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CraigandJenn

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Well, I just had my first seizure Wednesday morning. It obviously scared the hell out of my wife. Was taken to the hospital and a EEG and a catscan was performed. Blood and urine work was done as well. Just got back from the Dr's and I have a scheduled Brain MRI w/ contrast scheduled for next week. So far, everything is supposed to be as it should...ie blood, EEG, etc.etc. Its amazing how little we know what causes seizures. I am on a prescription called Levetiracetam. Hopefully that will prevent anymore. Any advice or suggestions are greatly welcomed.

Thanks Everyone!
Craig
 
Hi Craig, welcome to CWE!

A seizure can be pretty disturbing (to say the least), and I think it can be even scarier when it comes out of the blue (i.e. when there isn't a known cause or a pre-existing diagnosis of a seizure disorder). Any ideas about what might have triggered the seizure? If you went to the ER, they probably ruled out infections or toxins asa cause.

Ordinarily a diagnosis of epilepsy isn't made until someone has had at least two seizures, so I assume in your case that a diagnosis is still pending, and that the docs are just keeping you on Keppra (Levetiracetam) until they have more info. Keppra has the advantage over some anti-seizure meds in that you can ramp up to a working dose very quickly, so that's probably why they chose that particular med.

There can be side effects with Keppra -- most notably it can cause moodiness and "Kepprage". I hope you won't be on the Keppra very long, but in the meantime pay attention to anything that seems off or unusual that may be a side effect of the med. (I know after a seizure, everything can seem off or unusual, but I remember that a lot of things I thought were related to my first seizure were in fact side effects from the way-too-high dose of meds I'd been put on.) Have you been referred to a neurologist? If so, has he/she given you any details about a diagnosis, or about the medication?

I hope you weren't injured too badly during the seizure. It can be hard on the back muscles and the tongue. And I hope both you and your wife are doing okay. It's great that you found CWE. The members can relate, and they all have a ton of info and advice to offer.

Best,
Nakamova
 
Hey Nakamova,

Yeah I am seeing a neurologist here in good ole Vero Beach,FL. You are definetly right about the back and muscles. My back has been outta wack since the incident, but its getting better. My tounge is doing alot better. I was lucky and only injured just the side of it. It's feeling and getting better every day. My mom has epilepsy and is on Triliptol? Anyways, Im 33 and she had her first siezure at this age and she is 56 now. She went years without a seizure and as soon as she got off her meds, she had a seizure,and ran her Maxima into a oak tree at 55 mph. I thank God that she was not seriously injured. She however, wasnt able to drive for 1 year.
It is nice to be able to find a forum like this and have the ability to research and talk to people who have had experiences with seizures.

Thanks:)
Craig
 
I was told the MRI is a good way to find out what is going on ,I just had another Siezure this week.and they always scare me because I never know when they are coming..
 
Hi, Craig,

Welcome to the forum!

Seizures ARE scary. Especially in the beginning. Hang in there, though. Hopefully your medication will get things under control.

What kind of seizure does the doctor think you had? Where was the eeg done? In the ER? Do you know who read it? Was it the ER doc or a neurologist?

How are you feeling on your new meds? People seem to have a love or hate relationship with Keppra. Either they get along great and love it, or have tons of side effects and hate it. Here's hoping you are in the "love it" category. It does have some emotional side effects at first - big time mood swings, especially anger. Some people think B vitamins help them a lot with this.

Hang in there. Things will get better.
 
Hey Endless,

The Dr's did not specify what they think I had. It was almost over when the paramedics arrived at my house. My wife just told them that I had my arms raised and my body tight... foaming at the mouth basically as she attempted to roll me over because I started to gargle.
The EEG was done at the hospital at the time I arrived and the results came back fine. I dont know if the ER Dr was a neurologist or not, however my neurologist that I saw Friday, stated that everything came back perfect. IE...EEG, Blood, Urine, Catscan. Thats why he prescribed a Brain MRI w/ contrast for this Friday.
So far my medicine has been great. It seems to keep my on a even plain all the time..(emotionally, temperment wise). We'll see how it goes as I progress on it.

Craig
 
hey craig. i've had two brain surgeries performed at johns hoplins here at baltimore, for a brain tumor and im ASSUMING that they ordered the contrast because it picks up things that the one w/o contrast would not. of course, with your mom developing epilepsy around your age, i highly doubt that there is any kind of anomoly in your head or anything, but i guess they always like to make sure. aren't mris fun? =)
 
msuder0583 said:
hey craig. i've had two brain surgeries performed at johns hoplins here at baltimore, for a brain tumor and im ASSUMING that they ordered the contrast because it picks up things that the one w/o contrast would not. of course, with your mom developing epilepsy around your age, i highly doubt that there is any kind of anomoly in your head or anything, but i guess they always like to make sure. aren't mris fun? =)
Click to expand...

WOW...... I couldnt even begin to imagine what you have had to go through...just crazy.
 
Hi Craig - welcome to CWE
My daughter is the one that has had a seizure disorder. She also had couple of Tonic Clonic seizures out of the blue..over the next two years we tried four meds. They only increased the seizure activity, and caused awful side effects.

Now since neurofeedback and making serious nutritional changes, she remains med free and seizure free. The Standard American Diet is known to cause neurological problems in those with a lower seizure threshold.

My one message is... consider how many years you were seizure free, and what has lowered your threshold over the recent years.
 
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