Epilepsy and Celiac Disease

I had a relative with epilepsy, and they couldn't find the cause. He went blind when he was in his 70's. His son has celiac so I'm sure he had undiagnosed celiac disease.

I have had phenomenal results controlling epileptic dogs with diet alone using formulas free of all gluten, casein,soy and corn. The lectins of gluten are not the only (potentially) neurotoxic glycoprotein. I am now compiling an ever-growing list of humans who have experienced remarkable recoveries as well. In them, we must also eliminate all MSG, aspartame, legumes and nuts, which are RICH in glutamate and aspartate. I call the diet 'The GARD'...the glutamate-aspartate restricted diet.

My 21 year old daughter has been ill for 18 months, bedridden. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia in May 2007. In December, 2007, she suffered a GTC seizure. Again on January 14, 2008, less than a month later. Given diagnosis of Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. One week ago, (2/10/08) hospitalized and diagnosed with Celiac disease. AMAZING improvement after just 1 week gluten free. Praying the diet will be enough to stop all seizures anti- seizure medication.

Very insightful. Full of well needed info. Just one question? Have you come across anyone with constant ringing in their ears and persistent migraine aura, with no relief ? Just wondering. I was born with Celiac, have crohn's disease and suffer from the noted for the past 4 years.

My son has epilepsy of unknown origin. We took him off of gluten as a last resort, before brain surgery. He has not has one seizure since! Now we need a doctor to help us possibly take him of his seizure medications.

My son has epilepsy of unknown origin. We took him off of gluten as a last resort, before brain surgery. He has not has one seizure since! Now we need a doctor to help us possibly take him of his seizure medications.

My grandson was diagnosed with epilepsy at 2. He has had every tests known to man..eg..EKG, etc and all have come back normal. His seizures are at night when he is sleeping. We have an appointment next week to talk about surgery. We are also exploring celiac.

My grandson was diagnosed with epilepsy at 2. He has had every tests known to man..eg..EKG, etc and all have come back normal. His seizures are at night when he is sleeping. We have an appointment next week to talk about surgery. We are also exploring celiac.

I am more than happy to have found information related to Celiac Disease and epilepsy. I personally have Celiac Disease which was not diagnosed until I was 42 years old. I also have a grandson who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 2, with seizures that are highly resistant to medical interventions. Now at the age of 12 his seizures occur almost exclusively at night when he is sleeping, in particular upon falling asleep and just before waking. I would love to network with others who have had the experience of exploring Celiac Disease in relationship to epilepsy. I have only recently begun to research all of this, mainly after becoming acquainted with Jenny McCarthy's book, Mother Warriors. I guess it's possible to be a grandmother warrior - I would love to believe that there is still hope after all this time.

I am more than happy to have found information related to Celiac Disease and epilepsy. I personally have Celiac Disease which was not diagnosed until I was 42 years old. I also have a grandson who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 2, with seizures that are highly resistant to medical interventions. Now at the age of 12 his seizures occur almost exclusively at night when he is sleeping, in particular upon falling asleep and just before waking. I would love to network with others who have had the experience of exploring Celiac Disease in relationship to epilepsy. I have only recently begun to research all of this, mainly after becoming acquainted with Jenny McCarthy's book, Mother Warriors. I guess it's possible to be a grandmother warrior - I would love to believe that there is still hope after all this time.

Kathy,

What changes have you experienced since 20 Oct 09 regarding progress of combating your Celiac Disease? As of today, 26 Nov 2010 I have started questioning weather my Dad of 87 years of age might possibly have developed some type of celiac disease. He has had three major seizure attacks and maybe had quite a few less notable seizures that may have followed this past fall. My Dad had every imaginable test the doctors could think of. His case was presented to numerous doctors of various specialties at a medical seminar/symposium and still remain baffled. So my Dad continues to slowly battle back through the maze of anti-seizure meds every so slowly. He has lost 14 lbs over a month and a half at a nursing home. May you continue to gain success on your continued quest. Lord knows the American Medical Association needs all the help imaginable despite getting paid the big bucks for going to all their years of post high school education.

I have had phenomenal results controlling epileptic dogs with diet alone using formulas free of all gluten, casein,soy and corn. The lectins of gluten are not the only (potentially) neurotoxic glycoprotein. I am now compiling an ever-growing list of humans who have experienced remarkable recoveries as well. In them, we must also eliminate all MSG, aspartame, legumes and nuts, which are RICH in glutamate and aspartate. I call the diet 'The GARD'...the glutamate-aspartate restricted diet.

At 62 years old now I have been having seizures for five and a half years on a "regular" two week cycle, similar to ovulation and menstruation. I now suspect hormones to be a factor. When I was 21 years old I was diagnosed with celiac disease, after a three year spell of working in American and Danish Bakeries, while I was a college student as well. I now suspect celiac disease to be a prominent factor, even though I have not eaten wheat for decades. The GARD diet is definitely my next step, as I am only learning about this recently, in between the "regular seizures" which cause memory loss temporarily. I do not seem to have brain damage yet, according to brain MRI and FMRI sessions, and the neurologists, but that may well be next, as I am wearing out of this and want it to end. I now see that nuts are off the diet list and I LOVE nuts, especially almonds, and eat nuts every day. Thank you John Symes for this information and more please about what you have learned.

I am more than happy to have found information related to Celiac Disease and epilepsy. I personally have Celiac Disease which was not diagnosed until I was 42 years old. I also have a grandson who was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 2, with seizures that are highly resistant to medical interventions. Now at the age of 12 his seizures occur almost exclusively at night when he is sleeping, in particular upon falling asleep and just before waking. I would love to network with others who have had the experience of exploring Celiac Disease in relationship to epilepsy. I have only recently begun to research all of this, mainly after becoming acquainted with Jenny McCarthy's book, Mother Warriors. I guess it's possible to be a grandmother warrior - I would love to believe that there is still hope after all this time.

My 42 year old son started having Gran Mall seizures at the age of 8. He was put on Dilantin and phenobarb, but still had an occasional seizure. The Dilantin caused gum overgrowth on his teeth, and the dentist wanted to do gum surgery. That I did not okay having it done. I wrote to the Epilepsy Society to buy a book giving information about all of the available drugs. We didn't have a computer at that time. I found that Tegretol was used exclusively in Europe, especially for kids and teenagers, but not used much in the US. I liked what it said about it, and asked the Neurologist to change him to it. Of course doctors don't like being told what to do, but I insisted. His seizures stopped, and since his teens he has had only three seizures because he forgot his medicine! That is the negative side of it. I told the principal at the high school about changing his meds, and she called me after he took the beginning of the school tests, and was astonished at how much better his scores were since his medication change. He has to take it 3 times a day. He has lived a normal life since then. He would not have been able to drive, and would have had problems finding a job. He graduated from college, has a good job in an accounting office, married 16 years and has two children. I thank God that I'm pro-active as far as medicine is concerned, because it changed his life. By the way, I found out five years ago that I have celiac!

I am epileptic and had run across this information by reference after my brain surgery. I was diagnosed with Hypocampal Sclerosis (my hypocampus was deteriorizing) after my original diagnosis of epilepsy. I believe that there is documentation from the same doctor and report covering this diagnosis. Basically it creates calcification to the occipital lobe which in turn causes a deteriorization (right side for me) to the Hypocampus and there on epilepsy. They said the median age for this occurrence is early to mid thirties. I was 32 when this developed for me. I will now have to keep an eye on my two children and hope they take after my wife in their dietary intake and tolerances.

I also had continued seizures (albeit to a much lighter recurrence and intensity) after surgery and was it was referred to as refractory (No response to the medication). After I went gluten free, I have decreased my epileptic reactions almost completely, unless I forget my medication or consume gluten. Fortunately it is not to the degree that I am not able to drive again.