SHARON’S STORY
I am the one with epilepsy so the triggers I’m going to talk about are for an adult. I have temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), which is also referred to by some of my doctors as a ‘complex partial seizure condition’.
I am photosensitive, which involves only a low percentage of those with epilepsy. I am drug resistant, of which 30%-40% of those with TLE are. I no longer work as a result of the triggers and the inability to take medication.
My triggers include:
- Lack of sleep and fatigue
- Extreme heat or cold
- Flickering light (natural or fluorescent)
- Electronic flickering from TVs, movie screens, computers and smartphones
- Stress and emotional distress
- Loud noises, confusing noises, crowds or car movement
- Some classical music and live music (as in a stage musical or jazz band)
- Alcohol, caffeine or tobacco
- Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), some antibiotics and narcotics
Each of the triggers impacts me in a different way. For instance, loud noise, crowds or major confusion might bring on a complex seizure, while fluorescent lights cause my muscles to lock up until I am unable to move.
Sharon has a blog where she shares her experiences, please take a look: https://survivingwonderland2.wordpress.com
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