23 an freaked!!

[michaelnc88]

hello! im 23 years old an had my first seizure 2 days ago, im a very athletic guy and work out almost everyday and play sports only drawback is i do smoke. But other than that im healthy and two days ago i worked out hard in the morning then went to the pool for 3 hours in the sun came back with my gf and watched tv, then my brain started acting crazy an everything seemed to not be real and then it'd snap back to reality and then right back. ive experienced this prob 5 times throughout my life and then after this one i woke up to my gf and brother in the ambulance with me and i was pronounced i had a seizure. I have no remembrance of what happened or even falling down. i smashed open my head and elbows on the pavement, the next day i went to a neurologist and he said it was a partial seizure and said next week ill get eeg's an mri's, i already had a cat scan at the hospital an everything was fine. but they immediately put me on a prescription for me to prevent seizures, is this normal or ok? and now i cant drive for 6 months :/ i just came off breaking my leg in 19 spots and have just got back to walking and now this happens what should i do?? like is medicine the right choice for a first seizure?

 

[Nakamova]

Hi michaelnc88, welcome to CWE!

There are different kinds of seizures. It sounds like you may have had more than a complex partial seizure. If you ended up losing full consciousness and convulsing it would be considered a tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizure. You might want to check with your gf and and brother about exactly what happened, and make sure you and your neurologist are on the same page about what happened.

Either way, it's standard procedure to prescribe anti-seizure med as a precaution until there's more known about your symptoms. The driving ban is also a safety measure whenever there's the potential for loss of consciousness. The EEG and MRI are the usual tests to look for more info: The EEG might show if there's seizure-related abnormal brain activity going on. The MRI can show if there's any obvious structural cause for that activity (like a lesion or scar). The majority of seizure disorders are of unknown origin, so you may or may not get all the answers from the tests. The most important thing is getting a sense of what is going on with symptoms, whether they seem to be epileptic in nature, and what the best way to treat them is.

You say that you've had 4 or 5 previous episodes. Do you remember any specifics of what was going on at those times? Were you unusually tired or stressed in any way? Sometimes there can be subtle secondary triggers that make us more vulnerable, and it can take a closer look to identify them. Since you are very athletic, that suggests the possibility that fatigue/electrolyte imbalance/dehydration/low blood sugar might have played a role. Is that a possibility for you? Do you take any supplements or other medications? Sometimes those can have triggering ingredients. Certain foods or additives can be tricky too.

Right now, the best thing to do is to be patient until you've had the tests and discussed the results with the neuro. Take the meds as prescribed, and keep an eye out for how you feel. Make a note of things that seem off so that you can discuss them with the doc -- they might be side effects from the meds, or after-effects from the seizure. Write down any and all questions for the doctor, and consider having someone come with you to your appointments to help keep track of the information you are given.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[michaelnc88]

thank you! and im always stressed alot due to money and long hours at my job, i also suffer from high blood pressure as well and i went to the neurologist in my town that i thought was the best and he didnt seem to know alot. He just listened and didnt say as much as you did or know as much and hopefully im getting the eeg an mri this week! so what to do if it shows nothing bc the ppl at the center said sometimes even people with seizures dont show up on the test?

 

[Nakamova]

It's not unusual for the MRI to come up negative (since there may not be any structurally-related cause for your symptoms). With the EEG, there can be both false negatives and false positives. With partial seizures it can be trickier than other kinds, because they can be too transient or originate too deep in the brain to show up on the test. If you do have a negative EEG, then you and the neurologist need to discuss whether the symptoms alone are enough to make an epilepsy diagnosis and to justify staying on medication.

Make sure your neurologist has the info about the other times you've experienced symptoms, so that should be factored into your decision-making. You might want to stay on medication for the next 6 months until you are cleared to drive again. If you experience problematic side effects with the meds, you might need to weigh that against any risks of having more symptoms. Or you may decide that you'd rather go med-free and "wait and see" what happens. If that's the case, you should try and be proactive with your overall health (avoid extremes), and let the neuro know if the symptoms return and/or increase in frequency or kind.

 

[Silat]

I don't have anything to add to what Nakamova said directly. (Well stated, Nakamova!)

However I do want to say this. You sound similar to me, only a year older than I am.
I've had seizures since I was 17, and I still work out frequently, and havebeen involved in martial arts since I was a kid.

