Damn, another seizure! Was a bummer for everyone and I've never had the urge to go on the crazy rides since.

However I do go on the ferris wheel and merry-go-round. When my friends dragged me out to Six Flags I had a great time and didn't bum them out by having a seizure. So if your daughter is willing to be very up front about it - tell her friends that no she can't go on some of the rides because she has epilepsy and doesn't want to have a seizure - then she definitely can have a good time. She just has to remember that if she has a seizure it will be a bummer for her and for her friends.

Probably she should discuss this with her best friend before they go so she isn't hounded into going on rides. Epilepsy does require some life adjustments but once you accept it you find out all the things you can do rather than focusing on what you can't/shouldn't.

Hope your daughter has a great time with her friend whatever the decision!
 
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I went to an amusement park a few years ago and didn't have any problems. I asked my neuro about it and he was sort of iffy if I should go or not.

I stayed away from rides with strobe lights, they don't cause me to have seizures but we figured rather be safe than sorry. Anything that went upside down over and over agin or other things like that I didn't ride either. I did fine on the roller coaster that went fast.

Like Dolores said, if she doesn't feel like she sould ride the ride then don't go on it. And don't let her friends push her into doing it.
 
I remember this. If you allow her to go she should stay well-hydrated, eating correctly, and taking medication on time. Also a good time to remind her of fatigue, heat, etc, which can be triggers for some. If she is bothered by light flickering through trees, strong wind in the face (this bothers me), then no roller coaster or anything with strobe lights. I used to take my boys to the amusement park, but we avoided going after dusk.

I think the reason her doctor was kind of iffy is because she is on new meds and has not been to an amusement park since her diagnosis.

Take care
Mary
 
ive been on tons of roller costers since my diagnosis. honestly, i think staying away from things that make you happy makes epilepsy harder to deal with. If your daughter is photosensitive, just make sure to have her avoid any strobe like rides or haunted houses. and make sure she gets plenty of sleep the night before. make sure her friends mom knows what to do incase she has a seizure and tell her not to over do it.

I was fine on roller coasters... i hope she gets to go
 
My daughter (age 14) was been to Six Flags numerous times since her diagnosis. She was dx'd with JME last February. We just make sure she is well hydrated, her friends are aware of her diagnosis and she HAS to wear her medical ID bracelet. She rides all of the thrill rides and has not had any problems (knock on wood). I was so nervous the first time she went with her friends but we texted throughout the day and that made me feel a bit better.
 
Thanks everyone! I think we'll let her go, but she just won't be able to go on the biggest rides, and definitely not ones that go upside down. And maybe, in the future, after we know if her meds are working, we may let her do more.
 
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