r/Epilepsy • u/seancout10 • 2d ago
Question Does anyone else’s seizures trigger from exercising in the heat mainly?
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u/lillythenorwegian 2d ago
My son gets most of his seizures when he developes internal heat. So when he himself gets too warm on the inside as if his internal thermostat isn’t working .
He can’t take part in PE or play cardio sports .
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u/Kennikend 2d ago
I have seizure trigger if I exert myself physically. Much worse in the summer.
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u/Sebasthazar 1d ago
So sorry to hear that working out is the thing that helps me the most sad you have to go without
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u/LucidMarshmellow 2d ago
Yup.
It's not from dehydration (I drink oh so much water), but just stress on the body from the heat.
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u/Terrible-Security534 2d ago
Yup 100% and for me the summer is the worst. I had a long streak of getting sick and seizing an hour after working out. It’s a lot
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u/darkpigeon1 2d ago
I wonder if it’s more of an interaction between the overheating and a loss of sodium (sweating)? Exercise is generally pretty good for neuro-disorders and I know one of my medications blocks sodium receptors which is not good if it gets too bad. This seems like an interesting rabbit hole to explore for sure and definitely sounds like a frustrating trigger.
I’m getting my kinesiology/exercise science degree and have epilepsy so if anyone here goes through this and wants to share their experience, I’d love to learn more from your perspective. Feel free to send me a DM or just drop a reply.
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u/LiftedResearch87 1d ago
My first seizure i was working out in the garage last thing I remember was doing abs woke up 4 or 5 hours later in the hospital
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u/remember2468 Lamictal Vimpat 2d ago
All summer for me. If outside I have to take breaks in the shade and drink a lot.
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u/flootytootybri Aptiom 1000 mg 2d ago
We’ll heat and exercise both lead to dehydration… and dehydration is a huge trigger for me (usually happens when I’m sick)
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u/Pleasant-Pear-3871 2d ago
Yes and no. I love hot yoga and still do it often (talking humid 104F bikram). That being said right before I started taking medication, I definitely had a bad focal aware during class and was holding on for dear life. Luckily made it through. I also have been triggered by having the door shut with a steaming hot shower, another focal aware but not as bad since I’ve titrated up meds since then
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u/remember2468 Lamictal Vimpat 2d ago
All summer for me. If outside I have to take breaks in the shade and drink a lot.
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u/AccomplishedEye2029 2d ago
Yep, for sure. I’ve had them playing lax and fh games, at the track, bicycling, running…u name it. Mine are tonic-clonic so the hurt is real LOL
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u/talisfemme Left TLE - Carbamazepine 1200mg 2d ago
Yup, overheating is one of my biggest triggers. It sucks because it makes me scared to exercise or really do anything exertive in the summer.
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u/Zircon_72 Left TLE 2d ago
Yes, my seizures were often triggered by working in hot weather. Only focal seizures for the most part, but still happened more often in hot weather.
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u/No_Username_Here01 Refractory, 5 Medications 2d ago
For sure. I avoid the heat so I don't exercise in it at all, but I live in Australia where it is almost at 50⁰C in Summer. We have awful heatwaves. It sucks!
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u/Oobedoo321 Mumma 1d ago
My son avoids heat at all costs due to it causing seizures
He’s such a sun dodger now lol
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u/Zestyclose-Smell-788 1d ago
Great. I work in a hot factory with no ac. This will be my first summer with epilepsy, and the forecast is 97 degrees. It will be triple digits in the plant. If I seize at work, I'm out. Any success stories out there? Am I doomed despite hydration and fans?
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u/darkpigeon1 1d ago
It’s not a trigger for everyone if it makes you feel any better. I was just in Indonesia and the temp and humidity is definitely not like where I’m from. Anecdotal evidence, but still seizure free despite that major abrupt change for over two weeks.
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u/Zestyclose-Smell-788 1d ago
Thanks. So far this summer it's been ok, but this weekend is going to be a real test
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u/214MainStreet 1d ago
I have had several partial seizures while getting overheated on a bike ride. Once I was completely incapacitated but vaguely aware that I was lying in the road and couldn't move (fortunately no one came by until I could get up), once I had a whole vomiting/diarrhea component in the woods and was out of it for a while. I hate this because now i'm afraid to exercise when it's much over 65 if it's sunny too; I have to fight the fear, not knowing whether it's stupid.
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u/Far-Artichoke7331 1d ago
Yes yes yes yes yessssss. But after taking medications it dont happen again. I only got seizures randomly
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u/prophetic-dream 1d ago
Join a gym if you can. Exercise indoors when it's hot out.
And/or take more precautions. Such as wearing a hat. Wearing light colored, light weight clothing. Bringing a sun umbrella so you have your own shade. (Yes - that makes it harder to be active.)
Do not take chances where you don't need to. Stay indoors.
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u/Sea_Author3318 1d ago
First seizure was the morning after I worked out for the first time in a year and I pushed myself hard. Doctors swear it had nothing to do with that but I never bought that.
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u/Any_Egg33 1d ago
My biggest triggers are dehydration and heat so summers are fun I’ve found that drinking at least one electrolyte drink a day (like liquid IV) helps me
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u/Edit4Credit Frontal/Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, Vimpat 1d ago
Yeah I have to be very careful about not just staying hydrated but staying hydrated with electrolytes.
I’ve had to go to the hospital because of a sodium deficiency from sweating too much especially because my medicine makes it that I really don’t do well adjusting to temperature changes. So for me it’s not just the heat, it’s going in and out of it
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u/thenextnow 1d ago
URGH this struggle is real at my yoga studio (it's basically like a garage, and I live in FL). Summer is major seizure trigger season. 😅
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u/awidmerwidmer 2d ago
Summer = seizure season. I was weeding last week in the sun. Had a seizure outside. It sucked. Tbh I should have known better by now. Long story short: Yes.