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dziomek

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Hi everyone! I have been reading through some of the posts and have some questions. Before I start asking however, I will let you know a bit about me.

I have "blacked out" three times in the last 17 months: the first time I didn't go to the doctor or anything. The second time was almost a year ago, and when I woke up I was sick to my stomach and had a headache from hell. I called my sister and she took me to the hospital. After a thorough exam, the doctor really couldn't pinpoint anything so sent me home. The third time it happened I dislocated my shoulder and had to call my son to take me in. I was put under general anesthetic to fix my shoulder, and more tests were ordered. I was then referred to a neurologist who said it sounded like epilepsy to her which meant even more tests. The worst part was it only happened when I was home alone, so there are no witnesses to what really went on.

I was put on Keppra and it seemed to be working to control "blackouts" but being on it has made me lack energy and it has done nothing to fix the headache I have had since the 17th of November 2011. I was outside today and felt the same way I did the previous times I blacked out, but was able to stay conscious and get inside. All I kept telling myself was "keep it together" over and over while I focused on the door to my house. We live on an acreage, so it's not like a neighbour could have witnessed what went on, and the dogs can't talk.

My question is, could this have been an "aborted seizure" as my doctor put it today when I went to see him? This really scares me so any insight is greatly appreciated. :)
 
I also forgot to mention there were no definite results as to whether or not it is epilepsy from the MRI, CT, EEG, etc - just what my neurologist thinks it is.
 
dziomek

Welcom to C.W.E. here we try and help and everybody is friendly so feel free to ask questions. It sounds like you could have epilepsy, not being able to remember, the sickness and headache. When you go to hospital everybody in the E.R. try's to help but they do not know enough about epilepsy, and will give you a couple of tests to try and rule things out and so you need a neurologist. Doing damage to yourself is something you have to try and avoid (easer said than done) there are some of us here who manage it no matter how we try.

Just a pity no body was there to see it but if possible you my try videoing it if that is possible. Keppra works fine for some, me I do not like simple because of the side effects and the way it can change your personalty. Its good you keep it together but must have taken energy. As for the tests coming back normal I would not worry

All I kept telling myself was "keep it together" over and over while I focused on the door to my house. We live on an acreage, so it's not like a neighbour could have witnessed what went on, and the dogs can't talk.

My question is, could this have been an "aborted seizure" as my doctor put it today when I went to see him? This really scares me so any insight is greatly appreciated. :)
 
Hi dziomek,
Just wanted to welcome you into C.W.E,its a great site to be part off and everything Fedup has said is true.But take your time,read old posts or start your own.Look forward to seen you around.

All the best Neil
 
Hi dziomek, welcome to CWE!

I think the dislocated shoulder is a clue that you have indeed been having seizures. It's a fairly common injury to get during convulsions. The recent symptoms that you had could indeed be a "near-seizure" -- I recommend that you be very careful over the next few weeks. If you have any idea what the triggers for your episodes are, do your best to avoid them. Even if you don't know, being proactive with your general health may help. That means get plenty of sleep, eat balanced meals, avoid stimulants and depressants, and pay attention to what your brain and body are communicating.

The Keppra may not be the best choice of medication for you -- there are others out there that may provide better seizure control and/or fewer side effects. Unfortunately it can be a matter of trial and error, but the process can be worth it.

Best,
Nakamova
 
Thank you all for the warm welcome. :)
Is it unusual for seizures to happen only in the morning? Each time it has happened it has been before noon, so is it best for me to stay put and not venture out too far? I do wish if it's going to happen again it happens when there is someone home with me. It happens so seldom it is hard to pinpoint a trigger, but knowing that the feeling I have can potentially lead to one is helpful.
Accepting the fact it could very well be epilepsy is difficult for me, simply because my Mom has epilepsy and I know what the meds have done to her. I don't want that to happen to me. I do hope the pharmaceutical companies are making them less harmful than 30 years ago.
I must also add I am 44; is it normal for epilepsy to begin at this point in life?
It is good to have a group of people who can relate to what I am dealing with. There are no support groups nearby and to attend any meetings I would have to travel over two hours. I am so glad I found you! :D
 
dziomek

A seizure can happen at any time and everybody is different. I am sure there is someone else who has seizures in the morning. To help you pin down a trigger it would be a good idea to start a diary, this way you can write down the date and time it happened, how you felt before and after and anything you remember, diet ect. Yes see your mom with epilepsy and what happened could not have been easy, but you will have to accept it, and yes the pharmaceutical companies have made advances in the last 30 years but there still are side effects and some are dangerous but then so are they all. With medication it is a trial and error to find a drug that works for you. As for your age, well the thing about epilepsy is there is no discrimination age wise or any other way and there are people older here, including me who have epilepsy. Its not easy to live with or except but we have no choice. Hope this was some help.
 
