Couple of (odd?) questions

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JaneC

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I have a couple of perhaps rather unusual questions but hope they might ring a bell with someone.

Firstly, do any epilepsy sufferers/loved ones on here also have multiple sclerosis in their families? I know there is said not to be a link (other than that MS people might develop seizures) but it is something that interests me due to our own family circumstances (my daughter has epilepsy while my husband and three of his siblings have MS).

The other one is this: I had my three children within three and a half years. My older son has no health problems, my second son has a couple of niggles but nothing huge. On top of having epilepsy (the big one, obviously), my daughter has had problems with her eyesight (she required new glasses every six months for a while) and some fairly serious dental and orthodontic problems.

I suppose I'm wondering if my body had sort of run out of some nutrients by the time she came along. Does anyone know if a person's position in a family has any relationship to epilepsy prevalence.

It sounds a bit daft when you write it down but there you go. I haven't posted for a while so I'll just add my daughter is now only 25mg short of her prescribed 150mg a day of lamotrigine and it seems to be going great. No seizure activity since the early weeks, no apparent side-effects, and the anxiety she was experiencing seems to have gone.

She has also just found a new part-time job, replacing one where she had problems because of her epilepsy - her new boss thinks she's a "lovely girl" (which she is!). Off to see the epilepsy nurse for the first time on Monday.
 
I have an Aunt with MS and another Aunt who had Epilepsy as a child, but doesn't have any issues and is unmedicated now. I'm not sure if there is any connection in my case, my Aunts Epilepsy was idiopathic they had no idea what the cause was. Mine is caused by a cyst.
I hope everything goes well with your daughter, I don't know if there is a connection with a childs position in the family, I know people who've had 10 children with no dramas. Sometimes I think it might be just a case of bad luck, some kids just get lumped with a lot of issues. I have worked with children with special needs and I had one child who had being diagnosed with Epilepsy, Down Syndrome, Tourettes, Autism, and Diabetes. There might be a connection with Epilepsy and eye problems? Sometime one medical condition can be the root cause of a number of other issues.
Hope everything works out well for your daughter, and I hope she continues to have no seizure activity.
 
Ive had three children, and I have epilepsy. None of my children have any health issues. Our oldest son is in third grade, our middle son is in second grade, and our youngest boy is in Kindergarten. Our oldest son is in advanced classes, and in January of this year was given the "gifted" testing. He was in second grade at the time, but the testing came back saying he was scoring as a fifth grade level. Which when we concieved him, at the time I was taking birth control pills and continued to take the birth control pills, along with glucophage xr for treating my pcos, and Keppra and Carbatrol for my seizures, til I hit almost 12 weeks, when I started to feel different. It wasnt til then that my husband suggested I take a pregnancy test. It was then we found out I was three months pregnant when I went to the drs. Little did we know he would be a "advanced student"!

So I wouldnt say I would link having epilepsy to confirming it to what your kids would or could have.
 
We're not sure about this (my dad lives in another country), but everyone thinks he may have MS. As for place in the family, I'm the oldest, so that wouldn't be a cause. My sister is younger than me and is probably the only person in our family without any chronic conditions (my youngest sibling is autistic).
 
It's an interesting question -- I don't think the science is there yet to indicate a genetic link between the two disorders. There's been a lot of new research on suspect genes, though, and probably a lot more will be discovered in the coming decades. The genetics of both epilepsy and MS are complicated, especially since environmental factors play a role as well. The current thinking on MS is that a combination of many genes leads to a susceptibility. With epilepsy, certain kinds are more likely have to have a genetic link than others. For instance, primary generalized epilepsy (in which the seizures begin from both sides of the brain at the same time) is more likely to involve genetic factors than partial epilepsy. Right now, the evidence currently available doesn't indicate a link between the two.

With birth order, the most current studies actually suggest that there is an association between low birth order and the risk of epilepsy -- that is the risk (which is still low) is greatest for the first-born, less so for the second-born, and so on.
 
Thanks for your replies everyone, I really appreciate it.

Crunchy Frog, my daughter's epilepsy is idiopathic too. My dad had epilepsy but only developed it later in life, so Rosie's neurologist didn't think it was linked. I guess you're right - some kids get everything and others nothing and perhaps it's all just random. My husband was one of 10 children and what a hotbed of autoimmune diseases they are, lots of thyroid probs and other bits and pieces as well as the MS.

Momof3boys, you must be so proud of your kids - and yourself. It must be a huge relief that your sons haven't inherited anything. We have a long wait on the MS front on that. It's not seen as directly inherited but there is a much bigger risk for them.

That's interesting on both counts, Running Girl. Do you know if your has had tests for proper diagnosis?

Naka, you're right, I'm sure the science of genetics has lots to reveal to us in the coming years. My daughter's epilepsy is generalised, but, as I said, her neurologist didn't think it was linked to my dad, which would mean it came from nowhere. My husband and his siblings had the same parents and basically the same environment, yet four have MS and the others don't. It is a fascinating subject. Thanks for the info on birth order. I guess the fact Rosie has epilepsy is "just one of those things".

Thanks again all and hope everybody is well today x
 
Nakamova said:
With birth order, the most current studies actually suggest that there is an association between low birth order and the risk of epilepsy -- that is the risk (which is still low) is greatest for the first-born, less so for the second-born, and so on.
Click to expand...

I'm the first born, so I guess I could be evidence of this. Interesting.
 
Jane, my dad hasn't had any tests done that I'm aware of. Because of his being in another country (Lebanon) and not having a whole lot of money, I haven't seen him in awhile, and I don't think he has much access. My aunt and uncle visit a lot (I can't afford to fly all the way out there - plus I don't think the military would really let me), and they were saying they think he has it. I'm not sure if he has seen a doctor about it or not. He's also the bipolar one in the family, and I know there seems to be a link between that and epilepsy. As far as I know, I'm the first and only one in my family with epilepsy.
 
Nakamova said:
With birth order, the most current studies actually suggest that there is an association between low birth order and the risk of epilepsy -- that is the risk (which is still low) is greatest for the first-born, less so for the second-born, and so on.
Click to expand...

I'm the fourth born of five children and I'm the only one in my family with epilepsy. I've had CP seizures and TC's. They say mine is idiopathic epilepsy and also refractory. Bipolar illness also runs in my family and RunningGirl, yes there is a connection between bipolar and epilepsy.
 
Do you know what!?

I am so glad you posted this on here. When I had my first seizure ( April this year), I was really worried and looking for any links with MS and Epilepsy, as my Dad has MS, and since it is to do with the Nervous/Immune system, it petrified me that my tonic clonic was due to genetics in the family. I couldn't really find much information on it so am glad that I have come across your post! :)

I am currently awaiting EEG and MRI results, but I haven't had another seizure so I am hoping it was just a one-off!

Thanks for yours and everyone else's posts and good luck to you and everyone in your family :)

Take care xxx
 
I hope you dad is ok RunningGirl, doesn't sound like a good situation to be in. Still, an MS diagnosis often does little more you know what you're dealing with - there isn't always a whole lot than can be done to help, especially with some types.

Here's hoping there are better treatments and even cures round the corner for epilepsy, MS, mental health conditions and so much more.

Robyn thanks, and I'm glad you found my post useful. I do hope your seizure was indeed a one-off and that your EEG and MRI are clear - my daughter is the only one in a family with several MSers, maybe it's coincidence, maybe that's something else we'll find out more about in the future x
 
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