Hey 19 soon to be 20 just looking for help

[eaglesrule1024]

Hey guys and Girls,

Well My name is Rob im currently 19 about to be 20 in august and I had my first seizure in August. I personally think it was all my fault and don't really know if it was a seizure. What happened was I was swift ater rescue training with my former fire department and it was about 110 degrees and well I didn't hydrate myself properly and I ended up with a headache and then we went to dinner and then I thought that it would go away but it didn't and unfortunately I didn't even drink more water and it all happened during a Nascar race I know this because we all at the firehouse bet on what lap the first crash was going to be. Well they didn't take my temp so I have no way of knowing what my temperature was at the time. I went to the neurologist and seen him one time he had me go run tests and first said your never going to be a firefighter again then he talked to a doctor and came back and said good news your going to be a firefighter again. I did the MRI CT Scan and a sleep deprived EEG only thing that came back with some levels were the sleep deprived EEG. I finally looked at my chart I know ima bit nosy and under the diagnosis it says 345.10 Generalized convulsive epilepsy without mention of intractable epilepsy. Well I searched the web and I have come up empty on what this means. Can Anyone help me out to understand it better and maybe get a better take at my situation. Also after that one encounter I have yet to see the doc again when I go for my checkup I see a nurse practitioner.

[RobinN]

My understanding Rob is that you are not diagnosed with Epilepsy until you have had two or more unprovoked seizures. I was told my prominent neurologist that every one is entitled to a seizure at one time or another. In my daughters case she had two in one day, and I was told they generally classify that as one seizure. So.... what this means for you?

I am certainly not a doctor. The fact that they wrote generalized means that it took over your whole brain, not just in one area... and the convulsive to my knowledge is another word for tonic clonic (shaking). There is no connection between that and intractable. That is generally used when discussing controlling the seizures. Such as: Not easily managed

Use instinct, but know that your seizure threshold is low. Other things can put you over the edge again. Such as you have seen with sleep. Take extra care, because the brain is very smart and knows that this is an easy way to release all of the known triggers and stresses put upon it. It is believed that it can recreate the same scenario by something called kindling.

Being dehydrated is a known trigger. You know better now.

I am glad that you stopped in to find some answers. Many can be read about here:

Epilepsy 101 - Part FAQ, Part tips and advice
Epilepsy Triggers
Intractable epilepsy tied to nutritional deficits
Proactive Prescription for Epilepsy

[Bernard]

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum.

It wasn't clear from your post - were you suffering from heat exhaustion? Did you have a stroke/TIA?

[eaglesrule1024]

Hi Rob, welcome to the forum.

It wasn't clear from your post - were you suffering from heat exhaustion? Did you have a stroke/TIA?

It was definitely from heat exhaustion but since I wasn't treated for it and not temperature was taken and they did give a IV and after that I felt perfectly fine. I just wish that I could find a definitive answer as to what I have and I can't ask my doc because I don't see him as I said before I see a nurse practitioner. Because when I apply for a firefighter position one in particular it says do you suffer from a seizure disorder and im not sure if I do but I do take medication for it ? So im just confused

Rob

[Meetz1064]

Welcome to CWE!!

the 345.10 is the diagnosis code that the doctors' office uses to bill the insurance company with. What bothers me is that they gave it to you after only one seizure. I'd be asking to speak to the doctor, and pinning him down.

Pay attention to the nutritional part of your life...Robin has plenty of good suggestions, and the threads she put in her post are great, too.

Good luck!

[BuckeyeFan]

First let me say as a former EMT, I have a ton of respect for firefighters.

I am not an expert on E and this is a question that needs to be answered by a neurologist. However, my own experience and that of others I have heard leads me to believe that there is no reason you should not be able to return to duty. A single seizure, without any indications of recurrence would not usually be considered epilepsy. The medication you are taking could also be a factor.

Read as much as you can on the subject and then return to your doctor with your questions written down.

