This is a post I made on another web site. I thought it might be of some interest b/c there is some epilepsy mention in it. I've had Ulcerative Colitis and Epilepsy since 1979 ~ both of these conditions are believed to be stress related but that fact has yet to be proven. As you know, stress effects everybody differently and this is what it has done to me. It has been documented that ppl with EP have a greater chance of getting some sort of bowel condition (IBS)or visa/versa as there are so many nerves in the digestive tract that "could" be affected by a seizure condition.
Some of the first symptoms to watch for are: 1) first sign is mucus in the stools ~ then
blood in the stools. 2) Feeling that you always have to empty your bowels ~ sometimes every 15 mins or every hour (depending on the severity)
3) When you go to the washroom, all you get is Lots of gas accompanied with blood and/or mucus.
4) bloating of the stomach.
5)
Usually flares up AFTER a stressful event (same as a seizure or anaura) or if you've been eating acidy foods or caffine or dairy prods.
But I find it's very well controlled with medication.
I usually have a flare up every 2 yrs.
Very tricky to control though with my Epilepsy, like walking a tight rope.
My blood levels have to be monitored weekly so I can maintain the theraputic level for my AED's but not mess up my UC med count. IE: My UC meds paint a protective coating on the bowel and stomach walls and as a result, the AED's can't motabilize properly ~ then if you increase yor AED's, they could become toxic in your system or if you have a flare up, you have to increase your doseage of the UC meds (mine is Asasol) then it's that much harder for the AED's to penetrate the stomach and bowel so if you increase your doseage of AED's, they can become toxic and you will act like a drunk or stoner.
What I have found is that a flare up or EP seizure will happen AFTER a stressful event like I said above b/c during a relaxed time, your body's natural defenses are down.
Since I have EP and UC, my neurologist says it's very difficult to control.
I'm currently seeing Dr. A. Upton, proffessor of Neurology, McMaster Univerity Medical Centre, He's lectured on my case and it has been documented in the 1986 Medical Journal.
Randy
diagnosed with epilepsy and Ulcerative Colitis in 1979
- current meds are:
275mg dilantin/day
120mg pheonobarb/day
3,000mg Mesasol/day