1. < Epilepsy & Seizures
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor

Which Seizure Trigger Is Your Hardest Battle?

Posted by Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha, Nov 3, 2025

For two years after my epilepsy diagnosis, I had no idea seizure triggers even existed. The doctors I saw never mentioned them. When I finally stumbled upon the concept of seizure precipitants, it felt like discovering a missing piece of my own puzzle.
That's when I turned into a detective of my own body. Armed with a daily journal, I started connecting the dots between my seizures and what came before them. Slowly, but surely, the culprits revealed themselves: gluten, low sodium, poor sleep, my menstrual cycle, stress, and anxiety. Each one a potential match that could light the fuse.
The physical triggers: poor sleep, gluten, menstrual cycle and low sodium? I've learned how to manage them better. Eliminating gluten alone slashed my seizures by 60%.
Anxiety and stress— They remain my most relentless opponents in this battle, despite my yoga practice and exercising.
Now I'm wondering: What's YOUR toughest trigger to tame?
Have you found strategies that actually work? Whether it's something you've mastered or something that still defeats you, I want to hear your story. Your experience might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
Share your trigger battles below—let's learn from each other!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.

Profile picture for royanthony
royanthony | @royanthony | 2 days ago
In reply to @santosha "@royanthony Hi Roy, Here is some data I recently researched on the American coffee market: -..." + (show)
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha

@royanthony
Hi Roy,
Here is some data I recently researched on the American coffee market:
- American Decaf Market (retail and out-of-home): USD 1.65 billion (2025), with projected growth (CAGR) of 7.67% over the coming years, driven mainly by premium decaf offerings
- Retail/home consumption accounts for 55% of this market, while out-of-home/foodservice contributes 45%
- Total US coffee market (retail and out-of-home): USD 23.76 billion (2025), of which retail accounts for 87.25%; the decaf segment alone represents 7% of the total market
- Decaf daily drinkers: 26 million
The NCA (National Coffee Association) could be a valuable resource for this project!
Wishing you success with the coffee company you are working with!
Chris

Jump to this post

@santosha Good Monday morning ! I appreciate all the time you used to help me. I wish you have a safe week.

REPLY
Profile picture for royanthony
royanthony | @royanthony | 2 days ago
In reply to @tkmoyer3 "@santosha Well, I thought I’d give an update. I was starting to have mild headache in..." + (show)
Profile picture for tkmoyer3 @tkmoyer3

@santosha
Well, I thought I’d give an update. I was starting to have mild headache in different spots of my head, a couple times a flash of white on the side that was like a second and eye lid twitching. When I had my follow up. The eeg was very active on the right side due to the surgery. Which didn’t surprise the doctor due to, again, the surgery. The MRI turned out good. My medication was increased for the evening only due to what I stated already. Since it was a week from my mentrual cycle. They believe that was the cause. The increase helped take the twitching away but not during the day. Especially now that the cycle is over. I have a follow up at the end of April but I believe I may have to call again. This is a weird feeling with the eye and the other eye will only do that if I close my eye and say I roll my eyes around and it’ll do it slightly. I’m not sure if this is just a side effect from the med or healing process from the surgery. In time I suppose I’ll see.

Jump to this post

@tkmoyer3 Wishing you the best, as well. We'll look forward to any updates you feel comfortable stating. I personally believe that all who particate on our support group feel the same way.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for royanthony
royanthony | @royanthony | 2 days ago
In reply to @santosha "@royanthony Hi Roy, Your point about the neurologist acting as a proactive intermediary with the insurance..." + (show)
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha

@royanthony
Hi Roy,
Your point about the neurologist acting as a proactive intermediary with the insurance company is so valuable. It really highlights how much of a difference a physician who is willing to go the extra mile can make for their patients.
Thank you for sharing that!
About decaf coffee - just out of curiosity - were these coffee companies large players in the market
Chris

Jump to this post

@santosha
Hi Chris, I can't remember ( you know; short term memory syndrome ) if I responded to your question regarding large players in the coffee market. The answer is not something you would see on the grocery shelf. They are made by private entrepreneurs who built their business over the years. I've watched one climb routinely over the past year. They sell their coffee on-line. It's nice to have a live person who responds to their clientele. FYI: a large player in the coffee market is Community Coffee in New Orleans. Their, and other New Orleans large players use chicory to make a bold cup. I use their decaf, but it's not bold. Medium grade. I use big 2 tb of decaf and one tb of leaded (caffienated) to make a decent cup. Hope your Easter was pleasant.

