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
traffic lights

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