I just wanted to say that, having seizures is not a life-ender. You'll still be fully capable of working out and playing sports, you'll just have to be more aware of your routine so you don't miss any medication doses or anything like that. You'll also be fully capable of maintaining a relationship with your girlfriend, and living a happy life.

I know it's scary, especially since it was unexpected, but don't let it get you down or stress you out. What you're capable of achieving in life hasn't changed at all because of what happened.

 

[michaelnc88]

thank you both! im trying to not think about it but its kinda hard, is it possible to just have the one seizure or no? Is there any important questions i need to be asking my doctors? One last thing is that these mind confusion things i get i had one right before i had this seizure so is that maybe how ill be able to tell if ones coming or are they completely random? thanks in advance!

 

[Westwind]

Yes, it's possible. A single seizure is generally not concidered epilepsy. Cheif Justice of the US Supreme Court, John Roberts had a seizure once, but he was not diagnosed with epilepsy, and has had no (reported) problems since then.

However you mentioned earlier episodes of the mind confusion. They may be what is known as an 'aura', which some epileptics have before a seizure occurs. Aura's vary from person to person. An aura is a seizure in itself. But not everyone has them, and their symptoms can vary quite a bit. Some have an odd odor as an aura. I have that at times. More often I have a feeling of being disconnected from the world around me, and my neck gets stiff and painful. Sometimes I get no aura, no warning.

But the confusion could be a complex partial seizure as Naka mentioned. The MRI and EEG's you'll be having will hopefully help your doctor better diagnose you. There are about 60 types of epilepsy, and different types of medications work for different types of epilepsy. The better the docs can pinpoint it, the better chance of successfully treating it.

 

[Nakamova]

The "mind confusion things" are also seizures. So you haven't had just one seizure, you've actually had five. This suggests that you may be vulnerable to having more in the future. But with seizures there really is no way to predict exactly how vulnerable you might be.

It's good if you have some warning "aura" before a full loss of consciousness occurs -- that might give you time to lie down or otherwise make your situation safer. But not everyone gets that kind of warning, and not everyone gets it every time. Seizures can also change, especially if they're uncontrolled. They can potentially progress in frequency, duration or kind, if the brain "gets in the habit" of seizing. So if your "mind confusion" seizures have now progressed to the kind where you lose consciousness, there's some reason to be concerned.

I'm not trying to scare you, just let you know of some of the different issues to think about when you talk with the neurologist about medication/treatment. The neurologist will most likely discuss the results of any tests, and make a recommendation based on those results and your symptom history. If you don't feel confident about the neurologist you saw, consider seeing a different one, preferably one who is an epileptologist.

You should ask questions about what -- if anything -- the test results rule in or rule out. Ask what the neurologist recommends and why. If he recommends medication, ask about the different medication options,details about ramping up or tapering off, and possible side effects. If he is neutral or feels you can go unmedicated, ask about what you might need to be concerned about. And find out how to get in touch with the doc if you have more questions -- it's a plus if you can contact him via email!

 

[Chaz1]

michaelnc88. I hate to add any more caution but I am a Mum and my Son 26 has has E so it kinda comes on naturally, if swimming do have a buddy with u...or at the very least, tell the lifeguard to keep eye on you, swimming fine but be sure someone is with or watching you and at least until diagnosed and until potential seizures are fully under control.

 

[michaelnc88]

thank you all for your imput! when i saw the neurologist he put me on a medication already... is this normal? the medicine he put me on is KEPPRA 500mg it seems to make me very tired and have no energy which im not use to because i usually have more energy than anyone lol my mom is worried that im on the medication before i even had the mri or eeg and i am to.

 

[Westwind]

*chuckles*

Yeah, that's normal for Keppra, I'm on 3000mg/day, and it's generally known for having the mildest side effects of the epilepsy meds. The side effects suck nonetheless. Some get the "Keppra Rage" also, but that can sometimes be helped with a B Complex vitamin suppliment.

The doctors I'm sure want to err on the side of caution to make sure you have something to prevent another seizure before it happens. The tests may lead to a change in the medication prescribed depending upon the results.

 

[michaelnc88]

oh ok i didnt know if this guy was just med happy or not lol does anyone know if theres a site to find trusted doctors for this at? because honestly the guy i saw just sat there an took down notes and didnt have much to say minus go get these pills and test and ill see you in 2 months, maybe this is normal i was just worried bc this is my first seizure and i woke up in the ambulance outta nowhere and now im faced with this.

