Long-term effects

[knubbig]

This is my first post. I have been reviewing several of the post and although many talk about the symptoms and alternative and traditional treatment options, I am most interested in knowing if untreated is there data to support long-term brain injury or residual cognitive impact from Partial simple seizures?

 

[Nakamova]

It's a good question. I think it's pretty tough to accumulate hard data about long-term damage due to simple partials --there's so much variability. For instance, many people suffer from partials for a long time before diagnosis, or aren't diagnosed until the seizures have progressed to complex partials or tonic-clonics. The cause, and age of onset could also make a difference in terms of rate of progression and any cognitive effects.

 

[RunningGirl85]

As far as I know, and what a couple of neurologists have told me, is that they do have an effect. Now WHAT it affects depends on where the seizures take place. I'm not sure what the effect would be for frontal lobe seizures, for example. Mine take place in my left temporal lobe, and that affects memory. I do know my memory has gotten significantly worse (I'm only twenty seven, so age isn't really an excuse, lol). I also went undiagnosed for awhile. And who knows how long I was having them before my FIRST T/C seizure (I ha a second one before I was diagnosed).

 

[Cint]

I suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy and mine stem from the left side. They are usually CP's, but sometimes I've had TC's, also. As RunningGirl said, it does effect one's memory and language skills. I've had E for over 30 years now and my memory is bad. My writing is also not good, as I forget words and have dyslexia now plus I suffer from aphasia. I also suffer from depression, sometimes bad, bad. It can also cause changes in one's personality over long period of time, according to this article:

Seizures of the temporal lobe can have dramatic effects on an individual's personality. Temporal lobe epilepsy can cause perseverative speech, paranoia and aggressive rages (Blumer and Benson, 1975). Severe damage to the temporal lobes can also alter sexual behavior (e.g. increase in activity) (Blumer and Walker, 1975).

 

[Chris515]

I have left sided temporal lobe epilepsy as well.. my whole life. I have frequent auras, sp's, and less regular tc's. It certainly has affected my memory and I almost feel my IQ. Hopefully not though.

But certainly my memory is terrible, I have to write everything down at work so I can remember what I did. The worst thing is when friends/family reminisce, they're telling me stories of things I did which I have no memory of.

 

[Katiered]

But certainly my memory is terrible, I have to write everything down at work so I can remember what I did. The worst thing is when friends/family reminisce, they're telling me stories of things I did which I have no memory of.

I have never heard someone explain my life so perfectly. I have had people tell me step by step everything that's gone on in, what seems like, pretty big life events. Odd little things will stick with me, the occasional memory, but I'd say only about 10% of the time someone reminiscences about something that I have any idea what they're talking about. I normally don't even get that 'ohh, I kind of remember that' feeling anymore. And I'm only 27.

My question for you guys - With medication has your memory seemed to have stopped worsening?

 

[jyearta]

This is my first post. I have been reviewing several of the post and although many talk about the symptoms and alternative and traditional treatment options, I am most interested in knowing if untreated is there data to support long-term brain injury or residual cognitive impact from Partial simple seizures?

I had seizure all my life, but wasn't diag. till I was 18. It was then when I,was put on meds.
My seizures kept getting worse. Was hard to get under control.
I don't know if this answers your question.