Hello, everyone. I wanted to introduce myself, because over the last two weeks all the posts on here have been tremendously helpful to me as I sort through this new diagnosis.
A bit of background on me:
I had my first episode when I was 10, and second when I was 11. I was in school both of these times, and I lost consciousness from a seated position. Around this time, I started to get intermittent "dizzy" feelings (I had no way else to describe them at the time). Through my teens I had rare episodes when I'd lose consciousness, but I can't remember if they were connected to those "dizzy" feelings.
The episodes became more frequent the summer after my first year in college, when I was working in peri-operative services at a hospital. The nurses said I would just sit and stare at them for 15-20 seconds and then return to normal functioning. I remember having the "dizzy" episodes then as well. At my gynecological appointment that summer, my MD suspected I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and tests came back positive. This seemed to explain the "dizziness" and infrequent instances of losing consciousness.
In the last year, the episodes and loss of consciousness have become more frequent, and my endocrinologist and cardiologist have ruled out these systems as the culprit. I finally saw a neurologist again after 18 years, and after reviewing my clinical history, she has identified my "dizziness" as simple partial seizures, and the loss of consciousness as complex partial seizures. My "auras" consist of a feeling like my head is under water, and intense deja-vu, this is the "dizzy" feeling no one thought was neurological until now.
So, I'm due to start Keppra soon, but I want to get an eeg first. A family friend who is a neurologist (not my current doc) suggested I wait until the eeg before I start the meds, as the meds might mask what's going on. My current neurologist disagrees, but since I've been episode-free for about 3 weeks, I'm not in a rush to start the Keppra until I've had the test done.
I do have a few questions, if any of you have advice:
1. Is there any reason to be concerned about exercise? I run 3 times a week, and am thinking about starting training for a half-marathon. I've had the auras while running before, but never loss of consciousness. I just sit down and wait for the aura to pass.
2. I can't drive for 6 months according to Michigan law. When evaluating whether I've been "seizure-free" for 6 months to drive again, do the auras without loss of consciousness factor in? (I've never had an episode while driving, thank goodness).
3. How do I talk to my employer about this? I'm a college professor, and my last episode was in the classroom and I lost consciousness. I've had the auras before and taught straight through them. After this last incident, I got up, drank some water, and finished my lecture. I don't seem to have any post-ictal effects. Should I warn my students about this at the beginning of the semester?
4. I'm really concerned about side-effects with Keppra. I have a history of mild depression and anxiety (I call this "graduate school") and I'm afraid the Keppra will exacerbate any underlying mental illness I may have. And, on the more vain side, I'm really concerned about my hair! The PCOS took a toll on my hair, and I don't want to lose any more.
Thanks for all the help you've provided through your participation in this forum, and thanks in advance for any continued help!
A bit of background on me:
I had my first episode when I was 10, and second when I was 11. I was in school both of these times, and I lost consciousness from a seated position. Around this time, I started to get intermittent "dizzy" feelings (I had no way else to describe them at the time). Through my teens I had rare episodes when I'd lose consciousness, but I can't remember if they were connected to those "dizzy" feelings.
The episodes became more frequent the summer after my first year in college, when I was working in peri-operative services at a hospital. The nurses said I would just sit and stare at them for 15-20 seconds and then return to normal functioning. I remember having the "dizzy" episodes then as well. At my gynecological appointment that summer, my MD suspected I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and tests came back positive. This seemed to explain the "dizziness" and infrequent instances of losing consciousness.
In the last year, the episodes and loss of consciousness have become more frequent, and my endocrinologist and cardiologist have ruled out these systems as the culprit. I finally saw a neurologist again after 18 years, and after reviewing my clinical history, she has identified my "dizziness" as simple partial seizures, and the loss of consciousness as complex partial seizures. My "auras" consist of a feeling like my head is under water, and intense deja-vu, this is the "dizzy" feeling no one thought was neurological until now.
So, I'm due to start Keppra soon, but I want to get an eeg first. A family friend who is a neurologist (not my current doc) suggested I wait until the eeg before I start the meds, as the meds might mask what's going on. My current neurologist disagrees, but since I've been episode-free for about 3 weeks, I'm not in a rush to start the Keppra until I've had the test done.
I do have a few questions, if any of you have advice:
1. Is there any reason to be concerned about exercise? I run 3 times a week, and am thinking about starting training for a half-marathon. I've had the auras while running before, but never loss of consciousness. I just sit down and wait for the aura to pass.
2. I can't drive for 6 months according to Michigan law. When evaluating whether I've been "seizure-free" for 6 months to drive again, do the auras without loss of consciousness factor in? (I've never had an episode while driving, thank goodness).
3. How do I talk to my employer about this? I'm a college professor, and my last episode was in the classroom and I lost consciousness. I've had the auras before and taught straight through them. After this last incident, I got up, drank some water, and finished my lecture. I don't seem to have any post-ictal effects. Should I warn my students about this at the beginning of the semester?
4. I'm really concerned about side-effects with Keppra. I have a history of mild depression and anxiety (I call this "graduate school") and I'm afraid the Keppra will exacerbate any underlying mental illness I may have. And, on the more vain side, I'm really concerned about my hair! The PCOS took a toll on my hair, and I don't want to lose any more.
Thanks for all the help you've provided through your participation in this forum, and thanks in advance for any continued help!
