Hello,
I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. Started around age 9 or 10. My seizures last anywhere from three to ten seconds. I typically "blank out" (i.e. I'm not aware of anything - could be described to a situation similar to being asleep but not dreaming - just a void). I was diagnosed at age 14 with petit mal seizures and was originally prescribed valproic acid. Initially, 1000mg imliminated the seizures for about a year. After that taking medication was a responsibility that I was unwilling to fulfill. It got to the point where I started taking 1500mg valproic acid which still wasn't completely eliminating them. I went back to a neurologist round age 28 that stated I might have partial complex seizures instead. I took carbamazapine religiously for a while which just made things worse (which implies partial complex seizures was a mis-diagnosis). I switched to ethosuximide and took it religiously for about 6 months which reduced the seizures, but didn't eliminate them. Due to unwanted side-effects and a lack of desired results I decided to stop driving and taking any medications (chose the lesser of two evils, of you will). I'm at a point that I'm really not sure what seizure condition I have (my understanding is that petit mal goes away during the early to mid twenties). I am currently 30 years of age and I have no insurance (gotta love prexisting condition clauses) to get a proper diagnosis. I wanted to ask around to see if anyone else has experienced similarities and how the outcome unfolded. I'm worried that since these seizures have not gone away, they're going to get worse with age. Has this happened to anyone here? Any help, regardless of size would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Jake
I'm hoping someone will be able to help me. Started around age 9 or 10. My seizures last anywhere from three to ten seconds. I typically "blank out" (i.e. I'm not aware of anything - could be described to a situation similar to being asleep but not dreaming - just a void). I was diagnosed at age 14 with petit mal seizures and was originally prescribed valproic acid. Initially, 1000mg imliminated the seizures for about a year. After that taking medication was a responsibility that I was unwilling to fulfill. It got to the point where I started taking 1500mg valproic acid which still wasn't completely eliminating them. I went back to a neurologist round age 28 that stated I might have partial complex seizures instead. I took carbamazapine religiously for a while which just made things worse (which implies partial complex seizures was a mis-diagnosis). I switched to ethosuximide and took it religiously for about 6 months which reduced the seizures, but didn't eliminate them. Due to unwanted side-effects and a lack of desired results I decided to stop driving and taking any medications (chose the lesser of two evils, of you will). I'm at a point that I'm really not sure what seizure condition I have (my understanding is that petit mal goes away during the early to mid twenties). I am currently 30 years of age and I have no insurance (gotta love prexisting condition clauses) to get a proper diagnosis. I wanted to ask around to see if anyone else has experienced similarities and how the outcome unfolded. I'm worried that since these seizures have not gone away, they're going to get worse with age. Has this happened to anyone here? Any help, regardless of size would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Jake