Epilepsy & riding.

[nudemetalz]

Greetings,

Does anyone else (apart from me) here at KB ever suffer from the condition of Epilepsy?

If so, how do you react with riding? Does it bother you?

Or are you like me and feel that you are at your most relaxed and at the least risk of a seizure while riding.


It’s amazing that almost everyone knows someone who suffers from it.

Having epilepsy does not mean you are sick or that other people can catch it as it is totally non-contagious.
Also, it does mean that you are automatically an unsafe rider. I do not stop it from me enjoying riding and why should it.


What do other people think?

[Hitcher]

Aren't there regulations about epileptics and driving/riding?

[nudemetalz]

Yes there are. If you have been prescribed medication and have been seizure-free (I mean tonic-clonic ie the big one) for 12 months then you are okay to drive/ride.
However, it is always in the back of your mind.

[MSTRS]

Yes there are. If you have been prescribed medication and have been seizure-free (I mean tonic-clonic ie the big one) for 12 months then you are okay to drive/ride.
However, it is always in the back of your mind.
You mean Grande-Mal?? The thrashing uncontrollably etc?? Wasn't it medicated and fitfree for 2 years??
Lots of us 'could' suffer Petite-Mal which could be considered daydreaming

[bugjuice]

i didn't know anyone, but I do now.. ;)

I guess as long as you haven't had a seizure for ages, and deemed fine, then I can't see why not..

Do you have any idea about what triggers it? I know it's commonly flashing lights, but I've heard it can be other things.. Just to know what to avoid..

[nudemetalz]

I thought that too but I got my licence back after 10 months. My Neurologist seemed satisfied that I was not a risk or at risk.
12 months is normal.

And the "Thrashing About" is a very undignifying and degrading experience.

[nudemetalz]

i didn't know anyone, but I do now.. ;)

I guess as long as you haven't had a seizure for ages, and deemed fine, then I can't see why not..

Do you have any idea about what triggers it? I know it's commonly flashing lights, but I've heard it can be other things.. Just to know what to avoid..

Well I had 2 tonic-clonic seizures and numerous small ones. I had an MRI, a CT Scan and an EEG. They found that I was perfectly normal and had no abnormalities (boy, I could contest that with them....:lol: ).

So they didn't know. Standard procedure, .."put him on drugs for the rest of his life"....:mad:

Yes, flashing lights can trigger one.

[bugjuice]

don't stop for cops then I guess..
hopefully medicine will advance even more, to abolish problems like these

[MSTRS]

And the "Thrashing About" is a very undignifying and degrading experience.
I can only imagine
I understand that there is a 'classic epileptic brainwave' but that it may not be present in a 'sufferer'. One of my stepsons fell into this category - he had all the dramas of grande-mal etc and was on Epilim for a few years. At some point he decided not to continue medicating and has not had a seizure for maybe 10 years. Perhaps he 'grew out of it'. Nobody knows.

[nudemetalz]

That is the problem...they know too little about it.
They can only put a band aid on.

I find if I accidentally miss a medication, my body doesn't like it. I definitely don't get the bike out the garage then for sure.

[crashe]

Yep there are many types of 'seizures'...
not just the Grande mal or petiti mal seizures.

Good to hear that you have had clearance to ride again...
Some are never allowed to drive or ride again...


Many things can trigger them, (strobe lights is a classic example) and if you can recognise what it is then its great that you have time to stop from what ever you are doing and get into the recovery position. Some never do know when it is going to happen.

One person I know never swore in his life except just before having one... that was a warning for us all to get him down onto the ground as he has huge seizures.

Another person I know whenever they had one they automatically put themselves into recovery position - we never figured out how he did that. He also had grande mals.

Some see a light just before, which is a warning.
Some get a strange smell in their mouth as their warning.

Most can be controlled by meds, but there are the exception that don't work.

Should anyone see a person having a seizure, help to get them into the recovery postition and stay with them and talk to them the whole time, comfort them.... some will panic coming out of it and are also very tired. Some get embarrassed when people see them having a seizure. Some may soil their pants so just cover them up... and please dont make a issue about it. When having a seizure, make sure that the person can not hurt themselves on any objects near them, if they are moving/shaking about too much ie: table, chairs etc etc.

Dont go sticking your fingers in the mouth to keep the tongue forward. Use something else as you may get your finger bitten off.
What is imporrtant is that their tongue is not blocking their airways...

Keep them comfortable and talk to them... they will hear you...

[nudemetalz]

You speak with a lot of knowledge, Crashe.
Thanks for sharing and pointing out what to do for the others benefit.

I asked the people when I recovered if I had spilt a drink down my front when I was having the seizure. They said "...err...no..."

[Ixion]

Good to hear that it doesn't stop you riding.

Only person I know of who has it is my father-in-law, but he hasn't ridden bikes for over 50 years, since a 350 single threw him into the ditch, trampled on him, shat on him and broke his legs.

Put him off bikes, he says. Suppose I can understand that.Not the sort of thing you want to have to put up with from a 350cc single. He didn't have epilepsy then, but .

