Forums >Health and Nutrition>Running with Epilepsy
I cannot help - Sorry for your plight. I had epilepsy as a child. I had a grand mal at age 6 and a small episode at age 9. I was on medication until age 12. It made me lethargic and my grades were poor. As soon as I was off medication my grades went to the top and I was a bundle of energy. I have not had an issue or episode since. Hopfefully it passes for you or they figure a root cause - Good luck in your search for information.
Long dead ... But my stench lingers !
I'm epileptic, and I run. Doesn't affect me a bit. Of course, I'm pretty lucky in that my seizures have been completely controlled since 2004 by virtue of some small lifestyle changes and meds. I'd bet I could do without the meds, too, but they don't seem to cause me any trouble, and I'm a little afraid to try going off them. I do occasionally have an "aura" that reminds me I'd better get some sleep tonight, or lay off the coffee. In my case, we've never figured out an underlying cause. Exercise seems to help rather than hurt.
There are a lot of different kinds of meds, too. If this one isn't agreeing with you, try another.
Of course, there's always a chance I could have another one when I'm out for a run. Or when driving a car, or painting the house, etc. I don't worry about it much these days given my history, but it used to bug me. There's always going to be a chance.
Cotton mouth
Paul,
Don't despair, there are options. My wife has had epilepsy for 22 years and we have learned a lot on controlling it and
medicines that work. At first she felt like you but we went back to the doctor and started exploring different meds and doses.
Eventually, we found a med that worked and, starting at a high dose, backed it down until it was too little- coming back up to a
proper dose. Since then she has been on a minimal dosage and feels a lot better. ( This was all under close medical supervision by her neurologist.)
She now is active and working, most people don't even know she has it. Of course, the level of meds needed varies in
each situation but I think that you should explore the situation and not take it for granted that you have to feel lousy
all the time. Good luck.
Feeling the growl again
As with all runners its part of our makeup
I have nothing to offer you, except that I can identify with the difficulty of facing losing what some may only see as a hobby but those of us who are runners know is much more. Best of luck with your path forward and....most of all....never give up.
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
Master of the Side Eye
I couldn't have said this better.
TRUST THE PROCESS