Stop back and see us anytime.

[skillefer]

Hi Rob! First of all, I'd go get a second opinion. As Robinn pointed out, all humans have the potential to have seizures. My neurologist says the exact same thing. But for people with epilepsy, it just takes less to trigger a seizure. But since you have had one...try to take good care of yourself. Establish a regular sleep pattern. Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. Also, make sure that you stay hydrated (since that seems to be what triggered your last one....), limit your alcohol intake, eat a healthy diet, and try to stay physically fit. Robinn was right though, that most doctor's won't diagnose someone with epilepsy unless they have had 2 seizures. That's why I say to get a second opinion. Demand to see your doctor. You pay his salary, you have the right to talk to him. And if he's so busy he can't see you, then you have the right to take your records and go to a different doctor. Read the Epilepsy 101 thread....it might help you get a good general idea about epilepsy. Write down any questions you have for your doctor. And remember...your doctor is there to answer YOUR questions.

[eaglesrule1024]

Thanks everybody for the Help! Here's my problem with seeing another doc for another opinion . My dad who worked for the city in NYC got hurt on the job and is now disabled (his back is messed up) well he switched dr.'s and he is having all kinds of problems and now the new dr. is saying he is no permanently disabled ? even though my dad hasn't been in work for 2yrs or more because of pain and has to receive regular treatment for everything and sometimes it still doesn't work. But Yeah thats why switching doctors is a bit too much I don't want to run into that problem so to say and have a even harder time becoming a firefighter again.

So what's the advice now ?

[Bernard]

I'd be more concerned about understanding your condition than worrying whether you can be a firefighter again, but that's just me. If the current doc can help you in that regards, great. If not, a firefighter job may be the least of your worries.

[eaglesrule1024]

Well Guys and girls finally got in touch with my nurse practitioner today and she said I' am Diagnosed with Complex Partial Seizures.

Rob

[RobinN]

My daughter has been dianosed with Tonic Clonic seizures and after 5 sessions of neurofeedback, they seem to have changed to complex partial seizures. This is a good thing for IMO. Onwards.... to the "none-at-all" variety.

You might look into NF for your condition.

[eaglesrule1024]

Well if it's a good thing then great!! and NF ? what is that ?

[Georgiagirl88]

Hey Rob,

Hope all is well with you..I was recently diagnosed with complex partial seizures also. For me.. had "spells" for yrs. My MRI was clear and normal, also previous sleep studies showed nothing...my 1st sleep deprived eeg showed some slowing in the temporal lobe, they began giving me meds..but the neurologist did not want to label me yet. It was after my second sleep deprived eeg that showed more. Then they diagnosed me. I would ask questions..write them down. And I ask for copies of all reports ,bloodwork,scans etc. it has been helpful to have. Hope you are doing well!!! Best of luck. There are some really informative books with great info. Helped me alot when it was all new.

Take care!!!
Michelle (Atlanta) : ))

[xenome]

Hey Rob,

NF means neurofeedback, you can read about it here.

EEG Neurofeedback

Robin's daughter is undergoing it, and it sounds like its helping, you should check into that.

[sarahj]

this is a little inconveiniant for you, but unfortunatey heat can really affect some peoples epilpsy - i was extremely heat sensitive - even a warm shower would set me off, and i know a girl who has fits just from being out on a hot day (and i mean english hot - so not really hot at all!!)

good news: it doesnt affect everyone though. you should consider it as much as sleep pattern and low alcohol consumption.

[xenome]

"english hot"

How hot is that?

[sarahj]

you knows it!

[sarahj]

thats like 24 degrees C (70 fahrenheit??!)

[xenome]

I have a low tolerance for heat, so ya, thats way too hot for my tastes. I like winter, when the cold air tingles the skin and I can go snowboarding all the time.

[sarahj]

im a skier myself, went to aspen in feb this year - very nice too!