[crashe]

You speak with a lot of knowledge, Crashe.
Thanks for sharing and pointing out what to do for the others benefit.

I asked the people when I recovered if I had spilt a drink down my front when I was having the seizure. They said "...err...no..."


Yep, I worked with a lot of special needs children/adults who had a lot of seizures on a daily basis.
Some had multi-seizures a day (20 to 30) while some had 1 a week.
I sure learnt so much about epilepsy and the different types.
and what happens.....
For some of these kids, it meant that each seizure they had, it took a little bit more of their brain... but most it didn't. It depended on what else they had wrong with them.

Plus a old friend of mine used to have them... and wasnt supposed to drive and yet did so...

So yep I do know quite a bit about seizures...

[nudemetalz]

Apparently it is a horrible thing to witness.

When I started having my second tonic clonic seizure, it was 6am and my little minature foxy was running up and down the bed trying to wake my wife.
Isn't it incredible how dogs know these things.

Anyway, we had already discussed what to do in the event and she put me in the recovery position once I had stopped shaking.

So, I still think about them when I ride the 1000, even though it has been 2 years since that second (and last) major seizure.

[Squeak the Rat]

I've heard that pilots of helicopters and sometimes prop planes have had siezures from the strobe effect of the sun through the blades. I've experienced a similar effect travelling quickly past a long row of tall trees on the bike when the suns quite low. Is this a concern? I understand there is some certain frequencies when this becomes an issue or is this a load of....?

Glad your riding Nudemetalz!

[nudemetalz]

Thanks Squeak !!

Yes, riding past trees like that (ie strobe effect) can do it too. I look in the other direction and also have a dark visor to try to limit this possibility.

[Motu]

I don't know anyone who has them....but maybe they haven't told me.I have seen a couple that were fairly dramatic.About 5 years ago we had an accident outside work - a car came flying straight over the roundabout and then slammed into a car,pedal to the metal and tyres smoking.As I rang 111 my mechanic went over and turned the engine off...the driver was thrashing around out of control.He got out of there quick as others took over.

Another time was at the funeral of a friend....standing around the grave site in the rain and the pall bearers brought in the coffin....right beside the grave one of the pall bearers threw an epilectic fit,they dropped the coffin and it half fell in the grave,the guy was at my feet thrashing around.Oh my God,can you imagine it...sureal....like is this a movie???

[750Y]

good onya nudemetalz for managing it well & getting on with life.
can't let a 'little thing' like that get in the way 8-)

i knew a fella in welly when i was a young kid, his nickname was 'the cowboy' a good mate of my grandfather's. he wasn't allowed to drive due to the seriousness of his epilepsy so he had bicycles. he would get them from the tip all twisted up & bend them back to shape with his bare hands. He used to have this belt wallet he wore around his stomach under his shirt so he didn't lose his money if he had a seizure. one time when he was riding up to Taupo he had to ditch his bike & have a lie down on the grassy road side. when he came to some asshole had stolen his wallet! can you believe it?

[texmo]

A guy at my old school had a seizure during shot put and knocked him self out with the ball.

[nudemetalz]

Thanks peoples for you opinions/stories.

Thank goodness it's not a disability as there are a lot of people a lot worse off than me and still riding bikes.

It was more of a question of if anyone else here has E, if they'd admit it publicly and any advice they'd share to do with biking.

NDMz

[.produKt]

Hehe, i spose there is ONE advantage of having epilepsy.

get pulled up for doing 140+ in your own street, pull over and start faking a seizure and start thrashing round the place..

Blame the police lights :D

[nudemetalz]

Hehe, i spose there is ONE advantage of having epilepsy.

get pulled up for doing 140+ in your own street, pull over and start faking a seizure and start thrashing round the place..

Blame the police lights :D

Sheesh,..if I didn't have a good sense of humour that wouldn't be funny and I'd be offended,...but it is funny !!!

[WINJA]

riding the bike in your condition is the most considerate thing to do cause if you do have an episode your only likely to kill yourself and not others, as you know the bike will do a lot less damage to the innocent than a car

[Macktheknife]

Thanks peoples for you opinions/stories.

Thank goodness it's not a disability as there are a lot of people a lot worse off than me and still riding bikes.

It was more of a question of if anyone else here has E, if they'd admit it publicly and any advice they'd share to do with biking.

NDMz
My sister has epilepsy and she wont ride or drive anymore, not because of the seizures so much but more because of having a daughter now. She wouldnt risk her daughter by having a seizure while riding/driving.
She used to be an absolute hoon! quite a nice change really! lol

[Ixion]

riding the bike in your condition is the most considerate thing to do cause if you do have an episode your only likely to kill yourself and not others, as you know the bike will do a lot less damage to the innocent than a car

My, you ARE a little ray of sunshine, aren't you :rofl:

[nudemetalz]

That's our WINJA for ya...

[.produKt]

My most deepest apologies to those who dont have a sense of humour
(oh god i hope there isnt)

*rambles apologies in different languages*
Sumimasen! Gomen ne!
honto ni gomennasai!

