Epileptic riders

Mare Stare

Mare Stare

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I've just spent a week in hospital after having a grand mal seizure (like an epileptic fit). It was sudden and unexpected - I've never suffered from anything like it before.

The doctors are now monitoring me regularly to make sure that I haven't got "proper" epilepsy. Hopefully, it was just a combination of pregnancy and a sinus infection that triggered it. But I'm concerned in case I do have epilepsy and how that will affect me in the future, particularly around horses.

So, experiences please? :)
 
No advice but didn't want to not say anything.

My sister is epileptic, doesn't ride, but with medication, she has only fitted twice in 10 years. If she did ride, I doubt it would impede her.

Hope it was just a one off for you and that you and baby are fine.
 
I don't know anyone with epilepsy but would have thought so long as you are sensible and always ride in company you should be okay so long as the fits arnt really frequent :)
 
My daughter is epileptic. It's controlled by medication. Last fit was 3 years ago.
She drives. She has to be fit free for 12 months to regain her licence.

She doesn't ride but that is nothing to do with her epilepsy, she is just weird and doesn't want to ride lol.
 
It was thought that I might have epilepsy a few years ago, like you they did loads of tests but never found anything to say it was epilepsy but I do sometimes still have fits, but I just blank out (like fainting but for longer periods), I don't shake or anything.

The fits happened a few times when I was riding but the RS I learnt at knew so they just came and grabbed the horse and made it stop and waited til I came round, then I was fine again after and carried on. I hardly ever have them now, it's been over a year since I last fitted, and I've not fitted around horses for 4 years now. I just made sure I was never alone riding or at the yard when they were more frequent. Fingers crossed its nothing serious though and it was just a one off, but if you take precautions anyway like never being alone when you ride, then you'll be fine :)
 
firstly, really hope you're okay and it's a true one-off.
the only experience i have of this was at a horse trials years ago, i was watching someone as she was having a real struggle with a fantastic but very big strong lit-up horse in the warm-up. i had a friend with me and had gotten off and was doing my girths etc, the girl rode back to her mum, chatted for a bit, leaning down over the horse's neck, then her mum started looking absolutely terrified but doing nothing... her expression was such that i immediately left my horse with friend and went over cautiously, and her daughter had passed out and was having a fit. the horse started getting antsy, the rider's hands were in a death-grip on the reins as she fitted... somehow we managed to calm the horse, unclench her hands and slide her off before the horse had a major paddy but it really wasn't a fun 20 seconds at all...
luckily she was alright but seriously, it could have been very very nasty.
so, tbh, unless you are assured by the doctors that it really was a one-off, i wouldn't ride unless it was totally manageable.
 
Firstly I hope you and your baby are ok. This must be very frightening for you.

It could be something that has been brought on by being pregnant and once baby is born will not be a problem. otherwise, i guess this may affect your whole life, not just riding, but you may not be allowed to drive a car.

I really hope the doctors get to the bottom of this and that it never happens again to you.

Take care.
 
Idiopathic epilepsy - that is epilespsy without a known cause - is usually controlled by drugs, though the choice of drugs during pregnancy can be difficult. If you've only had one fit they won't treat it but will wait to see if you have more. I presume your blood pressure is OK and you have no signs of eclampsia ? It is possible to have a fit because of fainting and fainting is quite common in pregnancy. Riding should be fine in the future but for now I'd stick to riding with good protective clothing and with a companion.
 
I'm epileptic and I ride, I've had it for over 20yrs. The only time it has had an impact on my riding was when I was pregnant and my horse bolted, I remember him going and then a paramedic standing over me but nothing in between. My friend said my horse just went in a straight line and I went out the side door! I've galloped since then and it hasn't affected me so I think it was down to being pregnant. I was carrying twins when this happened and lost one of them a couple of weeks later, I don't know if the fall caused it but until
 
Bloomin phone posted to soon.....I was going to say until you know the cause of the seizure be careful if you choose to keep riding. I hope you're ok and hopefully it's just pregnancy related.
 
I am epileptic - full grand mal seizures. It started when I was 10 and by 19 it seemed to be under control so I came off the medication (with my doctors support). However, it did reoccur when I was in my mid 20s so back on to the meds again. I have not had an attack in over 12 years now. I was not allowed to drive until I had not had an attack for a full year and then I was monitored every 3 years (open ended now). I have been riding for 7 years and I just make sure that people know about the epilepsy and what they should do if an attack happens.

My parents were great and did not stop me from doing most things - riding being the sensible exception. On one memorable (for all those there) occasion I had an attack in a canoe in the middle of Windermere.

Just be sensible, don't let yourself become too tired and listen to the doctors, but don't let them wrap you up in cotton wool either. I hope it is just the pregnancy for you.
 
Aw, thanks everyone. It's a whole new thing for me. I find the whole epilepsy thing fascinating and scary at the same time.

All I can remember from my seizure was that I was having a cup of tea with my mother. One minute we were reminiscing about an old family holiday, the next I was waking up in an ambulance with my hubby climbing in. I seemed to suffer from some kind of time and/or memory warp for some time afterwards. Very strange.

Brains are weird. I have a whole new respect for epileptics. It's good to know that most of you live a fairly normal life and I won't have to give up the horsies if I do get diagnosed, which was my main fear.

:)
 
I suffer from epilepsy and still compete, it is generally under control but I know the signs of when one is due, I have one out hacking on my new youngster a few months ago neither of us were hurt and luckily she just galloped back to the yard, I now take my mobile phone out with me when I hack out it was an unfortunate experience but it would never stop me riding :-)
 
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