I don't know anything...

[Amysm]

Help.

I don't even know how to write this. My boyfriend has epilepsy. From what he told me, he has type B, so Complex Partial Seizure. I've seen him have a seizure before and I've never gotten frightened, but I was last night. He wanted to leave my house at 2am. He wanted to drive, so I stole his keys and hid them. For about 10-15min, I was wrestling to get him to stay in my room. Finally I said, I'd let him leave if I could go with him. We started walking and I asked him where he was going. He said he was going to walk home. That's a 45min drive and I knew that if I let him go he would try to do that. I convinced him to come back to my house and all of a sudden he started crying. He told me things that happened in his past. He said he got his first seizure when he was a young boy. He was being sexually molested by a family friend and the seizure began. He tried to let his family know and they didn't believe him. Then he told me he had a plan and had been saving up money to disappear, so he wouldn't be a burden to me or his family. After a 15 min crying session, he had an angry look on his face. He started talking about killing this person that molested him. I offered to help him out by going to the police and resolving it in that way. But he just kept talking about how he had a gun and bullets with this persons name on it. That really frightened me.

Well, that's my story and I figured I'd just lay everything out now. I haven't told anyone. So, now for the questions..

1. Is this what a seizure is like? Can I do anything to comfort him? Calm him down?

2. What should I do? Should I try to convince him to go to the police?

3. Does epilepsy cause anger problems? It seems that he gets ticked off really easily. Or is it something he would have even if he didn't have epilepsy?

4. Could his epilepsy been caused by him being molested?

5. Is there any programs that help non US citizens get the drugs they need? In particular, Ativan and Keppra.

6. He works 2 jobs. His only day of is Tuesday and every other day he works 16 hour days. Can that be affecting his epilepsy as well? Should he take it easier? Mind you, he has no insurance, so all his money goes straight to his treatment and prescriptions.

7. He's receiving electrotheraphy. Has anyone seen positive results with this? Or is my babe just being treated like a guinea pig?

I know I have a ton more questions, but I can wait on those. I just want to know how to help the one I love. Please advise. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I have yet to go with him to his doctor, but I already made plans to go to his next appointment, so I will ask him as well...

 

[Silat]

4. Could his epilepsy been caused by him being molested?

In a word, yes.
I think you should look into this: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/emotional-trauma-stored-body-520/
If that's the case, he'd need counseling to help deal with it. Once that trauma is released, he'd likely do better, because it would also alleviate his stress level. That probably would reduce his bad moods. Though, from question 5, I am guessing he is on Keppra... Keppra can make people emotionally unstable and prone to sudden outbursts of rage. It's easily possible that the meds are triggering his mood problems.

Sleep deprivation can make things much worse, so the 16 hour days could really leave him prone to a seizure.

As far as what a seizure is like... well complex-partials involve a loss of consciousness. So... it's like blacking out, really. It doesn't sound like, from your description, that a seizure happened at all. Sounds like a sudden burst of rage, stemming from multiple causes. :?

 

[Amysm]

Thing is, he would kind of snap in and out of it. He'd act one way for 10-15min and then kind of twitch and ask what he was doing. That happened at least 5 times. His mood changed strangely and comparing it to how I've seen him when he had his other seizures, It was the same, just a lot more intense. He did just start seeing a counselor recently and he started electro therapy 2 weeks ago. I just really want to help him. He seems to think he's a burden to me, but HE'S NOT! I can't convince him. Most of the time I don't even think of him as my babe with epilepsy. I just see him as my babe! Ugh. I'm really angry that he goes through this and I'll never understand.

 

[julie wishes]

Does your boyfriend remember having this conversation with you?

What do you mean by electrotherapy? Who administers this and what is it like?

 

[Fedup]

Amysm

Welcom, Silat makes a lot of good points and julie wishes askes the question I wanted to but she is a good help just like Silat, each and every one of us goes through this and I'll never understand either, most of the meds give you depression of some description.

 

[Cint]

As far as what a seizure is like... well complex-partials involve a loss of consciousness. So... it's like blacking out, really. It doesn't sound like, from your description, that a seizure happened at all. Sounds like a sudden burst of rage, stemming from multiple causes. :?

I disagree with you on this one Silat, as I have had many Simple Complex partials and folks have told me that I have these bursts of "rage" as an aura and after the seizure, sometimes I'm very emotional.

http://www.epilepsy.com/EPILEPSY/SEIZURE_COMPLEXPARTIAL

These seizures usually start in a small area of the temporal lobe or frontal lobe of the brain. They quickly involve other areas of the brain that affect alertness and awareness. So even though the person's eyes are open and they may make movements that seem to have a purpose, in reality "nobody's home." If the symptoms are subtle, other people may think the person is just daydreaming.

Some of these seizures (usually ones beginning in the temporal lobe) start with a simple partial seizure. Also called an aura, this warning seizure often includes an odd feeling in the stomach. Then the person loses awareness and stares blankly. Most people move their mouth, pick at the air or their clothing, or perform other purposeless actions. These movements are called "automatisms" (aw-TOM-ah-TIZ-ums). Less often, people may repeat words or phrases, laugh, scream, or cry. Some people do things during these seizures that can be dangerous or embarrassing, such as walking into traffic or taking their clothes off. These people need to take precautions in advance.

Complex partial seizures starting in the frontal lobe tend to be shorter than the ones from the temporal lobe. The seizures that start in the frontal lobe are also more likely to include automatisms like bicycling movements of the legs or pelvic thrusting.

But I do agree that if there was abuse in his upbringing, that could bring on seizures, as my epileptologist asked me about it once. She said it can hinder the development of the hippocampus therefore causing seizures. My seizures do stem from my hippocampus region.

If there is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), that is usually used for depression, not seizure disorders. It brings on seizures, therefore would make the epilepsy worse. It is still used today for depression, but needs to be done carefully for those with a seizure disorder.

 

[soehls]

You are a sweetheart, your love for your boyfriend really shows. He is hurting terribly, poor guy I think the most important thing for him to do is get his emotional turmoil taken care of ASAP. Dare I say even more important than the epilepsy. You said he is threating to kill his molester, that will affect his life even more since he will end up in jail. He really needs a good councelor, and to see them more often, dont know if that is possible since he works so much. But he really should arrange things to see his councelor more often. As far as getting his medications, he needs to see a medical doctor to get those. There are many free clinics, even in small towns where you can see a doc for fee. There is a program every drug company has where you can get your meds for free even if you have no insurance. The doc at the free clinic will know about the program. And my last bit of advice is dont push too hard. Sometimes you have to wait for the person to accept the help they need. It is heartbreaking to watch your loved one suffer, just love him and be there for him.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Amysm, welcome to CWE!

What kind of "electro-therapy" is your boyfriend getting?

Best,
Nakamova

 

[Amysm]

Not sure what kind of electro theraphy he's getting but I will find out and get back to you guys. I really appreciate the help from you all. Thank you.