Decrease in cognitive skill

[fezman101]

Hi everyone,

I started off with simple partials but it escalated to Complex Partials with a few Tonic Clonics. Complex partials are definitely the most common that I have. I can say from 2006 to 2015 I have had between 2000 to 3000 complex partials.

My brother has told me that my cognitive skills have greatly decreased and I have become more 'slow' e.g I find it difficult to do simple tasks. I notice myself that I find it difficult to find to right words to express something to someone else e.g after reading an article in the news paper.

When I saw my neurologist I was trying to explain issues I have been having with epilepsy and the thoughts were in my mind but I just found it hard to talk about. It's like I was blank.

Anyone here had a similar experience with a decrease of their cognitive skills?

Thanks

 

[masterjen]

It could be the medication and not the epilepsy in itself. Check into the side effects of the medication you are on. A medication that causes fatigue and sleepiness can make one appear "slower", have trouble with word finding, etc.

 

[Bidwell]

Yes. You say, "The thoughts were in my mind but I just found it hard to talk about. It's like I was blank." If you mean that you experience the thoughts in your mind but it was hard to talk about them or to bring them forth so that you APPEAR to be blank -- I know that very well. My epilepsy has been well controlled. I don't know about the connection but I do know it is freaky! Good luck.

 

[fezman101]

Yes. You say, "The thoughts were in my mind but I just found it hard to talk about. It's like I was blank." If you mean that you experience the thoughts in your mind but it was hard to talk about them or to bring them forth so that you APPEAR to be blank -- I know that very well. My epilepsy has been well controlled. I don't know about the connection but I do know it is freaky! Good luck.

A better word I should have used to describe this problem is "clouded". The things that I want to express are on my mind but when trying to communicate what's on my mind to another person I become "clouded" and find it difficult to have the right words to express what is on my mind.

If this happens to you can you give me an example of a situation please.

Do you still experience this? And what type of seizures do you have please?

 

[1dayatatime]

A better word I should have used to describe this problem is "clouded". The things that I want to express are on my mind but when trying to communicate what's on my mind to another person I become "clouded" and find it difficult to have the right words to express what is on my mind.

If this happens to you can you give me an example of a situation please.

Do you still experience this? And what type of seizures do you have please?

I call it 'foggy' or 'the stupids' it's the meds. I found out a lot of people complain about a decrease cognitve that are on lamictal.(probably other meds as well) I was really bad, got to the point my words were jumbled, backwards, when I tried to spell I'd have the right letters for the word but they were in the wrong order. Basic math, counting change was becoming a challenge. Frustrating.
I have complex generalized partial/absent sez. About 3 weeks into starting the cbd oil and backing off my meds it has gotten so much better. The stupids are clearing up.

 

[Bidwell]

I like "cloudy" and "foggy" but for me it is as if I am cut off from my ability to formulate thoughts in spoken words. I am better in writing because I can take my time and edit. An example is: I am in the elevator with a neighbor. We have both been to the mail room and I am holding a magazine that just came in. She says her sister loves that magazine. It takes me a while to figure out WHAT magazine she is talking about and then I can't think of its name. So I nod. She then asks me if I am still painting. [That is what I do nonstop for years.]But I can't think what she means by that either -- but I can approximate, so I say, "Oh, its the best." [Then I get out of the elevator thinking that I did not make sense as usual.] I have left temporal lobe epilepsy and take zonigran 250/day for it. That is as low as I can make it because I know the meds have such an impact.

 

[Bidwell]

My experience of Lamictal was much like yours but I was so stupidly trusting of the doctor that I could not pin anything down and the s.o.b doctor did not WANT to pin anything down. I have been reading your posts with interest. I am so glad for you. Am the possibilities of cbd oil--slowly.

 

[1dayatatime]

I like "cloudy" and "foggy" but for me it is as if I am cut off from my ability to formulate thoughts in spoken words. I am better in writing because I can take my time and edit. An example is: I am in the elevator with a neighbor. We have both been to the mail room and I am holding a magazine that just came in. She says her sister loves that magazine. It takes me a while to figure out WHAT magazine she is talking about and then I can't think of its name. So I nod. She then asks me if I am still painting. [That is what I do nonstop for years.]But I can't think what she means by that either -- but I can approximate, so I say, "Oh, its the best." [Then I get out of the elevator thinking that I did not make sense as usual.] I have left temporal lobe epilepsy and take zonigran 250/day for it. That is as low as I can make it because I know the meds have such an impact.