REPLY
Profile picture for tkmoyer3
tkmoyer3 | @tkmoyer3 | 2 days ago
In reply to @royanthony "@tkmoyer3 Wishing you the best, as well. We'll look forward to any updates you feel comfortable..." + (show)
Profile picture for royanthony @royanthony

@tkmoyer3 Wishing you the best, as well. We'll look forward to any updates you feel comfortable stating. I personally believe that all who particate on our support group feel the same way.

Jump to this post

@royanthony
Thank you! I agree!☺️

REPLY
Profile picture for royanthony
royanthony | @royanthony | 1 day ago
In reply to @santosha "@royanthony Hi Roy, Here is some data I recently researched on the American coffee market: -..." + (show)
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor @santosha

@royanthony
Hi Roy,
Here is some data I recently researched on the American coffee market:
- American Decaf Market (retail and out-of-home): USD 1.65 billion (2025), with projected growth (CAGR) of 7.67% over the coming years, driven mainly by premium decaf offerings
- Retail/home consumption accounts for 55% of this market, while out-of-home/foodservice contributes 45%
- Total US coffee market (retail and out-of-home): USD 23.76 billion (2025), of which retail accounts for 87.25%; the decaf segment alone represents 7% of the total market
- Decaf daily drinkers: 26 million
The NCA (National Coffee Association) could be a valuable resource for this project!
Wishing you success with the coffee company you are working with!
Chris

Jump to this post

@santosha What fabulous info. Wherefrom do the estimated usages originate? Is it the American Decaf Market?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor | @santosha | 1 day ago
In reply to @royanthony "@santosha What fabulous info. Wherefrom do the estimated usages originate? Is it the American Decaf Market?" + (show)
Profile picture for royanthony @royanthony

@santosha What fabulous info. Wherefrom do the estimated usages originate? Is it the American Decaf Market?

Jump to this post

@royanthony
Hi Roy,
Thank you, I had a blessed Easter, and I hope you and your family did as well!
To answer your questions: the information I shared comes from research I gathered online, with the NCA (National Coffee Association) as the primary source for U.S. market data.
From my time in the industry — mainly in Europe and Brazil, though that was quite a while ago — Starbucks was already a significant player in the American market. From my own experience, they offer very good quality products and have some decaf options. As for Community Coffee, I'm afraid I'm not familiar with them.
Have you already tried Starbucks decaf option?
Chris

REPLY
Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor | @santosha | 1 day ago
In reply to @tkmoyer3 "@santosha I was reading what you sent me. It’s interesting about progesterone because a retired fertility..." + (show)
Profile picture for tkmoyer3 @tkmoyer3

@santosha
I was reading what you sent me. It’s interesting about progesterone because a retired fertility gyn dr told me that it sounds like my progesterone is low and that I oughta mention that to my Dr. Unfortunately my Dr disagrees with that. But that was due to trying to get pregnant at the time. As of today I’m feeling better but it’s only morning. But yesterday I thought I’d give it a try and lightly sing. Which is something I love to do and the twitching instantly started. The intern nurse that was there that day for the Dr increased the med to 150. I was a bit surprised because the Dr specifically told me that if the dose of 100 twice a day was giving issues. He would change me to a different med. He doesn’t want me on a high dose since I’m sensitive to the side effects but he also doesn’t want to go the other route due to the side effect of reducing sodium.

Jump to this post

@tkmoyer3
So glad to hear you were feeling better this morning. I hope that carried through the rest of your day!
Since the nurse's recommendation doesn't seem to align with what your doctor advised, it would be worth reaching out to him directly to clarify.
Chris

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.