Hi Everyone!

[Cheryl]

My name is Cheryl and I've had epilepsy since 1987.I was pregnant with my son. I had toxemia that went undected until the day I delvered him. At the hospital I went pre-eclampsic.Which means my blood pressure shot up and my body was basically shutting down and it was trying to abort my baby. The doctors were watching me for seizures. I didn't have any then, but the toxins in my body went into my brain and that started my eplepsy. It went undignoisted for 7 years. I'd had surgery and was sent home. I was in pain but they said to take tylenol. I went to bed. I woke up my husband by hitting him full boar with my left fist right in his face. I had a grand mal seizure. I've only had grand mal's, the others have been partial complex seizures. My seizures changed from the left to the right so after VNS didn't control my seizures I had a right temporal lobe ectomy. With meds I've been seizure free for almost 3 years.

[RobinN]

Hi Chery... Welcome to CWE.
Wow that is quite a story. Tell me about the toxins in the brain. Did it start immediately or slowly? How does this get diagnosed? Can it be seen in a scan?

I am so glad that you found relief. My daughter is 16 and has been dealing with them for the past 1.5 years.

[Bernard]

Hi Cheryl, welcome to the forum.

Sounds like you have been through a lot. Make yourself at home here.

[brain]

Cheryl!

Congrats on being E-Free for 3 years!

And welcome to CWE!

[Birdbomb]

Welcome Cheryl

It's not every day a wife gets to "clock" her husband out of the blue! Bet he had one heck of a black eye.

When did you have your VNS implanted? Is is still activated? I just had mine removed this past November and I'll be seizure free 3 years this coming April, too!

[Cheryl]

Hi Chery... Welcome to CWE.
Wow that is quite a story. Tell me about the toxins in the brain. Did it start immediately or slowly? How does this get diagnosed? Can it be seen in a scan?

I am so glad that you found relief. My daughter is 16 and has been dealing with them for the past 1.5 years.

Hi Robin!
The toxins I believe started immediately.My son had to be in the hospital for three months. So with little sleep and worrying about my son I brought him home and was on constant watch. One day I looked in the mirror. I felt like I was in a dream state. Then all of a sudden I was back. I believe that was the first complex partial seizure I had. When I was actually diagnosed when I had my first grand mal. Yes, I believe it was a PET scan,

[Cheryl]

Welcome Cheryl

It's not every day a wife gets to "clock" her husband out of the blue! Bet he had one heck of a black eye.

When did you have your VNS implanted? Is is still activated? I just had mine removed this past November and I'll be seizure free 3 years this coming April, too!

Hi Bird Bomb!
Yes, your right! But it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy! He's my ex- husband now.
Anyway,2002 was when it was implanted. They turned it off before the surgery but wouldn't take it out.
Congrats on your victory!!!! It's wonderful to be able to drive again and of course be
Freeeeeeeeeee!

[skillefer]

Hi Cheryl! Welcome to CWE. Glad to hear that you're seizure free for 3 years now. As for the clocking of the ex...priceless.

[brain]

VNS = Virtually Nailing Spouses?

[Birdbomb]

@ Brainy!!!

VNS = vexing nocturnal sucker-punch

[Cheryl]

I love your definition for VNS! You gals are great!

[Cheryl]

Your definition for VNS is terrific! Thanks!

[brain]

Cheryl:

Humor, I mean Insanity
is required to be on this
board ... CQ will be happy
to train!



CQ's Section - HAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Georgiagirl88]

Hi Cheryl,
I had pre-eclampsia also in 1st pregnancy. My BP was sky high and I woke up bleeding severely one a.m. 4 weeks before due date. I ended up delivering our son early, and BP continued high for wks. after. I now have what they believe are seizures. Abnormal eeg's and bad spells. Is there a connection with having had the eclampsia? I am rather new to knowing about/treatment seizures..but these also went undiagnosed for yrs. and was blown off for years. Thanks for any info.

Michelle : )

[Bernard]

Michelle, are you taking any magnesium supplements? Low magnesium levels can cause high blood pressure, eclampsia and seizures. Try finding some ionic magnesium at your local vitamin shop (usually a liquid suspension) and see if it helps.

[Georgiagirl88]

Bernard,

Not really. I take a one a day occasionally. Funny you should mention this, I've had vitamin deficiencies. Iron,vit. D not sure about others. I read something about lacking certains things amy contribute to seizures. I will check into it.

Thanks again!
Michelle

[Cheryl]

Michelle, I can totally relate. The pre-eclamsia shot my BP up. I never seized then but the toxins went into my brain and poisened it. My blood pressure went back down as soon as they took my son. When I took my son home I was having auras of fear. They did a multitude of tests including MRI, and EEG and nothing showed up. The doctor told my family I was just faking the auras to get attention.That doctor IS truely an idiot!! He told me 3 months later that I had MS. When I asked him what we were going to do. He said; nothing, I just wanted you to know.Go and live your life. My epilepsy didn't manifest itself for 7 years, when I had the Grand mal. The same neurologist that had misdiagnosed me 7 years before, told me that I infact had epilepsy. What spells are you having? Do auras come before, during or after?

[RobinN]

Michelle, are you taking any magnesium supplements? Low magnesium levels can cause high blood pressure, eclampsia and seizures. Try finding some ionic magnesium at your local vitamin shop (usually a liquid suspension) and see if it helps.

Such a smart man.