I totally hear you on that one. I got to the point where I actually avoided people/social gatherings. I couldn't follow a conversation, I couldn't comprehend the simplest things.......Grin and Nod. I hear you on the writing thing too. Spell check/edit/delete. Took me forever to 'write' a simple e-mail to my mom or brothers, it's so frustrating. I had got really weak too, it was hard, it also hurt to write with a pen or pencil for a short period of time, my hand writing started looking like a 2cnd graders. Yes I was trusting of docs. too. They're specialist, why shouldn't we trust them. Years later I have realized education and experience are more powerful together, they have the education, we have the experience. Most people that have the education think they're smarter than the one's that are going through the experience. My last app. with my epileptologist was in April. I told her about a lot of the side effects I've been having trouble with, showed her papers, journals, notes. She said.....this sounds hormonal. Really?! Having the stupids is hormonal?! I told her what I've done with the cbd and how much it's helped, she said she's not for it or against it, just be careful of the adverse reaction it may have with your medication. I told her it'e helped me with the adverse reactions I am having with my medication. my husband saw I was 'losing my cool' he jumped in and said it's really helped her, she feels so much better, she smiles, laughs again, she's not in a lot of pain anymore. All the doc said was, Still be careful of the adverse reactions. I left with 3 more prescriptions 1 for daily headache (take at night, it will knock you out) a migraine med. and a prescription for a higher dose of the generic keppra. I told her I had cut back and was doing fine, I also told her I don't have anymore headaches unless I have to be under really bright lights for a period of time.
Yes, adjusting/changing meds is dangerous, it is best to go very slow, I always wait about 2-3 weeks give or take. I'm comfortable, doing really well where I'm at right now, it will be a while before I try again. My goal wasn't to completely come off meds, it would be nice though, it was to try something to get my 'quality of life' back. When push comes to shove you got to take care of yourself. I really admire/envy those out there that have docs that listen and work with them.

 

[Bidwell]

The ones who have docs who work with them -- I think it is the luck of the draw.
Thanks for this long message, which I am going to print out. I will keep in touch. And you keep posting, too.

 

[1dayatatime]

The ones who have docs who work with them -- I think it is the luck of the draw.
Thanks for this long message, which I am going to print out. I will keep in touch. And you keep posting, too.

Agreed.....Total luck of the draw. I just hope they realize how fortunate they are.
I'm glad I've been able to be of some help, I didn't know for sure but I had a feeling I wasn't the only one 'out there' screaming for help and getting no where. After my experience and everything that's happened in the last couple months my husband encouraged me to 'put it out there' if I could help just one person in any way it would be worth it.
I try to keep my posts short, sometimes things come up that...get me going. Stupid Docs for one.

 

[fezman101]

Thanks for the reply's everyone.

I read from an article that there is a correlation between a loss of neurons each time you have a complex partial seizure. Losing neurons leads to a decrease of cognitive skills.

If you are willing, can you please post how long you have had epilepsy for and how many "complex partials" you average per month.

Thanks

 

[Bidwell]

fezman, I don't know because nobody has ever kept track of my "events" that way. I think you would call them mostly absent seizures and simple seizures. I recently saw my medical record which says the diagnosis is Authenticated, whatever that means. Once I had a really horrible crash out of bed and have had some very bad, unexplained falls and have done damage to myself. I have NEVER had experiences such as those people discuss on the forum having to do with tonic/clonic seizures. I think the original idea was that because I am older that it could get worse. I have carried the diagnosis for five years. How old are you? I am 76.

 

[Bidwell]

Fezman, I forgot to mention that the medication must be doing me good. That IS the point, after all. I don't know what life would be without it. I also urge you to broaden your research on neurons and how they live and die and regenerate. Regeneration is one feature of neurons that is totally fascinating, so I am told, and if you understood it maybe you could think out how to help the neurons along. I suspect that the way you are thinking about this is making things worse for you. I say to broaden out and think positive. My very best wishes.

 

[1dayatatime]

Thanks for the reply's everyone.

I read from an article that there is a correlation between a loss of neurons each time you have a complex partial seizure. Losing neurons leads to a decrease of cognitive skills.

If you are willing, can you please post how long you have had epilepsy for and how many "complex partials" you average per month.

Thanks

Generalized complex partial/absent sez. I've had them all my life, wasn't diagnosed till my early 20's. In my 40's now. I was told I was having between 200-300 hundred a day, lasting a few seconds to a little over a minuet. Before I started the cbd oil I was having a couple a week, sometimes a day, depending on the factors in my life at the time, the last few weeks I haven't had any.
I don't know about the whole neuron thing but I do know when we have a sez. we're basically unconscious for a period of time, could have something to do with memory loss not due to meds.

 

[Nakamova]

fezman, have you ever had a neuropsych evaluation done? It's a variety of tests to measure different kinds of cognitive functioning. It can be helpful in determining particular problem areas and can sometimes indicate whether the cause is related to seizures or medication or to something else altogether. The neuropsychiatrist can often make suggestions for ways to tackle any cognitive issues that are flagged on the tests. The evaluation can also serve as a benchmark to with which to gauge any future changes (good or bad) in your cognitive skills. You can read more about my experience with the test here: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/neuropsych-evaluation-8062/

I noticed I had cognitive issues when I was on Zonegran. I was foggy and had word choice issues. An example: While attempting to find the phrase "post office", the best could come up with was "mail house". The side effects went away when I switched medications.