Hi. I’m new here.

[AbbyNormal]

Newbie here. I am a bit nervous because I haven’t even had my EEG yet, or the appointment with the neurologist. I have discussed this with my doctor, but it was a very short conversation.

I have had two concussions in the past. One was over 30 years ago and I was in and out of consciousness for a couple of days. Spent a week undergoing a myriad of testing in the hospital and most of that month is missing from my memory. I have these huge voids in memory of the day of the accident. I remember walking towards to doors to leave school, my mother shaking me and screaming at me, Young and the Restless being on the television, a bloody washcloth in my hand, looking in the mirror of the car and screaming what happened to my face (the whole left side was road rash), fighting a nurse while being made ready for an MRI, getting stitches in my face on a gurney...

The second one was a loss of consciousness for less than two minutes in karate class. A leg sweep did me in. I fell against a pole and knocked my head rather hard.

I have a history of migraines since the first episode and apparently either staring through objects or people (up to five minutes) or a serious case of brain freeze looking for a word or phrase. Sometimes I’m aware, other times I’m not. It depends on if the person I’m talking to gets mad at me. The brain freeze is like falling into a void; I can’t move, speak, the mind is totally blank. It’s a bit like sleep paralysis but I’m awake. I come out of the brain freeze confused and with a headache that sometimes turns into a migraine. That can sometimes last up to a minute or two. I also forget how to talk. In the middle of a conversation, I start spewing gibberish. I realize that and stop talking. When I start again, I can carry on the conversation, mostly.

Basically, I’m a bit freaked out. This has been going on since that first accident. Either these episodes were poo poohed away or especially when I was younger, I was scolded and told to pay attention.

Then there was the episode with my boss on Friday where I was asking about work for the afternoon and I froze, mid-sentence, and she said my eyes rolled back in my head for a couple of minutes. She was...not shocked, but unsure of what to do, other than to possibly keep me from falling and hurting myself if needed.

I apologize for the book but I haven’t anyone to talk to about this as my time with the doc is limited. (I see him once a month for migraine upkeep.)

Thanks for reading and replying.

~Abby

 

[dawn9100]

Hi Abby!

I’m so sorry for what you’re going through. I can relate to the impact that seizures can have on your life. My son grew up without his father, it was just me and him, but he grew up believing the he annoyed me because I rarely listened when he talked.

A couple of years ago the number of tonic-clonic seizures I was having started increasing, so I switched Neuros and went through a bunch of tests. That’s when my son (he’s in his 20’s now) put it all together and realized I was having absences also.

But the good news is, we’ve got those under control now with medicine. Still working on controlling the Gran Mals, but my ability to participate in conversations and focus on my work is so much better!

I am sure that this is all making you very nervous, but the good news is that you’ve identified an issue and taken it to a Dr- which means you’re working towards a solution now! You’re on the up-side [emoji4]

I won’t say that identifying your treatment plan will be easy, it can take some trial and error, there are a lot of medications to choose from, and a lot of them have side-effects. But if you stick with it, I think you’ll find that your life and relationships will start to improve.

Im new to this site, but I’ve been reading on it for years now, and there are a lot of great people, with a lot of helpful information! Welcome to the group!

~Dawn


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AbbyNormal]

Thank you for the welcome and kind words.

I’m glad that you are now able to participate in conversations and your work focus is better. I hope that the Gran Mals can be controlled without a lot of added stress.

I had no choice but to explain it to my doctor as something landed me in the ER with bp of 202/103 awhile back. He thinks that I had a seizure brought on by a migraine. I have hemiplegic migraines, not always with pain. He won’t tell me what the results were from the CT scan, though. I am thinking he wants a neuro to explain them to me.

Honestly, the side effects terrify me. A lot of anti-seizure meds are used for migraines. I have horrible reactions to them and end up in the hospital. I think that is what scares me the most.

I’ve been reading a lot here since this started about a month ago and decided to join. There is loads of good information here. You certainly are spot on!

Thank you, Dawn!


~Abby

 

[Sabbo]

Hello Abby & welcome to the site! This is the perfect place to get information and help. It is also great place to vent when you're frustrated, especially with family members and/or those who don't understand epilepsy.

 

[AbbyNormal]

Thanks! It certainly has loads of info. I’m still trying to process all the information!

 

[Topcat]

I have had two concussions in the past.

