Just wanted to talk to others like me.

[Carpentergirl]

I'm so sorry to hear that you went through all that..I'm such a big baby, I've never had ANY surgery yet in my life...that's why I always say I've been blessed so far when it comes to all my ailments in life...I know there is always someone out there who has it tougher, and rougher than me...I salute you Music! ((((Hugs))))

 

[Music36]

Carpentergirl,

I just wanted to make sure you realize this was epilepsy surgery I was talking about and I didn't have to have this surgery. I chose to b/c the seizures were doing a lot of brain damage. My neurologists had been trying to talk me into surgery for many years and I wouldn't do it until the memory problems started and continued getting worse. My neurologist said as long as I continue having seizures it would just keep getting worse so I figured might as well have the surgery even though I knew that would probably make memory issues worse and it did. But, it's all worth it. The hardest part has been the emotional side effects I had experienced the first few months or so. I felt like I had anxiety disorder and was bipolar. My personality had changed for awhile. It was freaking me out. But, I'm back to my old self, just a little different. Better in some ways.

After going through 36 hours of a difficult labor when I gave birth to my daughter 24 years ago I know I can survive anything. I actually had 2 seizures and 102 fever from an infection during labor and the pain was hell. But, the real work is raising them. My daughter has been very strong-willed and oppositional her whole life and still is. She has A.D.D. and learning disabilities.

 

[Carpentergirl]

Can I ask....have you had epilepsy your whole life? or did it come mid-life? After the birth of your child? I had preeclampsia during labor...and I've posted before how my epilepsy didn't start until after about 6 months after having her...I swear I was perfectly healthy until I had a child...lol....I was just trying to tell by what you stated in your post if your seizures came after child birth...my daughter is 14, she has a touch of A.D.D. but is very intelligent, I have been blessed..straight A's...but she can have a harsh attitude...typical pre-teen! lol

 

[Music36]

Carpentergirl,

I was born with epilepsy. I had a tonic-clonic the day I was born but then I was fine afterwards so they didn't think much of it. I didn't get diagnosed with epilepsy until I had another tonic-clonic at age 21 which is before I got pregnant. I can remember having complex partials as far back as 7 years old, but doctors assumed they were anxiety attacks b/c intense fear is my aura and one of the main symptoms of my complex partials. I knew they were not anxiety attacks b/c my state of consciousness is altered for one thing, but I did not know what they were. I found out my "attacks" are complex partials that day in the E.R. when I was 21 and spoke to a neurologist for the first time in my life. A 24 hour EEG confirmed.

 

[Carpentergirl]

ok...glad you got clear diagnosis, and answers! I have nothing on my cat scans...EEG's...so we have nothing to go by...but...like I said...as long as my seizures are only a few a year....I can handle it...I am a very well functioning epileptic...I'm one of those ppl that you would never know I have E unless you knew me really well and lived with me...I get irritable easily if I don't get lots of sleep, an I get frazzled easily if there is a lot of pressure put on me..just unnecessary bullshit that goes on in my house where no body picks up their shit and leaves crap all over my house, and constant fighting etc...I let it build up, and then I let it change my entire mood....and when that happens, you can't reason with me...at all...so other than that....and trying to remember that...but that it subtle to the general public because I don't go out much anyway...I get along extremely well.....

 

[Music36]

I had seizures (simple partial and/or complex partial) every week pretty much before surgery. Before going on Keppra in 2006, I'd have days where I could have 20 complex partials in one day which is exhausting. But, somehow I made it through undergrad and grad school as a single mother having lots of seizures. I don't know how I did it. I guess I just didn't let the seizures stop me from doing what I wanted to do. I've lived a pretty normal life except for the not being able to drive part. I've always had friends and family to drive me places and there have been times in my life when I used public transportation.

I'm getting frustrated b/c my sleep is being effected by perimenopause. Hot flashes and night sweats will wake me up several times during the night every night for 2-3 weeks. It will stop and then return a couple of months later. Also, insomnia comes and goes. I believe it is also a symptom of the perimenopause. I have no other reason to have insomnia and never had trouble sleeping before entering perimenopause. It's a real bitch. I've been having the insomnia this week so now I'm having auras. I couldn't go to sleep until 5 am a few nights ago and 4 am the next day. It's ridiculous.

I used to be very irritable on some days and have mood swings and kepprages. But, I have not been that way since the surgery last year. I have changed in some ways and I'm not sure how much of it is physical and how much is psychological. Having this surgery has had a major effect on me.