Epilepsy out of the blue..anyone else?

[Bindi]

I'm just curious. I'm 40 and got blessed with the Big E (idiopathic) three years ago.
I do stay positive and sort of push self pity out of my life. (Yuck) But every now and then, I do wonder, I admit...why did this happen? Of course I'll probably never know but I guess it's ok to let the wonder creep in here and there as long as you don't dwell on it, right?

So anyone else develop it out of nowhere? If so, why? I wouldn't mind knowing.

 

[Maisy]

23 and out the blue 6 months ago I think wed all like too know why :-D

 

[Nakamova]

Out of the blue when I was 35. I was stressed at the time, but no more than I had been at other times of my life. A guess is that it was related to a head injury that I had when I was 5, but no way to tell for sure, or why it took 30 years for something to happen.

 

[JaneC]

My daughter didn't have a single sign of E till she had her first tonic-clonic at 11. Her diagnosis is also idiopathic. My dad developed E in his 60s but Rosie's neurologist didn't think there was a connection. No special needs, no history of head injuries or anything else.

 

[sjconner]

My partials started last year ... 43 years old. No head injuries, no fevers, etc. My MRI's and EEG's are normal.

 

[Cint]

I've had E for over 30 years now. They started as CP's and slowly went into TC's. I was 22 years old. I've never known why. No head injuries, meningitis, encephalitis, stroke, etc. I quit asking "why" years ago, even though the seizures still come and go.

 

[Crash]

Out off the blue when i was seventeen,a tonic.No idea why...stress,it was the first day off a new job? Drug use? Glandular fever? Iv'e heard that has been linked with epilepsy? Head injury? Got stiches in my head when i fell off my bike as a youngster.Your guess is as good as mine really.I do as you say wonder from time to time,but never dwell on it,i mean what can you do?

 

[Sandie]

Yep. 53 years old. I was diagnosed with complex partials on 27th Dec 2012. Went through all the why me's, why now's and am now trying to accept the fact that epilepsy is not discriminatory. I have been told my seizures could progress to tonic clonics but who knows.? Interestingly enough, I found out today that my Father's brother is epileptic.
I don't know if genetics is a factor but..maybe. You have one plus in your favour. You have become a member of a fantastic community of people here. Keep smiling.

 

[Janus]

I know my brain injury/coma and ensuing menengitis are a starting place for mine. I just have to say that it is not self-indulgent or self pity to be curious and look for causes. This site has helped me so much, that we are not alone and others know exactly what you go through AND we share experiences here.

 

[Bindi]

Wow. I didn't realize so many came mid-life. I just assumed it was most common to be born with it.

I just have to say that it is not self-indulgent or self pity to be curious and look for causes. This site has helped me so much, that we are not alone and others know exactly what you go through AND we share experiences here.

I guess I just figured if I hang around an epilepsy forum, I'll be dwelling on what's happened to me, so to speak. That's why I have not been here too much in the last few years. But to tell the truth, it's a tiny bit comforting to read other people talk about it, knowing they understand what I have going on.

I wasn't aware that stress can cause epilepsy. Interesting. I know it can trigger seizures but didn't know it could be the root cause. I'll have to read about that.

 

[Crash]

Your certainly not dwelling on it coming on a forum,in fact id say it's a big step in the opposite direction.Reading about and talking to other people with the same condition can be a fantastic form off getting things sorted out in your own head.

Yes,stress is a big trigger off seizures,it is with mine.And i'd bet with most off the other members here on CWE.Good luck!

 

[huskymom]

Got mine, nocturnal complex partials, at around 45 out of the blue. As a result, I have been able to meet a bunch of fantastic people on this site that I never would have known. Silver linings to every thing!

 

[sarahkay03]

I'm really glad to read this thread, as I've been struggling with the same question after being diagnosed almost a year ago at 31. My paternal grandfather has epilepsy, but there seems to be quite a bit of debate over whether it's actually genetic. There was no trigger for me that I can think of. It just started one day. So frustrating!

 

[Booboo982]

I was diagnosed 6 months ago and I always ask myself the same thing. I know my Epilepsy is caused by the Brain Damage I suffered at 10 months old. I could have had it all my life and not even known. I had just turned 30 when I was diagnosed.

 

[petero]

started having seizures at 38 (42 now)
first at work, then on vacation with my family - diagnosed, then averaged out to maybe 1 tonic-clonic every month - I haven't really checked my diary for a grand total and average - it seems it's not that big of a deal to me when they're not happening, and I just want to forget about them and move onward - until the next one hits when it's the most important thing in the universe again, the most important thing that I want to forget all about

reason? who knows - here are some guesses by onset time-proximity:
a couple very hard blows to my head playing hockey (wrister to face, for one) (nearest time-proximity/relevance)
very heavy drinker for about five years (10 years sober - I need my chip dammit!)
some recreational club-drug use (low time-relevance)
a few other falls growing up (least relevant time-proximity)

who knows

 

[seizing more]

mid life crisis

I was diagnosed at 47. 16mos after major spine surgery, not exactly sure what it's origin is, but I do have titanium & polyethelene in my back that may be the cause. my surgery was part a medical study and the first of it's kind here in the US. I just call it my mid life crisis, I have to stay positive and upbeat

 

[m.jane]

I don't understand, either.

21-year-old female. I started having seizures in July 2012, literally laid down one night in bed and started convulsing. I was just diagnosed with intractable (doesn't show up on EEGs) temporal lobe epilepsy in January- it took them a while to figure it out. AEDs have decreased the frequency but I am still having seizures as far apart as 2 months and as close together as 3 weeks. It's been a hard year.

Mine are being attributed to misdiagnosed Lupus.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi m.jane, welcome to CWE!

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. There seems to be a connection between lupus and epilepsy (epileptic seizures can be an early symptom of lupus), and at least one CWE members has both conditions. Anyway, I hope you can get your seizures under control. Are the docs thinking of upping your meds?

 

[Sparkles]

I was just diagnosed with partial complex seizure disorder last year. Prior to that the neuros thought I had complex migraines. But they didn't start until I was in my 30s. Part of the reason I didn't think the diagnosis was correct was because I didn't think a seizure disorder could just appear out of nowhere in my 30s. I guess I was wrong.

 

[m.jane]

Recent Diagnosis

Nakamova-

Thank you for your support! After I had a seizure a few weeks ago my doc upped my Keppra to 3000mg a day, so it's maxed out. I just finished my lamictal increases yesterday so I'm at 200mg a day. I am fortunate enough that I start getting auras about 20 minutes before I start to seize, so I am probably going to ask about maybe having a PRN I can take when I start to feel them coming.

A woman I work with is a neurofeedback therapist/professional and she suggested I try it because it has a lot of documented success treating drug-resistant seizures. Has anyone had any experience with this?