Camping?

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finalpoet

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I've had epilepsy for over 8 years and I now realize I haven't been camping, nearly at all in that time. So what is recommended when an epileptic goes camping, I'm not planning on going, just wondering. Should I avoid it?
 
Had fever and shat the bed and stuff and spewed in a tent half way up a mountain in India. Ended up having some pretty bad seizures. I hadn't told this guide that I had epilepsy because they wouldn't have taken me.

Seriously they went to the army camp on the mountain and this Dr came out with an ak47 and stuck a needle in my ass cheek. Don't know what he gave me. They took me down to the "gypsy village" to keep warm but I couldn't breathe in the house with all the smoke (there was a fire but no chimney).

Eventually they just took me down the mountain. There was no trail it was properly climbing over rocks and along ledges and stuff. Don't remember much of it to be honest but it wasn't fun when you just had multiple tonic clonics.

I realize this is not your standard camping trip. But just basically don't avoid anything (even though I'm sure others on here will tell you to). Plus it'll give you a story to tell when you get home.
 
I would inform your camping partner(s) of your condition, what to expect can happen during one of your seizures, and what he/she/they should do. If you have frequent and uncontrolled seizures that at times require medical attention and/or require contact with your neurologist, make sure you camp within cell phone range and not too far from a medical center. Of course, ensure adequate supply of medication including extra in the event of a delayed return home. Follow the usual seizure precautions of avoiding hiking in areas where a fall may have serious consequences, climbing cliffs or trees, swimming (esp. out of reach of a buddy or in a fast moving stream/river), and continue to avoid your seizure triggers (eg. alcohol, late nights, etc.)
 
I would inform your camping partner(s) of your condition, what to expect can happen during one of your seizures, and what he/she/they should do. If you have frequent and uncontrolled seizures that at times require medical attention and/or require contact with your neurologist, make sure you camp within cell phone range and not too far from a medical center. Of course, ensure adequate supply of medication including extra in the event of a delayed return home. Follow the usual seizure precautions of avoiding hiking in areas where a fall may have serious consequences, climbing cliffs or trees, swimming (esp. out of reach of a buddy or in a fast moving stream/river), and continue to avoid your seizure triggers (eg. alcohol, late nights, etc.)

I say again, AVOID NOTHING! (Nothing that you wouldn't avoid if you didn't have epilepsy anyway). And obviously continue to take your meds. If you will indulge me ...

I was in Thailand and I met a South African guy who claimed to also have epilepsy. (I say "claimed" because he didn't seem to know much about it. He was telling people that if he had a seizure they should hold him down and put something in his mouth :roflmao: ). He convinced me that I shouldn't take my meds and I should just stay up with him drinking and smoking weed - which I don't really smoke at all - and taking shite loads of diazepam which is just available over the counter over there. In my defence I was quite drunk already when I agreed to it.

I woke up in the hostel toilet at about 7am.

Ok, so I'm not recommending you do exactly what I did but my point is don't let the fact that you have epilepsy make you "avoid" stuff. If you feel like drinking all night, do it! If you want to accidentally marry some girl, have a seizure and then get exiled from a village, do it. You want to travel the world or go camping anyway - its perfectly possible with epilepsy.

Just incase you were wondering, I have around 4-6 tonic clonics a month with partials in between and absences all the time. I had status recently as well.
 
Don't let epilepsy rule your life, but don't let your life put others at risk.

Yes. Sorry I've kind of hijacked this thread. But just to clarify, although it may not seem like it, this is also my golden rule. I try not to do things that could put others at risk, but sometimes I forget.

When it comes to my own safety, I think I can decide whether to risk it or not.

Sorry finalpoet we seem to have got a bit off track.
 
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