Just when I thought it was safe

[Luckylukas]

Hey guys
Last Friday night I had a seizure at the gym,I woke up confused to a bunch of people around me trying to help out. I was in a fair amount of pain and embarrassment when finally the paramedics rocked up to take me too hospital. My shoulder hurts like a son of a bitch but it's back into place and is in a sling for few weeks. Its been over ten months since my last tonic clonic, and was sure I was finally on the right path with lamictal and keppra. But this really just came out of nowhere, lifting and exercising have never been a problem/ trigger for me in the past and each seizure I've had has always been the result of alcohol, lack of sleep changing of meds, missing of meds. All of these of which I have ceased or do my best to avoid.

I know haven't really asked a question but any help/advice would be appreciated, this new drama is making me nervous, I've spent the past 10 months recovering and would love to get to a full year free!! Lol

 

[WADriver]

hi, probably not a great help, but ive been a gym regular for 18 months and never had a seizure there so maybe just a coincidence?? i was scared to get back into training after my first seizure 2 months ago but decided life was for living and touch wood ive been clear since x

 

[pretty_liquor]

I'm sorry. I've just lost control of my seizures after some time being mostly seizure free, and I know how frustrating it is, especially when you're trying to think of what caused it, or what's gone wrong.

As it's just a one off, I don't think I'd assume that lifting/exercise is a trigger, but I'd probably make sure to put in some safety measures (if you haven't already). Maybe worth having a chat with the gym staff too, so they know what's going on/what you want them to do if it happens again. If it does happen again, then I suppose you'll need to re-evaluate your gym routine etc.

You had 10 months free, which is awesome. I hope you have at least another 10 months, hopefully more

 

[Nakamova]

So sorry LL! I know how frustrating a relapse an be (and I know about the shoulder thing -- after multiple seizure-related dislocations, I'm recovering from my second surgery to repair the damage). I hope you feel better soon.

Don't beat yourself up about the seizure. Sometimes it can just be a freak occurrence, or the cumulative/combined effect of small stressors. Maybe you were a little hungrier or thirstier than usual, or it was the end of a long week that was a bit more stressful than you realized, or the fluorescent lighting at the gym needs fixing, or you've got a little cold... It could also be a sign that your dose needs adjusting -- perhaps your exercise routine has upped your metabolism, and your meds are clearing faster than they used to. Give yourself time to heal, and then take a close look at what happened to see if you can figure out a trigger. If you can't, it's okay. Talk to your neuro to see if a dose change makes sense, and then get back to enjoying your life.

 

[Luckylukas]

Thanks for the support guys, won't be doing much exercise for a while though after dislocating shoulder, but definitely keen to get get back at it, and like you said wadriver life is for the living. Will Definitely incorporate some safety measures now though,especially with any weights.
Now just to suss out the possible reason for the frustrating breakthrough seizure. I've heard good things about valpro,Could adding this drug to the lamictal and keppra mix be a good idea??
Possibility?

 

[Luckylukas]

Thanks nakamova, you always seem to have something positive and insightful to say.I will certainly try to stress less and think carefully about the other possible variables. And I hope your surgery is a great success!! Nothing worse then having a bone wrenched back into it's socket... I swear i nearly teared up lol. Pain on a galactic scale!!

 

[Nakamova]

I've heard good things about valpro,Could adding this drug to the lamictal and keppra mix be a good idea??

It's better to see if you can get seizure control on as few meds as possible, and limit the the complications of multiple drug interactions and side effects. But if your neuro is concerned about the breakthrough seizure, and doesn't want to raise the dosage of the other meds, you could bring up the possibility of trying Valproate.