Menopause and Epilepsy (Women's Issues)

[kilowattfun]

I have had Epilepsy since I was 31 and now am 42. Starting Menopause early runs in my family. It's changes my sleep patterns and other normal things. Any ideas on dealing with this new twist? melatoin has not worked for me. Taking my meds early still doesn't help the anxiety that comes about 20 into going to bed.
Alright Middle aged Momma's.... talk to me
Kendahl

[RobinN]

Kendahl - have you considered trying to figure out why you began having seizures at the age of 31? Epilepsy is only a label for many causes of seizures.
I haven't heard of many doctors trying to figure out why this is occuring. You for example did not have seizures for 31 years if I read your discription correctly. What changed?

Have you considered trying magnesium throughout the day. It does help with relaxation, as well as is used as an anti convulsant.

[kilowattfun]

Kendahl - have you considered trying to figure out why you began having seizures at the age of 31? Epilepsy is only a label for many causes of seizures.
I haven't heard of many doctors trying to figure out why this is occuring. You for example did not have seizures for 31 years if I read your discription correctly. What changed?

Have you considered trying magnesium throughout the day. It does help with relaxation, as well as is used as an anti convulsant.

I started them 6 months after I had my son but my gut feeling is that it didn't have anything to do with it starting. Other people have middle of life starts with teh disease right?
I will give the Magnesium a try. Has anybody else had good luck with it? I didn't have any luck at all with the melatonin for my sleep issues.

[brain]

Here's some "unfortunate" news, I lost the link, but
it was in my Windows XP (which I don't know if I still
have it but it's in dire need of fans before I could get
it up and running again) ...

But I can remember the article from either PLoS or
somewhere in the Medical Article / Journal in reference
to females who start their menses early who have
Epilepsy are at risk for early menopause; and even
higher risk if they are irregular.

Do not feel bad, mine started in the 30s' too, and I
have been bouncing back and forth as if my own body
cannot make up its mind as which direction it wants
to head to!



It drives you batty --> I suffer from hot flashes and
then another time I'm back to normal menses and my
seizures has worsen during these time frame.

However, another Medical Studies have found HRT
(hormone replacement therapy) can be of benefit to
SOME women who have Epilepsy (but not all women).
HRT can be a seizure trigger, so you might want to
go over this with your Neurologist / Epileptologist;
and he/she may be able to deal with this or send you
to a neurologist-Specialist who deals specifically with
Women's issues of those who have Epilepsy. (Of
note: not all areas have this availability, so keep this
in mind.)

Epilepsy Foundation (clicking on the logo below) has
a section on Women's Issues. CWE here has threads
on Women's Issues and others so you may want to
review them as well.

Hope the below links (while not all threads would apply)
would be of benefit to you:


Women's Issues

Hormones

Catamenial Epilepsy

Menopause and Epilepsy