A regular KidneyBuzz.com viewer asked, "I'm just inquiring about Kidney Failure. I am struggling with seizures and convulsions. How can Kidney Failure cause this if the majority of seizures have to do with the brain?"

REQUEST TRIFERIC AT YOUR DIALYSIS CLINIC.

Seizures are not uncommon in Chronic Kidney Disease patients who conduct Dialysis. Dr. Oz noted, "It's one of the most frightening medical attacks and it strikes 1 in 10 people during their lifetime." Likely occurring more frequently in Dialysis patients, seizures or convulsions often take place during or just after Dialysis Treatments. They seem to be caused by sudden abnormal activity in the brain, and there are numerous reasons a Dialysis patient may experience this phenomenon. Therefore, patients should use the following tips to identify the cause of their seizures or risk of seizures in order to avoid them from occurring as well as prevent accidents (falls, burns, car crashes, and injuries) from taking place.

The popular online Medical Journal, Up To Date, suggested that the following are triggers which may lead to seizures in Dialysis patients: High levels of toxins in your body (poor Dialysis Treatment cleaning), too much fluid withdrawn during Dialysis (Disequilibrium Syndrome), Drugs such as Erythropoietin (EPO), Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure), Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Dialysis dementia due to high levels of Aluminum, and High or Low Potassium and Calcium levels. These factors either alone or in combination may result in severe seizures.

Since seizure and convulsion episodes are so common among Dialysis patients it is important to lower your risk of injury during a seizure. Take the following steps to minimize hazards and make your home a safer place:

Make sure that pan handles are facing toward the back of your stove while you’re cooking. If you have a seizure, you may accidentally hit a forward-facing handle and spill hot food on your body.
Consider keeping your interior doors unlocked. Loved ones and emergency personnel may have difficulty reaching you if you have a seizure behind a locked door.
Take showers instead of baths. You have an increased risk of drowning in a bathtub during a seizure.
Don’t use electrical appliances near water. In the event of a seizure, you might drop the appliance into the water and electrocute yourself.
Use caution with hot items, which could burn you in the case of a seizure. For example, avoid carrying pots of hot water or food, and ask for assistance when necessary.
Consider replacing glass in doors, windows, showers, and other spaces with safety glass or plastic. If you have a seizure and fall through a glass door, you can cut yourself severely.
Only use motorized power tools that have safety switches. Machines with safety switches will stop on their own if you have a seizure and let go of the switch.

Seizures during Dialysis Treatments are especially dangerous and may result in more severe complications. In fact, if a seizure is severe enough and unable to be controlled then the Dialysis Treatment must be stopped. To ease seizures, patients may be able to possibly take some antiepileptic drugs like Phenytoin. However, you should take them only with the guidance of doctors. Thus, if you are experiencing seizures then ask your doctor to help you develop an appropriate treatment plan. They may recommend medications, dietary changes, surgery or other strategies to reduce the frequency or severity of your seizures.

Have you ever experienced a seizure? Is your home safe in case a seizure occurs unexpectedly? Share your response with the over 49,000 KidneyBuzz.com Facebook Fan Page Friends (click here). Also, follow the over 120,000 monthly viewers and visit KidneyBuzz.com every day for the latest breaking news and information which teaches those with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure how to better manage and improve their lives.

Seizures Occurring In Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Conducting Dialysis

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