Partial Seizure Disorder - 20+ Minutes

[Anela]

Hi I am new to this website so I am not really show how this works but here we go.

According to my neurologist my diagnosis is:

1. Partial seizure disorder.
- Sleep-deprived EEG shows intermittent episode of irregular slow wave activity bilaterally.
- Suspicious contoured slow wave activity in the right hemisphere with emphasis over the right temporal region.
- MRI brain scan was reported normal.

Almost all of my seizures happen around my period. I have been on Depo-Provera (Birth control method for women. It is made up of a hormone similar to progesterone and is given as an injection by a doctor into the woman's arm or buttocks. Each shot provides protection against pregnancy for up to 14 weeks, but the shot must be received once every 12 weeks to remain fully protected.) over a month now which has helped my seizures massively.

I have been seizure free almost 45 days for the first time since I was diagnosed in December 2010. Tonight I had a seizure or several I am not too sure. I felt extremely lost for almost 20 minutes if not more. I feel extremely nauseas as well as tired. I manage to finish whatever I started at the time but I don't remember when or how I did it.

These type of seizures have happened before and the best way I notice them is while watching TV something I am watching suddenly I miss out on 15 to 20 minutes and then I am confused to what is happening.

I am concerned about these seizures and I was wondering does anyone else experience these and if you do, do you have any information to why they last this long and is it dangerous?

Oh I was quite stressed out today so I think that might have caused these seizures since I am on Depo-Provera clearly they aren't caused by hormones.

Thank you all in advance!

:hello:

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Anela, welcome to CWE!

Complex Partial seizures are a bit like sleepwalking -- you're conscious, but not fully conscious, aware but impaired in terms of your ability to remember what's happened while you are out of it. They aren't necessarily dangerous (unless you are doing something like driving), but they are obviously disconcerting.

Even with the Depo-Provera, estrogen spikes might still be playing a role in your seizure activity. The Depo can help, but naturaal progesterone is thought to be most effective with catamenial epilepsy, and traditional AEDs can help to.

Of course there could be other factors too. (Epilepsy is so nice and complicated that way). Do you keep a seizure diary? That can help identify any other triggers (like fatigue, or diet, or stress) that may be contributing.

Best,
Nakamova

 

[Anela]

Hi Nakamova

Thank you! For the warm welcome and the reply.

I guess that is the best word to describe it "sleepwalking" (I was looking for a word lol) I think that at the moment Depo-Provera has done an amazing job I tried Clobazam around my period as my neuro thought that it would help with catamenial epilepsy (he thinks I have that too but we aren't too sure), which did not help at all, but Depo-Provera was amazing from day one.

I think I am just a bit upset that I had one after 40+ days as I have never been seizure free more than a week for the past 3 years. So it got me all worried and scared that it lasted so long and it was almost painful.

I do keep a diary (that is how we decided to try Depo-Provera as I had most of my seizures while ovulating and on my period) I am definitely thinking it is the stress right now. I am also on a diet because Depo-Provera's most common side effect is weight gain (great lol), but I mean I have always watched what I eat even before Depo so I think it must be stress.

Again thank you very much for the reply it makes me feel a little bit better to hear that they aren't dangerous. (Internet can be scary lol)

 

[Nakamova]

For some people, low blood sugar can be a trigger, as well as certain foods, so it's a good idea to go carefully with any diet. But as you say, stress is the most likely culprit for your breakthrough seizure. Hopefully your brain will settle right back down again.

You might be interested in these two links that talk about foods to avoid or to include if you're sensitive to estrogen:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/70189-estrogenic-foods-avoid/
http://www.livestrong.com/article/5...ls-in-women/?utm_source=dontgo2&utm_medium=a3

 

[Anela]

Thank you so very much you have been extremely helpful I actually feel much better! I bookmarked those links and I will make sure I have a look at them to remind myself!