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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / June 2005

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epilepsy and high altitude

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dpf@afn.org - 09 Jun 2005 14:37 GMT
My nephew (lives in Florida) who had been diagnosed as a borderline
epileptic recently suffered two "grand-mal" seizures in one day while
on a vacation in Rocky Mountain National park.  (He had only had the
lesser sort of eplileptic occasions prior to this happening and was on
no preventitive medication)..  My question is whether or not the high
altitude might have triggered the more severe seizure... The reason
that I ask is because I was speaking to a co-worker who has a son who
has epilepsy and she said that quite remarkably her son suffered his
first major seizure while on a similar vacation trip to Aspen,
Colorado.  It seems like too much of a coincidence..  I did a Google
search on "high altitude" and epilepsy and didn't come up with anything
difinitive...  One site said that there was no correlation and others
indicated that there might be..   So I was wondering whether anyone
here has any experience one way or the other with the effects of high
altitude and epilepsy..  Thanks...   David
G.Ross - 09 Jun 2005 16:46 GMT
> My nephew (lives in Florida) who had been diagnosed as a borderline
> epileptic recently suffered two "grand-mal" seizures in one day while
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> here has any experience one way or the other with the effects of high
> altitude and epilepsy..  Thanks...   David

 Dave is our resident Statistician, but a sample of 2 is kind of 'tight' to
posit 'too much of a coincidence' on much statistical.
 I'm also not sure what a 'borderline' anything is-> "He's a borderline
painter, he just hasn't perfected it yet."     If the Doctor has done tests
and measured seizure activity, then he currently has seizures.  He might
outgrow them, depending on the type and his development,  or he might not.

   Two things came to mind reading above.   Less obvious might be that some
of us are sensitive to odours and aromas that can bring on the *aura of a
seizure start.   There could have been things in the air that he's sensitive
to, that he doesn't have where he lives (Florida).   Unless it was something
someone else noticed or was 'looking for' when those happened, none of the
rest of you might have noticed those.  Example, are any of the places you
went near those 'Sulphur Hot Springs' like further north in Yellowstone or
British Columbia?  Those hot pools have a profound eggy/sulphur aroma
because of the chemicals in the water coming to the surface, but would be
noticeable to others too.

  Second item, that you might not have searched on, is that I had a period
where I was sensitive to changes in *Air Pressure (Barometric pressure), and
was more prone to a Complex Partial seizure (my type) as the air pressure
fell sharply (usually ahead of a rain or snow storm).   The 'high altitude'
you searched on above, would also be a source of 'low air pressure' which
could affect blood pressure because of expanding blood vessels, and possibly
some types of seizures.  But you might get a few more 'hits' looking at any
posts about 'barometric pressure' or 'air pressure' and 'seizures' (each),
rather than searching on Altitude and Seizures.
  We had one of two threads here last 2 years, but except for my initial
requests whether anyone else had been sensitive to that, I don't recall
there being a lot of others responding at that time.  (I was about to fly to
Hawaii (total 4 flights) and was concerned whether Air Pressure changes
during the Flight or on Arrival might affect my Complex Partial seizures --  
they didn't in my case when done.)

 The 'air pressure' symptoms I had only took place over about 12-18 months,
then they left and have never returned.   I get a 'mild discomfort' if a
rain storm is approaching (like now),  but not the extreme headaches I had
in 1998-2000.  I attribute this feeling to the effect of Air Pressure
falling as the storm front is approaching, on blood vessels or blood
pressure changes while it's happening.
  Does he ever get 'unexplained headaches' now that he's back in Florida?
Did he have those before if he does -- i.e. 2-4 years ago, or were any
recent?

  Hey, some of us can be just as accurate as those Satellite Photos,
although only 2-4 hours ahead of most storm fronts.  :-<   G./
Dave ©¿©¬ - 09 Jun 2005 18:24 GMT
Howdy!

The only thing I can say as our "resident statistitian"  is:

THAT'S WHAT COINCIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT!

If you were talking about the same thing happening to more than 3 people,
then the "too much" bit might come into play.

When I was a college student I spent an entire summer working in the Rockies
(Glacier National Park) and I didn't notice any changes in my seizure
activity.

Signature

Dave ©¿©¬

http://www.howdydave.com

> > My nephew (lives in Florida) who had been diagnosed as a borderline
> > epileptic recently suffered two "grand-mal" seizures in one day while
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
>    Hey, some of us can be just as accurate as those Satellite Photos,
> although only 2-4 hours ahead of most storm fronts.  :-<   G./
Mary Fisher - 10 Jun 2005 18:28 GMT
> Howdy!
>
> The only thing I can say as our "resident statistitian"  is:
>
> THAT'S WHAT COINCIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT!

Hurrah!

> If you were talking about the same thing happening to more than 3 people,
> then the "too much" bit might come into play.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> (Glacier National Park) and I didn't notice any changes in my seizure
> activity.

That's a coincidence, I had no activity either when in the Rockies. And that
was after my grand mal but before my investigation and surgery.

Mary

>> > My nephew (lives in Florida) who had been diagnosed as a borderline
>> > epileptic recently suffered two "grand-mal" seizures in one day while
[quoted text clipped - 77 lines]
>>    Hey, some of us can be just as accurate as those Satellite Photos,
>> although only 2-4 hours ahead of most storm fronts.  :-<   G./
Chris Lesurf - 22 Jun 2005 07:44 GMT
.  But you might get a few more 'hits' looking at any
> posts about 'barometric pressure' or 'air pressure' and 'seizures' (each),
> rather than searching on Altitude and Seizures.

That reminds me that I record the barometric pressure morning and evening
and noticed that there's a slight increase in my chance of having a fit if
the pressure changes direction. ie if it reaches a dip or a peak, not if
it is particularly high or low.

Chris L.
G.Ross - 23 Jun 2005 13:26 GMT
>.  But you might get a few more 'hits' looking at any
>> posts about 'barometric pressure' or 'air pressure' and 'seizures'
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> it is particularly high or low.
> Chris L.

Mine at the time of that post, occurred when the pressure *dropped rapidly
(ahead of a rain or snow storm).  It doesn't do it any longer, or at least I
don't have szrs. any longer.   I feel a mild 'brain fog' so I know the
weather is about to change in 2-3 hours, but I used to have to go lie down
to overcome the extreme effects.   I still know when it's going to rain
before the radio forecasts.
   (My theory, after it had happened a number of times, was the Drop in air
pressure, caused blood vessels to puff up, and (in spite of what anyone
might think)  there wasn't much Spare Space in my head, so the swelling
Blood vessels, produced Forehead Headaches, and extremes of Brainfog, like
some of the auras I had when first diagnosed in 1993.)

   I was concerned when I posted that since I was going to be flying to
West Coast of N.America then Hawaii, and back from my Son's Wedding.   I had
no noticable effects on any of the flights, although I took Atavan with me,
in case I had any auras that might interfere with travel.   G./

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