New and confused

[rb.]

Hi, I hope I'm posting this in the right place. Forgive me if I haven't.

I'm a 44 female, a past migraine sufferer (11-22), and had my first panic attack at 18. (Also had several concussions in childhood.) In my late 30s, I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder. The only med they've ever given me that works to stop these attacks are benzos, like lorazepam (Ativan). Funny thing happened at my nurse practitioner's office last month, when discussing sending me to a psychiatrist for a consult on the PD (never seen a psych). NP asked if I'd ever been investigated for seizures, which I haven't. She, of course, just referred me to a psych, no one else, and sent me for counselling for the PD.

Judging by what I've been reading this morning, I believe I have, at least, Photosensitive Epilepsy. Can someone have this without an obvious, visible, physical seizure? (Sorry, don't know all the proper terminology.)

I have:

-stripe issues...decking, fences, house siding. Worst is yellow painted pedestrian strips on roadways and parking lots
-can't drive through shadow/light, caused by a low sun through multiple trees
-visual/motion issues...as a passenger in a car, on tv, movies (Revenge of the Sith was really bad...LOL)
-have a failing florescent light in the bathroom right now that flickers low for about 30 seconds when you turn it on...I have to close my eyes before I hit the switch
-I've recently had "spells" where I hear everyone talking to me, but suddenly become dizzy, and my brain cannot handle any auditory processing...all I hear is gobbledy-gook
-driving at night is a nightmare, has been for years. Especially since my city has changed many traffic lights to the bright, LED ones
-very low sound tolerance

I did have one episode, which from all symptoms appeared to be a TIA, but no one at the hospital told me what it was. That was about 4 years ago.

I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting, but those are the main "triggers" to my "panic attacks". Does this sound more like epilepsy to those of you familiar with it?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[RobinN]

Welcome rb - you are perfectly placed... no worries.

A migraine sufferer myself for 30 yrs, it was finally suggested that I try magnesium. I have been free from migraines for about 5 yrs. Certainly not to say that this is the reason for yours. However, there are many connections between neurologist disorders and vitamin, mineral, and nutrition. In fact they have even connected in some cases, gluten intolerance with schizophrenia.

Have you considered looking at how your daily dietary choices might be playing a role in your neurologist issues?

[rb.]

Hi Robin.

Funny you should mention that... The period I was experiencing migraines (with auras) was the worst nutritional period of my life. I pretty much lived on coffee and cigarettes, and had horrible leg cramps. My nutrition has been hugely improved since about 28, when I first became pregnant. And when I was diagnosed with the panic disorder, I first sought nutritional and vitamin/mineral supplements to manage it. It didn't fix it, but did help.

Currently I eat mostly unprocessed foods (a from scratch cook for the benefit of our kids), with the exception of processed dairy items like yogurt, cheeses, milk. I do supplement with vitamin B complex, C and D right now.

[Meetz1064]

also 'fess up to not having had the best of diets--but about five years ago, I started myself on a form of the GARD diet, and then when I got here, went on the GARD diet. Then, this past April, when I was diagnosed a celiac patient, switched to that --which is a more restricted diet than the GARD, but it's not horrible.

I have, though, at Robin's urging, tried the magnesium over the last couple of years, and succeeded in getting rid of all of my migraines with the exception of the days that I don't take it. My muscle cramps (legs and other assorted places) are also gone---WOOOHOOO!!! You've NO IDEA how sweet that is!

In regards to what you're going through:

I think you may be correct, and it's possible sometimes to not have what you call an "obvious" seizure--I think you may be thinking of the tonic clonics, where one falls down and convulses. There are around 40 types of seizures, so YES, it is possible, I think.

The only way to tell for sure though, would be for you to be hooked up to an EEG machine, and use some of your triggers while hooked up. Annoying, but the only true way. Also, that EEG, in order to get a true reading, should be AT LEAST 24 to 48 hours, so that activity can be captured at all times. Keep in mind that an EEG is only a "snapshot in time" and will only take a picture of what's going on in your brain at the time that it is being done.

You may also want to consider starting an E journal to help track your triggers, and to prove it to the doctors. Also, if there happen to be any others that you may not have noticed, those will come out in the journal, too.

Also, I want to welcome you to CWE. You'll find plenty of support here, lots of information in the Library and the Kitchen, and a great place to vent in the Padded Room. Mr B has built us an AWESOME home here.

I wish you the best of luck, and holler if you need anything. I know I forget something in this rambling post......

Take care!

Meetz

[Bernard]

Hi rb, welcome to the forum.

We have a lot of discussions about photosensitivity which you may find of interest:

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/...nsitivity.html

I'd also suggest you spend some time learning about the different types of seizures. Not all seizures are obvious to bystanders (absence, simple partial) or to the person experiencing them (complex partial, etc.):

http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/Types_seizures