Health question

2013- During my sophomore year of college I had two grand mal seizures in my sleep. I was diagnosed with nocturnal epilepsy and prescribed a medication called Keppra, which was to be taken once in the morning and once at night. I had another seizure during December of 2010, most likely due to lack of sleep from studying from finals. I had another this past July, most likely because of the painkillers I was prescribed post-TJ surgery interacting with the Keppra.

Coach is very much aware of my medical situation and I am required to keep the training staff constantly updated and aware. Doctors have cleared me to continue to play and I have had no ill-effects on the field.

I'd advise being open with coaches if talks become somewhat serious. I would assume most of my coaches are like my coach...if the doctor and the trainers say you can play, then you can play. A medical condition that has not been prevalent in the past should not scare them away. If you don't tell them and something does come up in the future, that could be perceived in a more negative light than the upfront honesty.

I'm pretty sure your son will be required to have an EKG if he goes to an NCAA institution, I did. I had the same diagnoses with the same kind of non-prognosis that your son did when I was younger. I've since been told that it sounds like I've "grown" out of it.

Anyways, the EKG will catch any heart issue like that and the trainers will figure it out from there. My EKG checked out fine.

That's something that the athletic training staff will need to know about later...

Thanks very much for the suggestions. We certainly wouldn't try to hide it . . . just want to be sure the appropriate time to mention it.

No surprises!

quote:

We certainly wouldn't try to hide it . . . just want to be sure the appropriate time to mention it.

At a larger school (and IMO any quality school) this isn't an issue that a coach will be concerned with. It falls on the athletic training staff and the team physicians. They are the ones who will need to know that information and it will come out during the pre-participation exam a student-athlete must do prior to beginning practice...

This may be a no brainer but worth mentioning.

I think revealing any health condition to coaches and trainers just might possibly save his life one day.

YGD