Hello

[Edward183]

Hi, my name is Edward I am 27 and live in Cambridge,UK.

I started having seizures in 2006 for the first time. Though this isn't full on epilepsy as I am aware throughout and I know what is happening and when. Usually it is a slow process. I get a few tremors(or minor twitchings) in the day and as the day progresses this happens say every hour. Then at night time I have these partial seizures in which as I say I am aware of what is happening. This usually occurs 3,4,5 times a night, but goes down from say 2mins to 30secs in the process.

I am taking Sodium Valproate:-slow release. Taking one or two a day wasn't stopping it, but I now take it 3 times a day. Of course I will get seizures again most likely, as its a prevention rather than a cure, but I haven't had an attack since the last week before Christmas!

So fingers crossed they don't come back eh!

[Meetz1064]

why do you say this isn't "full on epilepsy"? Because it's not the tonic-clonic variety of seizure? Just because it's not, doesn't mean it's not ep. It's just a different kind. There are MANY different kinds of ep.

Check out the following link......you'll find out a lot from it.

Epilepsy 101 - Part FAQ, Part tips and advice

I just want to take a minute and welcome you to CWE. Mr. B (Bernard) has made us a wonderful home here. Stick around, kick up your feet and hang around. You'll like it here. I promise.

Take care.

Meetz!

[Bernard]

Hi Edward, welcome to the forum.

Seizures are seizures. Unfortunately, seizure patterns can change over time. You might only be experiencing simple partial seizures now, but that could change down the road.

I'd highly recommend you check out Epilepsy - A New Approach: What medicine can do, what you can do for yourself. You sound like a good candidate to apply the techniques it discusses.

[tinasmom]

Welcome Edward -

Here is the definition of Epilepsy as found on the National Epilepsy Foundation site:

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

I hope that your seizures are now under control.

[Crazy Monkey]

Hiya Edward

I live just up the road from you in Norwich!!!! its a small world

I am 30 years old and have had absent seizures since I was 10 (I lose consciousness for a few seconds), they are uncontrolled despite various medications, I can have anything from 15-50 a day, I have various triggers, some of which I am still finding out about.

It sounds like you have your seizures under control (well done), good luck in keeping them that way.

Welcome and Take care

Kim

[Edward183]

Hopefully yes it is under control. I would like to drive too, so come December, 1 year on my doctor said I can retake my test.

15-50 a day must really be hard for you, I know I couldn't handle it. Because during my seizures whether they last 2 mins (usually the max) or 30secs my muscles tense up so much they hurt.

My medication seems to suit me so I hope I have it under control.

It seems so strange. I am 27, but had my first seizure when I was 25! they discoved during a scan that it was to do with something in my brain - non dangerous(in relative terms) so it just came on all of a sudden.

[hawke86]

Welcome to CWE Edward. I hope you enjoy your stay here. Everyone is cool and friendly. Again Welcome.

[JanieNut]

Hi Edward. I live in Manchester...... But it is not the Manchester you know :-)

I felt the same way you do now, when I was first diagnosed with E. I kept saying that it is not really like E to people and now I only explain my E now when people ask me if they will have to pick me up from the floor (gee, thanks for that picture) - I have Complex Partial seizures that are not 'text book' - I am aware all the time, even if the books don't say this it is true - I just don't save the time to my memory - and they are quick - split seconds - to a second long. Recently they have gotten longer and stronger.
Oh joy. Anyway - I hope you get it all figured out with a good neurologist or epilologist. One that will listen to you and answers all your questions, big and small. Good Luck.

[RobinN]

It truly is only a label... call it what you want. The job for you is to find out why you were fine for 25 yrs. You need to work to return your body back to a place of health. A seizure is a good warning that something is amiss in your body.

Patience and determination with help to find the reason.
Welcome to CWE, it is a great place to begin that search.

[joey]

welcome

[morgan381]

Hi Edward, welcome to CWE. I have complex partials (exactly the way JanieNut described them)...I used to say it wasn't epilepsy too. I had a difficult time accepting it. I'm 27, but didn't start having seizures until I was 20. I was so uneducated at that time, I thought epilepsy was something a person was born with...I didn't know it was something that could develop later in a person's life. So far, I've been seizure free since September 2007 and I aim to keep it that way.

Enough about me. I hope you find all the info you need/want here. It's truly a gold mine. CWE is also a great place to find comfort in knowing you're not the only one out there with E. Welcome

[skillefer]

Hi Edward! Welcome to CWE. Glad to hear that your meds are working well for you. This is a really great group. So if you ever have any questions, feel like chiming in, or just need to vent, we're here for you.