I'm New Too!

[Vixster67]

Hi Everyone!

I found this site researching the links between Basilar Migraines and Focal Seizures. I never considered myself to be an Epileptic, but after reveiwing countless articles, I can say I'm a Part time player in seizure world.

I have had Migraines since I was 9 yrs old, the school nurse could never figuer out how my headache "moved" around my head. By 12yrs I had acute Asthma/year round Allergies.

My 1st migraine induced seizure happened when I was about 19yrs (research says that the 1st episode is onset in the 2nd decade of life)
My friend had to take me to the ER.

My 2nd migraine induced seizure happend when I was 30 yrs, while my young girls were home with me. This was triggered by excessive perfume contact ( my mom loves her perfume). I couldn't get the words in my head to come out of my mouth (scary), I blanked out a bit. The Paramedics took me to the ER. My attending DR said I had an "anxiety attack", huh really? I was having a perfectly normal day until my head started to pound with no relief.

My 3rd migraine induced seizure happend just 4 years ago, while at work. I could tell a "episode" was coming on, because I had tingling on my face ( nose to mouth), the florescent lights were not helping either. I told my boss to watch my speech, that if he couldn't understand me, then I was about to have a seizure ( but not to worry). Well, it happend -I went and slurred my speech, my boss asked if he should call my husband to come pick me up. I told him yes. Unfortunately for my boss, he panicked and called the Paramedics. I was sent to the ER, were they said I had a seizure and reported me to the DMV.(even though I was not actually driving at the time of incident). I was released shortly after being admitted and my MRI results came in. I spent over a year on trial drugs, 2 Neurologists and various testing to finally be diagnosed.
All of my focal seizures have been in the state of California ( where I grew up).

Now as I browse the internet for links between Basilar Migraines and Focal or Partial Seizures, I found that the 135th annuakl meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA) had found an auto immune condition in patients presenting seizures who have no apparent epilepsy or other obvious cause. As a coincidence I just received a RA diagnosis (an Inflamatory Arthritis, confirmed by a blood test). I also have been newly diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (an over sensitivity to nerve pain).

I am on about 12 Rx to control pain and symptoms of my RA, Fibro, Migraines, Asthma, Allergies. I feel more "aura" migraines every day. My Elavil dosage was increased from 10mg in 2007 to 25mg in April 2010 to 50mg in May 2010
My Tramadol dosage was increased from 25mg to 50mg ( by my Rheumotologist) in May 2010. The words in my head are not coming out as I had intended. I have "conversations in my head", I hear things that are not there. My dreams have me "yelping" like a dog in my sleep ( at least according to my husband), I have very strange and odd dreams, mostly in
3rd person. My dislexia is getting worse too. I want to hope it's the Meds giving me the freaking deaky dreams and not something else neurological with me. As I sit here and type, my face has been numb for about 2 hours, just the nose and mouth area. I have a hard time concentrating, argh! fustrating.

My Pharmacist has told me that there have been studies showing that the combonation of Tramadol and Elavil can cause seizures. I also had to stop taking Napersen, because of a possible Rx interaction.
Has anyone in this forum developed Seizures from Rx interations.?
Also has anyone had multiple health issues that increase the chances of seizures ( epileptic or not)?

Thanks for listening to me. I'm getting off the soap box now

 

[epileric]

Welcome Vixster67

There are a few people here who are prone to migraines, there definitely seems to be a connection between them & seizures. I've never been officially diagnosed with migraines (just seizures) & I rarely get headaches but about once a year on average I get a headache so bad that the sound of me breathing hurts.

You might find this thread interesting or helpful http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/epilepsy-migraines-kissing-cousins-10542/

You also might want to use the "search" option at the top of the page to help you find all sorts of interesting stuff here.

 

[Endless]

Hi, Vixster! Welcome to CWE!

Your episodes could be a seizure or a migraine aura. http://www.neurologychannel.com/migraine/index.shtml

I suffer from migraines, too. Mine happen after seizures, but I've had migraine auras, before the migraines, too. My neurologist sorted out which was which for me.

I have multiple allergies. My arthritis is osteo, not rheumatoid. Because of immune system issues my doctor made sure to test for MS and Hanson's Disease during the seizure diagnosis phase.

I highly suspect a low dose of Gabapentin made my seizures worse. I'm on it again and I still think it's contributing to the problem.

Keep going! An accurate diagnosis is half the battle. Keep taking questions to your neurologist, and keep digging. The answers will come.

 

[Meetz1064]

Good morning!

Well, you and I seem to have quite a bit in common.

However, my seizures showed up when I was a tiny bit of a thing, at a year or so.

But, like you, I have migraines, arthritis, fibro, and plenty more, including celiac disease and a pineal cyst (I don't make melatonin to sleep with.) I have the typical hayfever type allergies, not anything special.

I have the strange dreams as well, and yes, sometimes it's in text, sometimes it's all audio, and others it's all video. Who knows.

Like you, I'm on Tramadol, but I refuse to take it that often, as I don't want it to clash with the AED's. I know when I have taken it in combo with them, I become QUITE STUPID. (That's being kind.)

My pain is not fun, I deal with it differently. I use meditation, yoga, and a serious diet and mind over matter approach.

There are meds that can cause seizures--Lyrica being one of them. Tramadol and Elavil together, can, in the right people, induce them as well. However, there are a lot of other meds that can, IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE, induce seizures--and that includes anti-biotics, and OTC drugs, too. That's why it is important to talk to your pharmacist, and to know about your drugs, period. A good reference site is www. rxlist.com or www.drugs.com.

Btw, welcome to CWE. You'll definitely like it here!

Meetz
:rock: