Guy has seizure-article

[Baksteen 84]

The article is factually inaccurate and full of whuffo statements. Could you take it down please, or at least make sure the info in it is actually correct?

Epilepsy is way more complex than 'something to do with stress'. Besides, while it is indeed true that 'many doctors' believe epilepsy patients shouldn't jump 'for obvious reasons' I wouldn't be surprised if those are the same doctors who are against skydiving in general.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom

[BIGUN 1,053]

Perhaps you could offer some written suggestions as to how the article may be improved; rather than its wrong, has whuffo statements and is inaccurate regarding stress with a "take it down" request.

First,

Triggers and causes

Triggers for seizures are not the same as causes for epilepsy. A trigger for someone to have their first seizure may be a stressful situation, but the underlying cause for that person to start having seizures may be quite different. Causes can be genetic or as a result of structural damage to the brain. See more about causes of epilepsy.

Because epilepsy can develop at any time of life, it can sometimes be difficult to work out why seizures have started. If you have a seizure, it may seem to make sense that there must be a particular cause, such as stress, or alcohol, for example. However, the likelihood of having a seizure at some point may have been there already for you, and the stress or alcohol has triggered it.

Source: http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/seizure-triggers

Second,

With regard to the, "many doctors" comment. The article did state it had been four years since his last seizure and the Doctor had signed off on the skydive. Which to me means he did more to interact with his DZ than sign the Medical Waiver. Here in the US, it's my understanding that you're not allowed to drive for one or two years after a seizure, so why would a Doctor allow one to go skydiving? Hence, the comment about "ending his skydiving career" for awhile.

Can you elaborate for those of us who have little knowledge in this area?

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[Meso 38]

The article was never intended to be a medical journal defining what epilepsy is, to say it is "way more complex.." goes without saying. However, it is also way more complex than one could address outside in an article in which the condition was not the primary subject of discussion.

As stated above, stress is widely accepted as a contributing factor in seizure episodes. And in the article it was nowhere stated what the cause was, but offered the idea that stress was a possible contributing factor.

If you point out something that is factually inaccurate - We'll gladly look at making ammendments to correct that information.

[Baksteen 84]

You're both right of course.. It's just that this is a very touchy subject for me, participating a knee jerk reaction of my very own.

I'm simply afraid of perfectly capable students being turned away because of ignorance and because it's the easiest thing to do. Skydiving is about passion, not about what Joe Sixpack would call 'common sense'. But I do concede that I might be biased in favour of a hypothetical student who might not be suitable - after all, I cannot be objective on this subject.

While stress is indeed the most commonly known and most commonly acknowledged trigger for seizures, it is also widely accepted that many epilepsy patients are susceptible to stress. Triggers can vary per patient from stress to flashing lights or smells or humidity, or even (in my case) being extremely sleepy. When judging a prospective student's fitness for skydiving, the individual case should be carefully evaluated.
-Which triggers is the student sensitive to?
-Is he taking meds?
-Which, if any side effects do these meds have on the students' performance?
-How long has he been seizure free?
-Was that with or without meds?
-Did he change his dosage recently?
- Is he seeing a neurologist and why/why not?
- What does his doctor say?
As to the driving question: it all depends on the limitations which are (rather arbitrarily in some cases) set on certain activities. If you look at it in a black/white way, I'll never be allowed to scuba dive, simply because they demand the student be seizure free without meds for X number of years - and I take meds. But I've been taking a low dosage of meds (depakin) for fourteen years now and have been seizure free for the same period of time. So what is the additional value of being seizure free without meds? Well, turns out they simply copied the requirements from those you have to meet for driving a lorry.
In skydiving though, the boundaries are set differently. I won’t quote them at you, because it will get lost in translation. But our regulations broadly speaking state that medical conditions must be absent or under control, and that any meds you take mustn’t influence your performance.

Hence, the portion of the article I have issues with is the following:

Quote

Questionable medical clearance

A doctor-issued medical statement is required before one is able to begin AFF training. Mr Jones' specialist gave him the all clear for his training, with Jones not having suffered any seizures for four years prior to this incident, a subject that has caused some debate of its own, with many doctors feeling as though skydiving would be an activity that no epilepsy sufferer should partake in, due to the risks.

Where does the word ‘questionable’ come from? I’m sure that the doctor made an informed descision based on the facts known to him. As far as I can tell the student was upfront about his condition towards the doctor. While it’s true that many doctors would ban a epilepsy patient from skydiving without a second (or first) thought, it is my belief that these doctors fall into the ‘skydiving is reckless, dangerous and deadly’-category. I would like to see the last statement in this paragraph to be a little more balanced.

Quote

Unfortunately with the occurrence of this incident, he will no longer be able to continue his skydiving career, for obvious reasons.

For obvious reasons simply implies: he’s got epilepsy and shouldn’t jump. Take out the ‘for obvious reasons’ and the sentence focuses more on the occurrence of the incident than on the epilepsy in general.

Quote

While seizures can be unpredictable and occur at any time, stress is thought to play a role in many individualcases. Naturally undergoing a skydiving program where not only are you aware of the safety risks, but also have the added pressure of passing or failing your level progression, stress will almost always be heightened.

Whetehr ‘individual’ is the correct word here, I l;eave to the native speakers. Point is, stress does not simply play a role in many cases of epilepsy in general, except for people who are susceptible to stress as a trigger for their epilepsy.

"That formation-stuff in freefall is just fun and games but with an open parachute it's starting to sound like, you know, an extreme sport."
~mom