Here's my long story....about 15 years ago I had a grand mal seizure in my sleep after a night of drinking and extreme stress. I went to see a neurologist and determined that some symptoms I was having a few years prior may have been seizures (I would get a funny feeling in my stomach, have intrusive thoughts and then it would go away. I was able to go about my business during these 30 second episodes). I went seizure/aura free for 3 years and my doctor weaned me off my medication (Carbatrol). Still went seizure free but had horrible panic attacks so I went back on the Carbatrol. Had zero seizures for many years. Last year I started having "auras" again only during my time of the month and usually upon waking up. My doctor said Carbatrol might not be working anymore so has switched me to Lamictal (so far so good - I've gone 2 months with no auras). The thing is, I'm terrified of having a grand mal seizure. I seriously want to be on Lamictal AND Carbatrol. Has anyone been on both? Is there anyone with ONLY auras or simple partial seizures?
Auras
- Thread starter mld1978
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Hi mld1978, welcome to CWE!
Plenty of folks have partial seizures, but no grand mals. (Me, I'm the opposite -- I only get grand mals.). Before you ask your neuro about adding another med, you might want to give the Lamictal a chance -- I haven't had a grand mal seizure on it for over 5 1/2 years.
Generally speaking, it's a good idea to aim for seizure control with just one medication if at all possible. When you add another med to the mix, you up the complication level -- short- and long-term side effects, multiple doses to deal with, interactions between the meds and with other non-seizure related medications, etc.
It sounds like estrogen spikes may be a trigger for you (called catamenial epilepsy). I hope you remain seizure-free on the Lamictal, but if you start having monthly auras, ask your doc about the use of progesterone cream, and consider avoiding estrogenic foods in your diet.
Best,
Nakamova
Plenty of folks have partial seizures, but no grand mals. (Me, I'm the opposite -- I only get grand mals.). Before you ask your neuro about adding another med, you might want to give the Lamictal a chance -- I haven't had a grand mal seizure on it for over 5 1/2 years.
Generally speaking, it's a good idea to aim for seizure control with just one medication if at all possible. When you add another med to the mix, you up the complication level -- short- and long-term side effects, multiple doses to deal with, interactions between the meds and with other non-seizure related medications, etc.
It sounds like estrogen spikes may be a trigger for you (called catamenial epilepsy). I hope you remain seizure-free on the Lamictal, but if you start having monthly auras, ask your doc about the use of progesterone cream, and consider avoiding estrogenic foods in your diet.
Best,
Nakamova
kirsty1327
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Hi mld1978,I haven't had a 'big' seizure for nearly 3 years but have auras quite regularly (although they have stopped since I added epilim to topamax-been a couple of months). Just because you're having auras doesn't mean you will definatly go on to have a grand mal so please don't stress to much.
I've had so many auras over the years that have never gone any further yet I never get any aura/warning when a big seizure is coming???? Weird!!!!!
I've had so many auras over the years that have never gone any further yet I never get any aura/warning when a big seizure is coming???? Weird!!!!!
My last grand mal was 3 1/2 years ago. Since then, I've been having partial seizures, on average, at least once about every other day. Normally, they are not long - maybe 20-30 seconds. I have had some that last for X minutes. When I have them, I always know what's going on and I just basically have to wait until it's over. If someone's talking to me, I don't know what they're saying - it just sounds like noise. I can't talk while they're going on either. So, as the other 2 above me have said, getting the aura or having a partial/absence seizure doesn't necessarily mean that a "big" seizure is on it's way.