 

[Chaz1]

I’m no doc, but yes it’s normal that they have put you on meds. I believe the intention is to keep you safe, from seizures.

Keep a diary of anything out of the ordinary you feel , ask your gf or loved ones to let u know if they spot anything out of the norm and write it down..this will help you summarize when you head back to the neurologist .

My Son sleep deprived EEG does show epileptic activity, but MRI showed perfect brain. Both MRI and EEG can show nothing yet one can still have seizures, can be difficult to replicate (call on at will, not that anyone wants to call on a seizure but if you have them and go through all the tests and nothing shows can be frustrating but does not mean you don’t have Epilepsy)

All E meds have side effects, especially when your body is getting used to them. There are some great alternatives in conjunction with the meds that might help reduce side affects….but 1st you need to be sure what are the side effects (short vs. long term)..

 

[Nakamova]

It's normal for meds to be prescribed after a seizure with loss of consciousness. As Westwind says, the test results may indicate whether or not it makes sense to stay medicated. Keppra is one of the common meds prescribed because you can get up to a working dose fairly quickly and safely.

I'm afraid your neurologist's behavior is "normal" in the sense that many don't seem to have the time or inclination to listen or provide explanations. But it's also the case that the next phase of decision-making has to wait until the test results are available. You may be able to speed up the process, or have more options if you go through a larger hospital center, like a university-affiliated one. This place may be worth a try: http://www.carolinashealthcare.org/cmc-neurology

 

[michaelnc88]

im just going to continue to take them till i get those test completed and thats actually the place i went to after my seizure so hopefully they know best.

 

[MaryK]

Welcome to CWE Michael. Everyone has offered such great advice already, but thought I might just say that when you go to your doctor again for all the test results be sure and take a friend or relative with you. It is great to have extra ears in the room. Also, it does appear you have had a few other seizures in your history. I did too and always knew something was wrong because the flickering of sunlight through trees, fluorescent flickering or just the lights themselves would cause photosensitive seizure activity. Then I did have my first t/c seizure at 19.

Try to get plenty of sleep, eat balanced meals, no alcohol, and try to keep your stress at bay as best as you can.

Take care..
Mary

 

[michaelnc88]

yeah im the same way mary, i always wondered what was wrong but it took until now to figure it out unfortunally. Does alcohol make them happen more or just not a good idea? And also i dont know if anyone on here knows but is marijuana bad to do with seizures? Not to sound like a pot head or nothing because im not but i do smoke some to relax and im wondering if that no longer is a good idea.

 

[MaryK]

I believe Keppra is one of the drugs where drinking alcohol is not recommended. In general alcohol, can lower your seizure threshold or it could even trigger a seizure. This does not happen to everyone. That is why Nakamova suggested you try to remember any triggers. For some caffeine is a trigger, others it could be lack of sleep. Stress and lack of sleep I believe are the main triggers.

 

[michaelnc88]

ive been trying to remember and i do have alot of caffeine but it never has bothered me but i am always stressed out but the other day when i had the seizure it was a completely relaxed care free day, which is why i dont understand.

 

[Silat]

yeah im the same way mary, i always wondered what was wrong but it took until now to figure it out unfortunally. Does alcohol make them happen more or just not a good idea? And also i dont know if anyone on here knows but is marijuana bad to do with seizures? Not to sound like a pot head or nothing because im not but i do smoke some to relax and im wondering if that no longer is a good idea.

This should have all the information you need to know about Marijuana:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/marijuana-722/
It's an interesting read.

Drinking can make things worse, if it's a trigger for you. If you're on any medication at any point, I'd seriously recommend not drinking. Maybe one drink here and there, but getting drunk is a very bad idea while taking anti-convulsants. They tend to amplify the effects of them, and when it's out of your system, a lot of people are far more prone to seizure activity.

A lot of people find smoking marijuana helps them. Personally, I've had the opposite reaction. The few times I've smoked, it induced partials and partial-complexes every single time, so I've since avoided it. I suppose it's up to each individual, and how it influences them personally. Myself, I won't go into a room where people have been smoking recently... It hits me that hard. I have no idea why it does, but I know it does so I try and avoid it. I have nothing against it, to each their own, but for me it is a trigger.