Not eating after seizures - Epilepsy Message Board

shelseker · 09-19-2005, 04:20 PM

Hi. First time posting. I'm the mother of a 20 year old male with autism and epilepsy. He only has 2-3 gran mal seizures a month, but for about 4 days following each seizure, he refuses to eat. He usually doesn't drink for about 24 hours and then won't eat for another 3 days. He is unable to speak, so cannot tell me what or how he feels. Has anyone else had such a problem? Bad taste in mouth? Food smells bad? Stomach upset? Anything similar to that? I would love to know how he feels, and if there is anything I could do for him. Not eating for 8-12 days a month keeps him a skinny guy. Thanks

bettyst · 09-19-2005, 05:25 PM

Hi and welcome.
What meds is he on....some can interfer with wanting to eat. Does he eat good most of the time?
My son,Tripp,eats great no matter what.Ü
Hope someone here can help you.
Betty

shelseker · 09-19-2005, 05:28 PM

Thank you. No, he eats great the rest of the time. Like a horse, I would say!! He's on Depakote, Tegretol, and Keppra for seizures, but they're still not controlled. Don't think it's the meds since he eats a lot normally.

neurowreck · 09-19-2005, 06:16 PM

Have the same trouble after bad ones, to the point of having to put in an NG tube to get fluids/supplements in, so I don't get into a cycle of dehydration, which leads to more seizures (complex partials, nocturnal, ?secondary generalized)... then after other ones, that aren't as bad, I am hungry- appetite has been shot for about 2 years- thought it was med related, but doses were changed and nothing happened. The sight,smell, taste, and feel of food in my mouth was repulsive for months. Was hauled off to the ER for IVs a lot, or blood pressure not staying up because of dehydration. I'm overweight, but have dropped about 30 pounds because of this, so not exactly how I want to get to a decent weight. Maybe he eats like a horse between times to compensate somehow, and that's what keeps him going...
Maybe some Ensure or Boost??? Not that that stuff is the tastiest in the world, but it gets something in....and maybe if it's not solid, it might be easier for him.....what's the doc say?

shelseker · 09-19-2005, 08:09 PM

Oh, wow! I am so happy to find somebody else who can tell me what he might be experiencing. Not that I'm happy for what either of you is experiencing, but you know what I mean. That's what he acts like, like it is repulsive. He signs "finished" and pushes food away, and sometimes even gags. I do manage to coax his pills into him with a little pudding. I'm usually happy if I can just get liquids into him because, like you, he does get dehydrated. The neurologist says he's never seen such a thing. Great answer!!! I'm going to ask his regular doc tomorrow about it. I wonder if he could take some kind of meds for nausea during those times. Have you ever tried that? I've tried Boost and Ensure, but when he's not drinking, he won't drink that either. And, when he is drinking, he seems to prefer plain milk and Gatorade. He sometimes won't eat the day before a seizure either, so if he won't eat, I know one is coming. Thank you for sharing your experience with me. I'll let you know if the doctor tomorrow comes up with anything outstanding.