Colds, flues, coughs e.t.c.

[Dirt_in_the_ground]

This may sound "silly" and maybe a little over thought. But it's something that has been really bugging me for a couple of years and my Doctors have not been able to give me a conclusive answer to my queries.

Do people with epilepsy tend to get sick, quite easily?

Now when I ask that question, I mean with your generic (and irritating) colds, flues and coughs that you would pick up all year round.

Myself and my father (who also has epilepsy) have noticed, that we both get sick extremely easily compared to my Mum and my fiancée.
The only difference being I eat a much healthier diet than he does (though my Mum tries!) and I exercise more regularly than he does. I actually don't think he exercises at all.

My Neurologist hasn't been able to answer this question for me as I only see him once a year, which in hind-sight is a great thing, and my GP didn't know how to go about answering the question.
She ran some blood tests just to see was everything "ok", and sure enough everything is.

But I thought who better to ask!
Have any of you experienced getting sick on a regular basis? Nothing extremely serious but colds e.t.c. That make you feel run-down?

 

[Fedup]

Dirt_in_the_ground

I know exactly what you mean, I get sick quite easily with colds and flu's ect. It seems the medication lowers our immune system although there was a time I would not get sick, I was on different medication then. Now its all the time.

 

[Dirt_in_the_ground]

Thank you for replying, although this is saddening to read that you have similar experiences, it's also a comfort to know that someone else is going through the same thing.

I don't feel so over-cautious about talking to my Doctor about this, and in September my Neurologist too.

 

[arnie]

In my 30+ years on AEDs I have not really found that I get sick easily. I will get the occasional cold or whatever, but I don't really think it has anything to do with my meds.

 

[kirsten]

I haven't had a cold or the flu for so many years I've lost count--and I've been on the whole gamut of AEDs. The only time I have to go to the GP is to do blood tests. I get sick from AEDs. That's it. And epilepsy, of course.

 

[BIGMAN131307]

I haven't really gotten sick easily myself. That's in the case catching a cold on my own.

But when I catch a cold from someone else, that's different. In those situations I tend to suffer worse than the person I caught the cold from.

 

[lindsayschu2]

I used to, but I take 1 gram (1000 mg) of vitamin C a day. I have had one cold in 3 years since--it hasn't made a difference on an occasional stomach bug but sure has wiped out colds.

 

[CathyAnn31]

I rarely get sick, knock wood. I was hit pretty hard with a stomach virus a few months ago that was horrible for 6 days. I lost 11 lbs. But yes, other then the occasional headache or sniffles, I seldom get sick.

 

[Dirt_in_the_ground]

Thanks for all your replies.
I really appreciate it

 

[daviscy60]

I have been on Dilantin for 30+ yrs. Last July started keppra and in august slowly wrk'd off Dilantin. I haven't had a bad cold sore throat or cough since before 2004. Now this yr I have had two really bad colds. The last one cough that was so bad for over two weeks that I finally went to GP DR. Wondered myself if my being sick this yr is from the new med I'm taking. Not to mention my GP is now really concerned about great weight loss. Sent to have lab wrk she said it all came back ok. Do not understand why I'm so tired all the time depressed and feel like doing nothing!!! Zombie!!! I have read where people say to take b12 and b6. I have tried this along with a b complex for energy. Still feel the same.


Sorry to ramble on but I feel like I have been dealing with this for almost a full yr now. No one to understand. My GP says talk to Neuro. My Neuro seems to just think yes u have a problem with seizures. Take pill. Pill stops seizures so all is well. Neither seem to care about the quality of life this is giving me.