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:Me]

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.... ).

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

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:Me]

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.