Just wanting to introduce myself

[mommyof3]

Hello my name is Amy I am 29 years old, happily married for almost 10 years and we have 3 beautiful children. I work at a medical facility as a medical claims and billing specialist.
All my troubles started 6 years ago after I gave birth to my 2nd child. I had 2 grand mal seizures. I was told there was a blood clot in my brain from giving birth and that caused my seizures. After 6 months on coumiden(simple partial??), 6 months on Dilantin, 3 years on Depakote. I thought I was fine. My neurologist at the time wouldn't help me by answering any questions about how or why this happened. So I got aggrivated and stopped taking my Depakote and never saw him again. After several months of headaches and migraines the Dr. I work for sent me for a MRI. My MRI report stated I had Mesial Temporal Sclorsis(simple partial??).
He then referred my to a different neurologist. I saw him this past Tues. and he said I do have epilepsy. As for the MTS, I have to go to the University of Kentucky to a specialists.
To say the least I'm confused and scared. The neurologist said my headaches and migraines were actually seizures. From what I understand these do not seem to be types of seizures that I've read about. I again am taking Depakote 2-500 mg a day. I feel totally wiped out. Any suggestions? Wouldn't I know if I'm having seizures?

[Bernard]

Hi Amy, welcome to the forum.

As you might be aware, there are many different types of seizures. Headaches are often an after effect of having a seizure. Many seizures involve loss of consciousness, so no, you may not always be aware of your seizure activity.

Stacy (my wife) also saw her seizure activity get worse with each successive pregnancy. For her, there was a distinct and drastic change. I don't know if it is because of hormones or something else, but it definately had an effect.

Migraines are often associated with seizures. There is some evidence that they can be controlled with oxygen therapy and/or ionized magnesium.

You might find this article about mesial temporal lobe epilepsy interesting.

[Birdbomb]

Welcome Amy

Seizures can take many odd forms. Some we are aware of some we aren't. The one grand Mal I had I didn't loose complete consciousness, I was aware of about 1/2 of the seizure! Scary stuff when your airway is blocked.

It's been my experiance that neuros really don't share as much information as we would like them to. Personally, I like to be as informed as much as possible, tell me all the details! I changed mine almost 2 years ago because of his attitiude. He was just sending me out the door with a new script every 3 months. Poo on that!

The fear of the unknown is alleviated with knowlege and education. Start reading about epilepsy, just use google or Yahoo search and there is TONS of information.

The people here are very friendly and helpful. Bernard has created a safe, and caring environment.

[spinnymommy]

Hello Amy.

I don't know much about seizures other than the type I have, and I tend to forget what I've learned about them and have to re-learn it anyway.

So I don't have any sage advice for you.
I do want to welcome you to this group.
These people are great and I think you will feel at home in no time.

Again, welcome
Kerin

[RobinN]

Hello... I am a mom of three also.
It is my youngest that is having seizures, and she will be 16 in a few days.

I don't blame you for feeling frustrated and confused. Being told blood clots then no answers to Epilepsy and no answers. Seizures are seizures and from what I gather there is a cause. Many times that cause can be corrected. It seems that you have barely scratched the surface and need to dig deeper.

Has the doctor suggested an MRA? These are pictures of the blood vessels.

There is a lot of information written lately that is breaking migraines away from the headache label and putting it in the seizure catagory. I suffer with migraines so I have been quite interested in this theory.

[speber]

First of all, hello Amy! Welcome!
Secondly, the migraine factor just arose as a possible for me TODAY. I'm noticing lots of people mentioning seizures vs. migraines in some form or fashion in the forum threads and it's quite interesting. Luckily (if you can call it that) if I have migraines developing--they aren't the 'painful' kind.....they are a 'dumb-me-down' kind mimicking Simple Partial Seizures in many aspects.
Good luck in your search for answers!....this is a great place to look!

[mommyof3]

I don't blame you for feeling frustrated and confused. Being told blood clots then no answers to Epilepsy and no answers. Seizures are seizures and from what I gather there is a cause. Many times that cause can be corrected. It seems that you have barely scratched the surface and need to dig deeper.

Has the doctor suggested an MRA? These are pictures of the blood vessels.

There is a lot of information written lately that is breaking migraines away from the headache label and putting it in the seizure catagory. I suffer with migraines so I have been quite interested in this theory.

You are exactly right as far as me just scratching the surface. I never put any thought into my seizures b/c I just thought they were due to the clot.
Now I'm trying to learn as much as I can about seizures. I hope to ask a lot of questions when I go to the Epil??? I'm not sure what they are called.
So far all my neurologist is saying is that my migraines are a type of epilepsy, but he never gave me a name.
Everyone has been so helpful and it's so nice to have people to talk to who can understand what you are going through.

[speber]

[RobinN]

I agree, I don't feel so alone in dealing with this. I use to feel like I would simply go crazy and that would be of no help to my daughter at all.

Glad you are all here.

[brain]

To say the least I'm confused and scared. The neuro said my headaches and migraines were actually seizures.

Amy!

Welcome to CWE!

I suffer from "migralepsy". Its been a long time,
but the anti-epileptic drugs I take keeps it at bay. There is
such thing as Migraine and Epilepsy combined
and such will show up on an EEG, usually coming
from the Occipital Region going to the Temporal
Region (either to the left or right or both) and
can effect your vision and even hearing.

Indeed it's very scary! While having Migraine is
one thing and having Epilepsy is another, but to
have BOTH together - AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
I do not miss this! I do not miss this! I do not
miss this!

But hopefully they will catch it all and pinpoint
it all. The best method would be:[list]
EEG - better yet a video EEG (video)
MRI - with and without contrast
FDG PET CT/Scan - (better than the standard)[list]
A video EEG where a hospital stay of 2-3 days or
if they catch something maybe a day or so
longer; and this will enable them to capture any
thing that 'might' occur in your sleep without
you even being aware of. I would not be surprised
if having those above three performed; and if
they captured some things that they end up
putting you through a SPECT.

KEEP US POSTED!