Treadmill: Trigger for Seizures?

Okay, two weeks ago I had a seizure on the treadmill. Last March, I had a seizure in church. Survey says...church and the gym aren't healthy for you IF you are prone for post-stroke seizures!
I'm kidding of course. I'm sure that I could make an excuse to stop exercising and not go to church! Clearly, it's not good for my health! :)
Perhaps, IF I were scared to live my life seizure-free, I could make a case that I would be better IF I never did anything IF I was neurotic! Sounds stupid, doesn't it? Sometimes, that's how we function in our world...neurosis driven!

Often, we worry and worry and worry when there is nothing to worry about!
UNTIL..."Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday." Author Unknown
SO..."For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe." Author Unknown
"If things go wrong, don't go with them." Roger Babson
That's it for worry!

Actually, when I had my first post-stroke seizure, I was "pissed" at the Rehab Centre...Why didn't they tell me that I MIGHT have a post-stroke seizure...30% (estimate)chance that I could have a seizure! So,..hmmm...what should I do??? Worry about having a seizure?

I was talking with a friend about post-stroke seizures and my seizure experiences and she said that perhaps telling people who had a stroke that they MIGHT have a seizure MIGHT serve them...perhaps knowing that would worry them so they MIGHT suffocate their life's joys and experiences (OR their care-givers' life) because of WORRY! When, chances of having a seizure-free life is about 70%! Did you know that even though you have a normal brain, 10% of you will have ONE seizure in your life (see link below)? Are you worried about that? 90% of people will NOT have a seizure! YEAH!!!!

Worry..."MIGHT"...Power...hmmm....you decide!

What IS a seizure? Seizure definition: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain between cells within the brain. The type and symptoms depends where the electrical activity is in the brain, what the cause is (infection, fever, head trauma, etc.) and factors such as age and general state of health. Symptoms can present as "brief loss of consciousness to uncontrollable jerking of a leg, arm, or the entire body".

If you have a cause for recurring seizures...post-stroke seizures and brain injuries by head trauma OR epilepsy even though you take medications for seizures...what could be triggers for your seizures? So, you know what is safe and what is NOT safe IF you have recurring seizures.
Triggers for seizures
(NO, treadmills and church are NOT triggers for seizures :))
- alcohol and recreational drugs (what about my wine!)
- late nights and lack of sleep
- stress
- missing dose of anti-seizure (or anti-epilepsy) medication
- flickering or flashing light (NO, disco-dancing??)
- illness (fever)
- Menstrual cycle hormones (I love being a woman!)
- Food/fasting
- Certain medications and supplements

I love wine (and sometimes cold beer). Does that means I can't drink a glass of wine? Talk with your neurologist. My neurologist suggested that a glass of wine (or two) is safe without being a trigger for seizures and without affecting my anti-seizure medication.

In fact, alcohol increases your seizure threshold, BUT when the alcohol withdrawal decreases your seizure threshold, especially when you have high dose (too many drinks) or frequency (too many parties) of alcohol. IF, you have 1-2 drinks/event and no more 3 events in a week, You are probably okay...without having a seizure…I mean. (see reference below)

Having a seizure is scary (both for you and people that see YOU having a seizure). What can you do for preparing IF you know (sometimes you know) you are going to have a seizure.

My “style” of seizure is tonic-clonic seizures focused on my stroke-affected side …meaning that my right-side starting jerking from my thumb to my hand to my arm to my leg and finally my head. I am conscious and alert, so I know what noises that making, but not in control of my body. I’m alert, therefore, when my head starts jerking, I think, “God, I can do this”, but I have no choice!

The GOOD thing (so far) is one sign that I’m having a seizure…my thumb jerking! So, when I was on the treadmill, I had time to turn it off (but I didn’t clean it), go to the front desk, ask for a private room and take my place on the floor, rolled on my side in the recovery position…I was safe. AND, Square helped me. If, the person that I’m with hasn't experienced me having a seizure, make sure they aren't alarmed. I am in control of my seizure...well, not really, your brain is...but, I control the preparation for my seizure.

Get in the recovery position and go for it! Sounds simple but I dread having a seizure!

Some people who have tonic-clonic seizures might NOT have a sign and drop to the ground without notice…THAT would be MORE scary for people around AND NOT safe for the person having a seizure.

IF you are a friend, relative, care-giver or even a stranger passing by, learn the first aid recovery position for injured person (see the link below for the reoovery position).
Don’t interfere with the seizure…it has it’s own mind…don’t fight it! Your role is to make the area safe FOR the person who is taking a seizure. And, time the seizure. If the seizure lasts for more 5 minutes call 911.
Her bladder (and bowels) might let go during the seizure…be aware of the embarrassment that she is going through…is there a jacket or blanket that you could put on her.
If the person is not on her side during the seizure, AFTER the seizure passes through, roll her to the recovery position (see below for a link for the recovery position). The recovery position can open the airway for her. There is another link below that discusses first aid for tonic-clonic.

WHEW...that is a lot of information...I'm tired, what about you?

It's funny, how our minds think...when I got my sign of my seizure...I turned off the treadmill and told my friend, "Square", that I was going to have a seizure. So, we jump off the treadmill to the front desk to find a private room/area. SO, we didn't clean our treadmills...what would other members say? "Those are the women that don't clean their equipment"...we are now "those" woman. Square was bothered by that...so, when I took my place on the floor in the recovery position, Square asked me if I was okay, then raced back to the treadmills to clean them! Way to go Square, we wouldn't be "those" women!

LINKS:
Seizure Triggers
Seizure Facts
First Aid for tonic-clonic seizures
Recovery Position

REFERENCES:
Gordan E and Devinsky O. Alcohol and Marijuana: Effects on Epilepsy and Use by Patients with Epilepsy. Epilepsy 42(10): 1266-1272, 2001.

"Patients with epilepsy should therefore be allowed to use alcohol in small amounts (one to two drinks/occasion), no more than three to six drinks/week)."