Fatima Sana Shaikh opens up about living with epilepsy: ‘I inform all the directors I work with…’

It takes a lot of strength to be a public figure and talk about living with something that is often stigmatised around the world. But, Fatima Sana Shaikh wants to raise awareness about epilepsy. Given that Epilepsy Awareness Month is going on, the actor took to Instagram to shine light on this condition and share with her 3.1 million followers how she has been coping thus far.
In an ask-me-anything session, the ‘Dangal‘ star engaged in a conversation with her followers. When someone asked how she deals with epilepsy, Fatima wrote that she has a “good support system” comprising her family, friends and pet, and that “some days are good”, but some are “not so great”.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
For the uninitiated, epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the central nervous system, in which the brain activity often becomes abnormal and causes seizures or periods of “unusual behaviour”, along with sensations and loss of awareness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.

One of her followers asked Fatima, 30, about when she found out about it, and the actor wrote: “[I] was diagnosed when I was training for Dangal. I got an episode and woke up straight at the hospital… [I] was in denial first [for five years]. And now, I have learnt to embrace it, and work and live around it.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Previously, Dr Prashant Makhija, neurolog consultant, Wockhardt Hospital, South Bombay had told that for the correct diagnosis of epilepsy, it is important that the patient seeks consultation from a neurolog, who makes diagnosis based on clinical evaluation of the patient (symptoms/signs), EEG (electroencephalogram) that detects brain waves, and MRI scan of patient’s brain.
Someone else asked the actor what one can do when they are alone and having an epileptic episode. She responded: “If he is getting an episode and no one is around him, you can do nothing. But, once you come to know and you are around him, just let him feel safe. He might be confused, emotionally/physically drained, and hopefully not injured. All we want is someone to be our side.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Fatima also wrote that the struggles are “serious and disabling”. “It’s not all in the mind. It can be fatal and leave you with major disabilities.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Speaking about how she has been working with this condition, the actor wrote that she informs all her directors that she has epilepsy. “They have always been very supportive and understanding. They know of the challenges they might face on the days I get an episode.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Fatima also shared that thinking about an episode recurring makes her “horribly anxious”, especially when she is “at work”.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Next, she revealed that her epilepsy prevents her from doing activities like swimming, driving and being alone.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
She said she suffers from tonic-clonic seizure — which is also called a convulsion — absence seizure — which leads to sudden lapses of consciousness — clonic seizure — wherein there is repeated jerking of arms and legs on one or both sides, along with numbness or tingling — and focal seizure that begin in one area of the brain, but can become generalised and spread to other areas.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
On what can trigger a seizure, the actor said stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, flashlights, dehydration are factors.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Explaining the difference between seizure and epilepsy, Fatima wrote that the former is a “single occurrence” while the latter is recurring.
“A single episode of fit/convulsion may occur because of rapidly correctable/reversible problem such a low blood sugars (hypoglycaemia), low sodium levels (hyponatremia), consumption of alcohol, etc.,” Dr Makhija had explained, adding that a person is diagnosed as having epilepsy when they show an enduring predisposition to have recurrent seizures due to genetic/acquired causes.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
“Epilepsy occurs either due to genetic (familial) causes or when there is damage to the brain which may occur following a head injury, infection of the brain, stroke, brain tumour etc. Around 1 in 26 people will have a lifetime risk of developing epilepsy,” he had said.
Fatima also mentioned the things to keep in mind while dealing with someone who is having epileptic episode:
* Don’t restrain the person.* Don’t put anything in their mouth.* Turn them to one side, so that if they throw-up, they do not choke on it.* Time the seizures.* Move sharp objects away.* Take the person to the hospital if it goes on for more than 5-10 minutes.* Stay calm and do not panic.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
She confessed that she usually avoids going to places where she does not “feel safe”, or where people will not be able to help her if she gets an epileptic episode.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
On how fast she recovers from an episode, the actor wrote it depends on what kind of seizure she has experienced. “If it’s full-blown, then it could take the whole day. Because then I get migraines, body pain, I am zoned out, can’t understand anything, confused…”
“If it’s [an] absence [seizure], I could recover from it in 20 minutes or less.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!