Welcome!!

I have been lucky enough to “abort” a few simple partial seizures from turning into tonic clonic. I do the same thing as you, concentrate. I focus on staying conscious. I am usually able to not succumb to the seizures. When I feel it happening, I automatically sit on the ground. One of these days, it might beat me…. The bastards have before :shake:

You said the blackout happen before noon (lunch). Have you been hungry when they happen. Low blood sugar can be a trigger.

Epilepsy can be hereditary (maybe someone said that before). Do you ever have any strange sensations or feelings?
 
Welcome!!


You said the blackout happen before noon (lunch). Have you been hungry when they happen. Low blood sugar can be a trigger.

Epilepsy can be hereditary (maybe someone said that before). Do you ever have any strange sensations or feelings?

I was feeling off yesterday morning, so had a snack then went out. Perhaps I didn't allow enough time for my body to realize I had eaten anything. I started to feel light-headed and remembered the feeling from last time and what happened, so I forced myself to focus. I had thought about sitting down on the ground, but that may have been a bad idea. I'm not really sure.
When I dislocated my shoulder I had the same feeling, and all I could think about was getting to the house (it was January). When I came to I was inside, had my boots and coat off and was on my bed. When I tried getting up pain shot through me and I knew my shoulder was out. I have no recollection of getting to the house, taking off my stuff or anything. I got a hold of my son and he came to get me, and before we left for the hospital I asked him to check the horse's water and to see if I fed all the other animals. he found my toque and water buckets in the feed shed, which is where I was when I started feeling strange. I'm guessing I either hooked my arm on the way down or landed on it. No clue.
Off to the hospital we went with bucket in hand. I lost my breakfast as we pulled up to the emergency room. I know the feeling, just wish it didn't only happen when I was home alone. If there is any risk of it continuing, I will be changing my chore schedule during the winter...just in case.

I had a friend in the medical field look up my medical file today, and as she is in an office other than my doctor's, she was only able to find out test results and not the doctor's notes. She said the tests were "inconclusive"; my question is do I presume it is epilepsy until proven otherwise?
 
Well, regardless of the cause, if something is causing unexpected blackouts, injuries and memory loss, you should play it safe. With your shoulder, it's entirely possible to dislocate it just from the violence of the convulsions -- no need to catch it on anything or land on it. I speak from personal experience. I hope you are recovering from it. you might want to have an X-ray/MRA done to make sure there's no tear in the labrum.
 
Well, regardless of the cause, if something is causing unexpected blackouts, injuries and memory loss, you should play it safe. With your shoulder, it's entirely possible to dislocate it just from the violence of the convulsions -- no need to catch it on anything or land on it. I speak from personal experience. I hope you are recovering from it. you might want to have an X-ray/MRA done to make sure there's no tear in the labrum.

Thank you. I'm sure I would recover from it a lot quicker if I didn't keep hurting it. No rest for the wicked you know. :) I am not about to give up my animals, so chores still need to be done and my aging farmer family needs help with harvest as well. I am being more careful and making a point to eat regularly and get proper rest. I am one of those people who doesn't eat or sleep when stressed, so forcing myself to do both has been helpful. I blacked out when my ex-husband and I separated seven years ago and ended up with stitches in my head; that was from stress I'm sure. (He was being a total jerk, but that is in the past.)
As for the Keppra, it seemed to be working until yesterday. I will play it by ear and see if it happens again - if so, then back to the neurologist I go. :(
 
I had my fisrt seizures when I was in the process of splitting up with an ex (after a 10-year relationship). So I know what you mean by stress...

Hope you stay seizure-free from here on out!
 
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