Yep Abby N.
I was in a major car accident and sustained a closed head injury. I also had a lot of physical injuries. The only one of those that seems to bother me now is my left leg. It is shorter than the right. I have to wear a built up shoe and I limp. It caused me to be in a coma for six days. But my major injury was to my head I now have have focal (what was called first "petit mal" then "partial.) as well as the major seizures, tonic-clonic (and everything in between.
You may have to go for awhile before you find a Dr. to help you. But hang in there.

 

[Sabbo]

The seizures that I've had since childhood--simple partials--are due to being a forceps delivery. I have scar tissue in my brain. Approx. 17 years ago, I began having complex partial seizures, too. I have only had 3 or 4 tonic clonics seizures--about 30 years ago.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Abby --

Welcome to CWE!

I have a history of migraines since the first episode and apparently either staring through objects or people (up to five minutes) or a serious case of brain freeze looking for a word or phrase. Sometimes I’m aware, other times I’m not. It depends on if the person I’m talking to gets mad at me. The brain freeze is like falling into a void; I can’t move, speak, the mind is totally blank. It’s a bit like sleep paralysis but I’m awake. I come out of the brain freeze confused and with a headache that sometimes turns into a migraine. That can sometimes last up to a minute or two. I also forget how to talk. In the middle of a conversation, I start spewing gibberish. I realize that and stop talking. When I start again, I can carry on the conversation, mostly.

If possible, you should be seeing a neurologist, particularly one who specializes in epilepsy. That would be ideal, since the symptoms you describe sound an awful lot like absence and/or partial seizures, rather than migraine. A specialist would have a better sense of what's going on and how to treat it.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[AbbyNormal]

Car accidents suck. I’m glad you weren’t injured any worse than what you were.

Living in the middle of nowhere, it honestly could take awhile for a good doctor. I’m used to hanging in there.

Thanks!

 

[AbbyNormal]

The seizures that I've had since childhood--simple partials--are due to being a forceps delivery. I have scar tissue in my brain. Approx. 17 years ago, I began having complex partial seizures, too. I have only had 3 or 4 tonic clonics seizures--about 30 years ago.

I have read some about the different types of seizures but, sadly, I’m not really absorbing the information I’ve read. I’m a bit confused on all the different definitions.

What is a complex partial seizure, if it’s not a bother?

 

[AbbyNormal]

Hi Abby --

Welcome to CWE!



If possible, you should be seeing a neurologist, particularly one who specializes in epilepsy. That would be ideal, since the symptoms you describe sound an awful lot like absence and/or partial seizures, rather than migraine. A specialist would have a better sense of what's going on and how to treat it.

Best,
Nakamova

Right now, I get to see the neuro my doctor picks from an approved list provided by the insurance company. That list gets smaller weekly, due to bad budgeting and failure for the state to pay its bills. /sigh/ It could always be worse as I could be left hanging out in the cold with no doctor at all. My GP can always treat me and confer with other doctors who offer their services to him but not his patients.

My doc mentioned that it could be a chicken or the egg scenario. Is the migraine first and then the seizure or vice versa?

You’re right, a specialist would be best.

 

[valeriedl]

I have read some about the different types of seizures but, sadly, I’m not really absorbing the information I’ve read. I’m a bit confused on all the different definitions.

What is a complex partial seizure, if it’s not a bother?

Figuring out epilepsy, seizures and everything that comes with it can be pretty confusing - Trust me I know!

This website is fairly easy to understand about complex partial seizures but if you have questions about something please ask!

https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/focal-onset-impaired-awareness-seizures-aka-complex-partial-seizures

 

[Porkette]

Hi Abby,

Welcome to CWE! I've had 2 concussions over the yrs. and they increased my seizures do to the swelling in my brain. I also had migraine headaches before I started to have seizures 45 yrs. ago. I have absence, complex partial and simple partial seizures. I've found using medical marijuana (CBD) one of the best things to control my seizures. I tried over 10 different seizure meds and not a single one worked for me so my Dr. did a DNA test on me and found out I was drug resistant to all seizure meds out on the market right now and he told me to start the CBD and I'm amazed at how it has reduced my seizures. If you haven't started keep track of your seizures write down on a calendar what time the seizure happened and the type of seizure you had this will help your Dr. and they may see a pattern in your seizures as to what time of the day or night they happen and what days of the month. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue