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Post by salixisme on May 10, 2014 8:17:24 GMT -5
Does anyone have any info on how a leaky gut can affect epilepsy?
The back story is that my husband is a grand-mal epileptic. It has been well controlled by drugs for years.
He is mostly paleo (he cheats), and has been eating mostly ketogenic (for weight loss more than epilepsy control), and was doing really well. Then he got a new job and has been cheating constantly due to pressure from his work mates. Gained back most of the weight he had lost etc.
Last night, he went out with his work mates, had 7 beers(!!) and a burger in a bun plus loads of other gluten containing stuff. I also know he cheated at lunch and ate regular SAD stuff too.
6am this morning he had a siezure in his sleep...
I am sure it is all the cheating he is doing - most def the beer consumption, but I know he won't listen to reason for me.
So if anyone has any info on how he needs to clean up his act, eat clean (even if it is not paleo), and cut out that gluten I would be grateful. Some resarch on how the gut affects the brain would be particually good. I do not have time to search right now as I have to leave for work.
I know epilepsy can be affected by diet I just want to prove it to him.
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Post by TamarE on May 10, 2014 8:47:13 GMT -5
I don't have any specific resources to point you to, but I wanted to say that's a tough situation for both of you. Should I assume that he has not explained his health situation to his coworkers? Maybe if his coworkers knew that he needs to eat a certain way to feel his best... Maybe adult men don't talk about this stuff the way women do?  |
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Post by localkaty on May 10, 2014 11:45:49 GMT -5
I've never done much research on leaky gut or gluten and epilepsy, but the science on nutritional ketosis and epilepsy is immense. If he's seen all that evidence and isn't committed to keto, finding studies on gluten might not do much. Sometimes people have to come around to things on their own.
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Post by salixisme on May 10, 2014 14:45:56 GMT -5
I have showed him the evidence re-keto plenty of times. The trouble is, when he asked his neurologist about it, she said that it only works for kids and it would taste like crap. He believes her...
And as far as the co-workers goes, no he hasn't talked to them - he is paranoid that if he lets them know about being epileptic that he will loose his job. And he works in a very male environment (I.T.). Most of them go to the pub at lunch, and whenever food is provided at work (lunch-meetings etc), it is usually pizza.
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Post by alisongregory on May 10, 2014 18:43:07 GMT -5
I found a reference in the mood cure by Julia Ross that links epilepsy (among other things) and gluten... Farrell R and Kelly CP. "Celiac Sprue: a review article." New England J Med 2002 Jan 17; 346(3): 180-88
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Post by alisongregory on May 10, 2014 18:50:12 GMT -5
But... I also believe that people have the right to choose their own destiny, even if we love them dearly. We can show the results of living this life ourselves. But sometimes people can resist if they feel pressured and backed into a corner. It's counter productive. At least, that's the conclusion I've come to with my husband (but he doesn't have epilepsy!). He's "just" heading down the adrenal fatigue route and more new symptoms popping up every year... But he's super supportive and has started making changes like limiting to 2 coffees daily and bringing fruit to snack on at work and choosing lunches with a high veggie load. Not ideal (who knows what chemicals are in those Asian take away joint lunches!) but better... And am leading the family down a gluten-free-grain-free path as my own journey progresses. I'm only 3 months in though and maybe you've been doing this for ages! But my husband appreciates me showing that I respect his right to choose his own destiny. I can express my opinion and give information, but I can't pressure him. IT doesn't need to be unhealthy and if he thinks he'll lose his job because of his illness... Wouldn't that be due cause for discrimination? IMO.
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Post by salixisme on May 11, 2014 18:01:53 GMT -5
I agree it would be discrimination to loose your job due to having epilepsy, the problem is proving that that is the reason they let you go. It is fairly easy for a company to come up with a reason they no longer need you. I actually lost a job due to the fact that I lost a ton of weight (60lb), and my boss's husband commented on it.... I cannot prove that is the reason why I lost it, but it is almost certainly the reason. They claimed they did not have enough work for me despite the fact that we were really busy...
He has agreed that he needs to go gluten-free/change his diet, and will just tell everyone at work that he is gluten-intolerant.
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