[nudemetalz]

To do with what Winja said, I talked extensivley with the Neurologist and he cleared me to drive/ride. However, he isn't a fortune teller.

[nudemetalz]

My most deepest apologies to those who dont have a sense of humour
(oh god i hope there isnt)

*rambles apologies in different languages*
Sumimasen! Gomen ne!
honto ni gomennasai!

Not at all, I'm going to try and use that one next time I get pulled up !!!

[terbang]

Hey Nudemetalz I stand in awe of you sharing your experience..
Young girlfriend of mine (16 yo) 29 odd years back used to have seizures and it was a stressful experience for her that also left her feeling very embarrassed. She got very down about it and it also was quite scary for me (at 17yo) as she had some shockers that made me feel just helpless and I did notice that it was getting worse. She was an awesome young lady though and for various reasons we both moved on. Dunno where she is now but I always hoped that she would come to terms with it being part of her life..She could not get a drivers license back then though perhaps medical technology has opened up some opportunity for her now.

[terbang]

I've heard that pilots of helicopters and sometimes prop planes have had siezures from the strobe effect of the sun through the blades. I've experienced a similar effect travelling quickly past a long row of tall trees on the bike when the suns quite low. Is this a concern? I understand there is some certain frequencies when this becomes an issue or is this a load of....?

Glad your riding Nudemetalz!
Yup its not that uncommon for the rotating blades of propeller aircraft or helicopters to bring on seizures in passengers. Most pilots are screened and tested for epilepsy at our medical stage and unfortunatly if there is any risk of it they get their licence pulled.

[gixermike]

My sister has epilepsy (and MS) and drives fine in London now. She had to wait 3 years symptom free before they would let her regain her licence. she only passed about a month before her first fit! It took longer to regain her confidence than for her to be allowed to drive.

As for triggers, her first Fit was the day after my fathers death, eating vegetable soup and she started telling us how it "tasted like fruit salad"...we all just though she was being flaky like normal...but no... Grande mal seizure on the lounge floor....another trip to A and E...made for stressful weekend.

To avoid the strobe affect, train tunnels are either unlit, or only lit sporadicly...the channel tunnel lights are at some daft spacing to avoid the 15 Hz flashing that it most likely to trigger fits etc..I'm amazed at some of the Shite I remember...
Mike

[nudemetalz]

Thanks for sharing, Terbang and Gixxermike.
It's lot more common than I thought..

Apparently 1 in 100 NZer's suffer some form of Epilepsy, whether they know it or not. That's a huge statistic !!

[crashe]

Thanks for sharing, Terbang and Gixxermike.
It's lot more common than I thought..

Apparently 1 in 100 NZer's suffer some form of Epilepsy, whether they know it or not. That's a huge statistic !!

Yep the most mild type is that someone can be chatting away to you and then they stop talking for a few seconds or slightly longer and then they will continue on with the conversation...
What has happened is that they have had a very mild type of seizure.. and they don't even know it.
It can only last for a few seconds on a regular basis.


Another one which was proved in the UK and all caught on videotape...
A guy kept breaking into people's places and couldnt recall it...
What was happening was he was having a type of seizure (sorry can't recall the name type) and he was breaking and entering....
This is a true story.... when he was videotaped and then the dr's proved it by tests... once he was on meds, he stopped breaking and entering.
He was embarrassed when he found out...

So there are all sorts/types of seizures.

[nudemetalz]

I sometimes have the small partial ones, where I go blank for a sec or 2,
but happens mainly in stressful situations, at work etc.
They're not an issue just part and parcel of the big E.

[Pixie]

I don't suffer from it ,but if everyone else is lying on the floor,twitching, after watching Battling Seizure Robots,on TV,I'll join in too.

[Colapop]

Epilepsy's a very interesting and scary condition. They know enough about it to medicate the f*ck out of people but not enough to help them long term. We had a neighbor who had really bad seizures. It freaked me out - he was yelling at our dog one day and I went out to tell HIM to shut the f*ck up when he just fell down and started convulsing and foaming. Jesus I thought I'd done something to him. I jumped the fence and just tried to stop him from banging into the concrete steps. He came right after awhile. I had a good talk to him about a couple of days later and told me that he'd had a couple of days off the meds.

[shazzygirl]

I suffer from epilepsy too and its not difficult as long as you take the meds and don't give up your licence! Cause it's not going to come back to you when you have 'done' your period. The car licence they give back not a problem but the bike licence needs medical intervention before being returned. Bloody pain in the arse.

[nudemetalz]

I suffer from epilepsy too and its not difficult as long as you take the meds and don't give up your licence! Cause it's not going to come back to you when you have 'done' your period. The car licence they give back not a problem but the bike licence needs medical intervention before being returned. Bloody pain in the arse.

Hi Shazzygirl,

Slimjim sent me an email telling me about yourself.
I had no issue with the bike licence, thank goodness.

I went to the quack today,...he told me that he wants me to up my meds....cool ay...:slap: . Ah well, if it means keeping the seizures at bay and still being able to ride the ZX-10, then it's a small price to pay.

NDMz