Sorry, 1 more post! Has anyone gotten a tatoo after being diagnosed?

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

L

LJ-Bain

New
Messages
1,054
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Yeah so I was thinking about adding on my to my tattoo but I was afraid of the pain and the vibrating needle triggering something.
Or maybe some people have gotten a symbolic tattoo to do with their epilepsy?
I was just thinking about adding a symbol to represent each of my children and I always said I'd do it after being done with breastfeeding but now I'm hesitant to do it for a different reason.
Yeah, I have a "tramp stamp" ha ha! Although I never show it off because I'm actually really conservative in my dress and a polite Canadian in demeanour.
It just wouldn't make for a great tattoo to be seizing and having that needle go all nilly willy.
 
Hi LJ-BAIN,
Hi how you getting on? Just thought id chime in and answer your question from my personal experience.I was diaganosed at seventeen,tonic-clonics and abscences.
I got my tattoo inked when i was twenty six,on my left shoulder blade and i suffered no negative effects what so ever,But then with Epilepsy everyone is diffrient,but just because you have epilepsy dont let that stop you if you think your gonna be all right.

Ive heard many storys in fact know people with no seizure back ground faint whilst been tattooed.
Been Scottish i have my clan crest as my tattoo,so if you get one done let us know,all the best and good luck!!!
 
LJ-Bain said:
Yeah so I was thinking about adding on my to my tattoo but I was afraid of the pain and the vibrating needle triggering something.
Click to expand...

I'm so glad you asked about this as I've been wondering about this too. I have three tattoos, all done prior to my diagnosis this January and all under a year old. I have been wanting another one..actually I have two planned, one now somehow representing E. But, honestly I'm a bit worried..scared actually about it not going so well while getting a tattoo. not oly by the pain triggering something..but lights and smells too. I canceled an appointment 3 weeks ago because I was worried. crazy huh?
 
This thread should be of interest:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/guestion-about-tattoos-7564/

This is my comment from that thread:
Not too worry, it has nothing to do with your meds or blood. It does have to do with the risk of a seizure -- getting a tattoo is considered a stressful event for some people, so if that kind of stress is a trigger for you, proceed with caution. If you're in a good place though, seizures are controlled, feeling healthy, etc. then there's no reason why you can't get a tattoo. If you are "on the edge" -- i.e., not sure how you're feeling, have a friend come with you.

A tiny secondary concern would be the risk of an infection (Probably why doctors are anti-tattoo). For some people a fever/infection lowers the seizure threshold. But the infection risk at a good tattoo parlor is pretty low -- after all it would be bad for business if people kept getting sick.
Click to expand...
 
I"m in Canadas capitol where a huge percentage of the population look extremely conservative since they work for the federal government. I've since learned that it's often just appearances that are conservative though.

I do see the stress of getting a tattoo a possible trigger for someone with seizures but I think if the tattoo artist were aware of the seizure & knew to watch for muscles that flexed involuntarily while working then it should be no problem.

When talking to the artists about it, I would also watch their body language while telling them about the seizures because if they're even slightly uncomfortable then they are less likely to act appropriately should I seize during a session.
 
i got one a few months back just ignore the noise and it doesn't mess with me seizures and almost everything is a trigger i got think positive up my forearm with the purple ribbon colored in its really cool didnt really hurt that bad besides by the bone
 
Also doing some research about tattooists is a good idea rather than walking into the first one you come across.Ask to see their work,word off mouth,cleanliness off shop,etc.
I would personally go somewhere more expensive,longer waiting list.if they are better,much better walking out with something your really proud off,than something you arent that struck on,or worse hate.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys! When I got my first 2 tattoos I was in my twenties (wow, it's been that long!) and I'm now 36 so it has been awhile.
I think that I have pretty good pain tolerance and the tattoo is going to be just above my existing one so I think that the sensation will be familiar.
I didn't know they had the right to refuse though (from the thread you pointed me to Nakamova)! Very educational. I will have to shop around.
Serendipity...I'll let you know when I get mine how it goes to perhaps inspire you to go! But it's not crazy to be cautious.
Neil129...the clan tattoo sounds just perfect! Way to show your pride in your heritage!
Acpollard...way to go with the purple ribbon! Putting awareness on display.
 
I was thinking it would be pretty cool for people,off course if they wanted they could take a photo off their tottoos and put them on their home page.It would be intresting to see what everyone has inked on their bodys,just a thought.
 
LJ-Bain said:
I didn't know they had the right to refuse though (from the thread you pointed me to Nakamova)! Very educational. I will have to shop around.
Serendipity...I'll let you know when I get mine how it goes to perhaps inspire you to go! But it's not crazy to be cautious.
Click to expand...

wow..I had no idea they could refuse either..definitely good to know, yet disappointing. i have a $300.00 gift certificate i received from my summer bowling league for a shop where the tattooist did one of mine and i am ot so familiar with their restrictions. i will be a bit sad if i can't use the certificate. i think the other tattooist who did the other 2 of mine, who i am familiar with and he has been tattooing my daughter and husband..will be "okay" with this. I do understand their angst about this also. hmmm....

L-J..I will be waiting to see how it goes! :)
 
neil129 said:
I was thinking it would be pretty cool for people,off course if they wanted they could take a photo off their tottoos and put them on their home page.It would be intresting to see what everyone has inked on their bodys,just a thought.
Click to expand...

great idea! if I figure out how to do that I will doit.
 
I was dx'd with epilepsy as a baby, and got my first tattoo at the age of 18. Ive had it for 13 years now. its considered a 'tramp stamp' too... :lol: I got it when I was with a ex bf who wanted to get one, and when I went with him, i was looking around and saw a cute little butterfly that I liked. I never have regreted getting it. Its in the back right in the middle of my waiste line area. I remember it hurting alot. But they never asked if I had epilepsy when I got it. Here is a picture of it. :)

tatoo.jpg
 
acpollard....that is awesome. I may look into that.

mom...I like your tattoo! one of my ideas is a butterfly with an eye incorporated somehow.
 
Thanks! :)

I was thinking about getting another with our kid's birthdates or names. But thats just an idea for now... :)
 
Right,ive managed to photograph my tattoo,i downloaded the images from my memory card into a new document on my laptop and the went to the CWE and followed the instructions and added the pics in the browse section.
You can now see tha tattoo at neil129 homepage or the photo album section,looking forward to seen yours!!!
 
Interesting thread. I have ben thinking alot about tatts lately and never considered that epilepsy might be an issue.

Someone mentioned telling the tattooist so involuntary muscle movements can be accounted for. Both times I had my back worked on I was often told to stop moving and never thought I was moving. Another clue I've had this for longer than I've known.

As for tramp stamps, anything below the rib cage is considered a tramp stamp which I think is crap. Unitas you have tramp tattooed on you, you don't have a tramp stamp. :-)

Oh and do research your artists! I went local for my first tatt, a phoenix on my lower back. I was not happy with the result. I went elsewhere for my wrist and hand (perspective on my wrist and a heart made from a treble clef and bass clef.) and showed that artist my phoenix and asked how he would fix it. He said exactly what I was thinking so 4 hours of agony later and $600, it's much improved but still a few hours from finished. I'm sure that artist would be sensitive to my new condition, but he's moved a few hours away and that adds quite some expense to an already expensive process.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom