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Exactly how important is sleep?

Sun, 04/03/2005 - 00:45

 

     I have had epilepsy for four years now.  It just started out of the blue when I was 19, and they still don't know what is wrong.  I have had the right temporal lobe surgery, and all that did was lesson my seizures.  Which I'm not complaining, but...  But, ever since my seizures did start all I ever heard was how important sleep is and how sleep deprivation is the number one cause of a seizure and so on.  So, from day one I always took a nap during the day.  Even on the days that I wasn't too tired.  I take somewhat of a lot of meds, so I can get tired around the afternoon time anyway, so I just normally take one then.  They are usually at least an hour.  Sometimes up to two hours.  Then by the time I get up, the day is half gone, and so are all my plans.  I ALWAYS have to schedule my plans around my stupid naps.  That's just how I have always known how it should be...but would it kill me if I didn't take naps?  It's such a pain most of the time, I tell you.  I hear a lot of you talk about having full time jobs and so on, so I take it it must be somewhat ok.  But, how much sleep do you usually get at night, about?  Please let me know anything, because the last four years planing my life around my naps, it's just getting old, and if it doesn't have to be done, that would be great.  So, please, I'll take any info.  Thank you and take care.  Cheryl 

Comments

RE: Exactly how important is sleep?

Submitted by angel_lts on Sat, 2005-03-26 - 07:49
I make sure I get eight to nine hours sleep everynight. If I missed an hour then I go an hour earlier the next night. I do not take naps.But when I was pregnant and working, I went to bed at about 7:00 or 8:00 at night and got up at six. I really needed my sleep then. When I was home and not working anymore and pregnant I would take naps in the afternoon while my children were napping and I could go to bed at night at 9:00.SLEEP is so important. If you dont take care of yourself you will have seizures.http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EpilepsyApproach/Lisa

RE: Exactly how important is sleep?

Submitted by stanley2b on Sat, 2005-03-26 - 09:13
I too had a temporal lobectomy. Before my surjery when I was still having alot of seizures I was able to hold down a full time job , but it was very important to get a good nights rest.  If I didn't get a good nights rest I would make sure I took all my 15 minute breaks and my lunch break.  At these times I would rest and close my eyes if I wanted.  I would go to the breakroom or go in my car.  It was very important because sleep deprevation was one of my seizure triggers. Even when I did have a good nights rest I found that I was tired.  I think it was becasue I was taking so much meds. So I would take every opportunity to rest anyways.    

RE: Exactly how important is sleep?

Submitted by fishergal on Sat, 2005-03-26 - 09:31

Know how you feel, but there is a reason.  During sleep, the electrons which build up at the broken nureo connections trickle across.  If you don't allow this to happen they will build up enough electricity to arc across and that is what is called a seizure.

If you can get enough sleep in to allow the trickle effect and skip a few naps, horray!  I get what I call "dead days".  I have no choice.  My brain refuses to work.  My body is rested, but my brain cannot do more that allow me to get a drink and the necessary trip to the bathroom. This happens because I have the worst seizures pretty much under control but the complex partials and others just go on and on, but I push myself to get to work, work and come home and do what I have to do there.  I have very little time of my own and my brain will revolt.

Find that balance of sleep and activity.  Remember every time you blink your eyes you could be adding electrons to the bank.  If you can sleep well at night in long strecthes or up at night and sleep during the day you can find your pace and correct it as needed.  Hopefully, you get some assistance and haven't been denied like me so you have more time to have pleasure time not sleep and work.

Know how you feel, but there is a reason.  During sleep, the electrons which build up at the broken nureo connections trickle across.  If you don't allow this to happen they will build up enough electricity to arc across and that is what is called a seizure.

If you can get enough sleep in to allow the trickle effect and skip a few naps, horray!  I get what I call "dead days".  I have no choice.  My brain refuses to work.  My body is rested, but my brain cannot do more that allow me to get a drink and the necessary trip to the bathroom. This happens because I have the worst seizures pretty much under control but the complex partials and others just go on and on, but I push myself to get to work, work and come home and do what I have to do there.  I have very little time of my own and my brain will revolt.

Find that balance of sleep and activity.  Remember every time you blink your eyes you could be adding electrons to the bank.  If you can sleep well at night in long strecthes or up at night and sleep during the day you can find your pace and correct it as needed.  Hopefully, you get some assistance and haven't been denied like me so you have more time to have pleasure time not sleep and work.

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