Fireworks and seizures...

[RainbowBrite]

So, yesterday I went to a fireworks show which ended up resulting in 4 seizures (I've never been photosensitive before). Luckily, I was with a good friend who knows about my seizures, could see the aura (which I don't even remember having) and had me lie down. It was a pretty crappy evening because we were with her son (who is 8 years old) and she had to call her husband to get him and help get me in the car. I had an asthma attack while in between seizures o_0 and apparently sometime in that period I also asked her to call an ambulance (no memory of whatsoever). Anyways, to my question (so this doesn't end up in the padded room)- is it possible to develop photosensitivity when you previously were fine with fireworks (even strobe lights for that matter)? My mom told me that I had an EEG with the strobe light to provoke a seizure while I was in the ICU (I don't remember this..) and it was fine. Previous to yesterday I had been seizure free for a little over a week after starting Vimpat. I'm totally confused and don't know what I should be avoiding if this is suddenly a trigger. Thanks

 

[epileric]

I know I'd never been photosensitive & loved (still do) strobe lights at concerts & light shows but the strobe during an EEG did cause abnormal firing in my brain even though it didn't trigger a seizure.

When I was put on Keppra & went to my brothers wedding I had to fight off a seizure because of all the flashes from the cameras. It eventually did trigger a huge seizure but I think the photosensitivity to flashes has gone, though recently I noticed that some days (like yesterday) I'll have constant seizures all day if I'm in front of the computer. Yesterday they stopped every time I left the PC to do something else for a few hours, then started again when I went back to the PC. This doesn't happen every day though, just once in a while.

You may just have to watch & figure out what your triggers/sensitivities are & if they're constant.

 

[peachy]

Never thought of the computer causing seizures epileric. Mine happen often when I am bored.... my daughter can somehow tell when I may start to have seizures. She is 13... anyway at the fireworks I didn't watch the super strobe like or flashy fireworks, I turned the other way. But my daugher said she thought I may have had one so I took a valium to prevent any more. That was it, thank goodness. I hate not knowing what happened and I am sorry that you went through all that...

 

[Aubrey]

I have never been photosensitive (set off some crazy stuff in our street last night), but shortly after I started taking Vimpat I started waking up at night having bit my tongue (pretty sure I know what that means), and I have never been a nocturnal seizure sufferer. I now take 50mg/2x day of the Vimpat, and it seems to help. I know it is supposed to be totally perfect and side effect free, but there was really nothing else I had changed at that time. When I was on a higher dose I think it actually lowered my seizure threshold.