Researchers are investigating the vicious cycle of seizures causing sleep disturbances, which in turn promote seizures.
In one report, a group of investigators in Boston looked at the importance of sleep in the consolidation of recently formed memories in patients with epilepsy.
My name is Matt. I’m 30. I have nocturnal seizures. mine started when I was attacked nearly eight years ago next month. I take two medications for my seizures, but as you know it’s not just about the medication. I have made myself get in to a routine. Bed at a 11 pm. Up at 7 am. but if my body tells me I need more sleep i have to allow it or the next night I can put myself at risk. No stimulants in or before bed. Even though im tried, my body will shut down but my brain won’t. So that means a seizure. I can’t allow myself to get stressed out. If I do I’m going to know about it the next morning. I can’t take painkillers or anything that makes me drowsy. Not only could this be a trigger but it can be dangerous as It may take me even longer to wake up. If I’m not able to control what happens with my day and things go wrong. I need pain relief, I’ve been really stressed out and this has made me have a night of seizures. I can then end up in what I call seizure cycle. This is where I have seizures. So I need to recover. So I need sleep. Then I have more seizures. So I need more recovery, but it leads to more seizures because I’m starting to get stressed out. And then it starts to snowball. This is why I call it my seizure cycle. Sleep is important but sleep can also be a trigger! That’s something I’ve had to come to live with.