My epilepsy and stopping smoking.

[bluelammy]

Hi everybody :bigsmile: Hope everyones feeling ok.
Here's something that happened to me recently that i would like to share with everyone :woot: To cut a a long story short my wife and i decided to pack in the disgusting habit of smoking at the start of the new year. I would stop by going cold turkey and my wife stopped by using nicotine patches.
Since the start of the year everything regarding my epilepsy and stopping smoking had been great. Then last saturday 28/1/12 whlist asleep in bed i had a cluster of 3 tonic clonic siezures during the night. Now in the past after coming around after a siezure i would at some time reach for my ciggarettes and light up. but after last saturday night even though i was confused and anxious etc i just fought the urge to have a smoke and stood my ground repeatingly telling myself i wasn't going to smoke. I am so pleased with my wife also as it must have been difficult for her also. Regarding the siezures i dont think i had felt so bad after a siezure in about 20 years. It took me about 6 days to recover from it. :tup: If there are any smokers out there, pack them in because if i can do it so can you.:bigmouth:

 

[Nakamova]

I think it's great that you are quitting smoking! Keep it up!

Because nicotine is a very powerful med (and a stimulant) there may be short-term side withdrawal side effects (including your seizures and prolonged seizure hangover). If your withdrawal side effects continue or worsen, you might want to reconsider the patch -- as with AEDs, quitting cold turkey can be hard on the brain and body.

Of course the long-term benefits of quitting can be huge, so I'm rooting for you!