5 Ways To Manage Your Seizures On Summer Vacation
With summer rapidly approaching, I thought it was the perfect time to discuss a topic I’ve been thinking about for a while… How to manage epilepsy whilst on vacation, and more specifically, summer vacation!
Because while vacations can be lots of fun, they can also be damaging if you don’t keep your health in mind while you enjoy them. Particularly if you have a chronic condition like epilepsy… So I think it’s important to be intentional about your vacation time, and maybe create even better memories than if you hadn’t been.
1. Be Sure To Still Take Your Medicine At The Correct Time
Many people find that they have more seizures while on vacation, and in many cases this can be tracked back to them missing a dose of their medication. (Or taking it too early, too late, etc…)
This happens for many reasons, but usually it’s because the person simply became too distracted by travel and forgot their dose. Or alternatively, people traveling across different time zones might attempt to take their meds at the “right time” … but be met with a similar issue, as they didn’t account for the time change.
To combat this, it’s important to consult with your doctor about any necessary adjustments to your schedule. And then, once you’ve figured out what the correct time to take your medicine is, set a timed reminder on your phone so that you don’t forget.
Bonus Tip - You never want to run out of medication while you’re on vacation! So you should always pack a little bit more than you “need”. That way, in case something happens and you lose a dose (or you’re away from home for longer than you thought), you still have backup! Additionally, if you’re flying, make sure that your airline will allow your type of seizure medication on the plane.
2. Try To Get Plenty Of Sleep
Now, the next reason why many people notice an uptick in seizure activity on vacation is because they often don’t get as much sleep as their bodies are used to. There’s just so much to do and see, and oftentimes you end up staying out past your bedtime. Plus, your sleep patterns might’ve been disrupted by the travel itself.
But a lack of sleep is damaging to everyone, and especially those with epilepsy. So instead of just going with the flow and sleeping when you can, try to be more intentional with your planning.
For instance, try to plan your activities in a way that will have the day cut off in time for your bedtime. Or, if you can’t manage that for whatever reason, try to schedule some time for sleeping in instead (as long as it doesn’t keep you from taking your medication). And if all else fails… try to schedule some time for napping!
Remember that you should be aiming for about eight hours of sleep per night, and depending on your body, you may need even more.
Bonus Tip - If you have a hard time sleeping during a road trip or while you’re on a plane, then try packing a comfortable pillow, an eye mask to create some darkness regardless of your environment, and something to plug your ears as well.
3. Be Wary Of Sudden Changes In Diet
Similarly to how sudden changes in your sleep schedule can trigger seizures, sudden changes in your diet can as well. So although it might be tempting to indulge in more sweets or carbs while you’re on vacation, do yourself a favor and try to stick to eating more of what you usually consume.
It might be ok to eat something a little different or “unhealthy” for one or two meals while you’re away. But if you change up your diet too much then not only will you have more seizures, but you may also experience fluctuating mood and energy levels. Which isn’t exactly what you want while on vacation…
For some people, blood sugar levels (if they’re too high or too low) can be a trigger for seizures. And if this is the case… you need to be aware of how often you’re eating, as well as what you’re consuming! So make sure you bring snacks with you if you plan to go a while without an official meal.
Bonus Tip - You may be traveling somewhere with a completely different cuisine than your own. And this might cause some confusion, depending on what you usually eat. For example, if you’re on a keto diet. So if you think this might be a problem for you, it might be worth it to research the cuisine of where you’re going and select some dishes that are suitable for you ahead of time.
4. Stay Hydrated
On vacation, particularly during the summer, it’s very important to keep hydration in mind. Because dehydration can lead to a variety of issues, and if you have epilepsy, it can obviously cause seizures!
But it’s easy to get distracted and forget to drink. And if you’re doing physical activities like sightseeing, hiking, etc… Then you may not realize that you need even more water than usual to make up for all the hydration you’re losing through your sweat!
To avoid dehydration in these situations, it’s important to have water on you at all times. So that you’re more likely to remember to take a sip! You can do this by carrying around water bottles of course, or you could invest in a reusable water bottle that you can simply keep refilling. Some reusable options will even have built in cooling, to keep your water cold!
Bonus Tip - Much like with your medication, you can set a reminder on your phone to hydrate by setting an alarm for certain times in the day. And if you find that you’re quite forgetful, you could even track how much water you’re drinking through various apps. So that you’re always aware of whether you need more or not.
5. Keep Your Seizures In Mind When You’re Making Plans
Finally, when you have epilepsy, it’s important to keep your individual seizure triggers in mind when you’re planning your vacation. That way you can work around things that might cause you discomfort and an uptick in seizure activity.
Most of this article has been based around common seizure triggers, and how to avoid them. Such as sleep deprivation and missed medication, but different people will often have different triggers. Which is why it’s so important to know yours.
For instance, some people find that flashing lights cause them to have a seizure. So, if this were the case for you, you might choose to plan more sightseeing activities for the daytime and avoid the sights at night. Since many of them are illuminated with flashy lighting.
Or, if one of your seizure triggers is too much physical activity, you might want to schedule breaks in between strenuous activities. So that you don’t overextend yourself and cause a seizure.
Bonus Tip - If you have seizures that require you to receive certain first aid measures, you can also keep your seizures in mind by keeping a first aid plan on you at all times. Additionally, it’s important for you to make sure that your travel insurance is good to go! In case you have a seizure that requires you to go to the hospital.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, most people with epilepsy can still enjoy their summer vacations to the fullest! But planning for certain things in advance can help the experience become even more enjoyable and stress free.
So I hope that you’ll take these travel tips to heart, and implement them the next time you’re taking a trip. And if you have any other epilepsy related travel considerations, please feel free to leave them in the comments.
Sources -
https://www.epilepsy.com/stories/safety-planning-vacation
Comments
Post a Comment