Hi, I'm new and have been lurking on and off for a while. I don't know where else to turn to and I'd love some advice. Apologies in advance for what might turn into a long post.
My partner of 7 years has forever had what we both strongly suspect are simple partial seizures. Over the years they have changed a bit, but mainly they come with some twitching (face, hand), nausea and strong stomach pains, voices (that has mostly receded), and sudden attacks of panic and/or anger. His memory gets sometimes distorted, and he usually is sleepy and tired afterwards.
Symptoms aside, we have good reasons to be suspicious: 5 of his 6 siblings have diagnosed epilepsy, and his mother is also suspected to have some form of seizures (undiagnosed). One of his siblings has tonic clonic seizures, the others only partials of various forms and intensity.
Two years back he was diagnosed with high cholesterol - he's only 27. That prompted a complete turn around in his diet and exercise regime: he started daily exercising, quit drinking, followed a healthy diet and, what I think might be also important, started taking fish oil daily. He also started therapy, to help control the stress, which did make a difference. The seizures seem to be much less frequent since then, and also much less severe. Basically we wouldn't know they're there if we didn't know about them.
My problem is, he refuses to go to a doctor with these symptoms. He claims we already know all the doctors are going to tell us and he doesn't believe his "negligible" seizures require medicating. I on the other hand worry. I see some of his siblings' seizures changing for the worse over the years and affecting their quality of life, and I wonder if we may be inviting future trouble by pretending this is nothing. I would like us to start a family at some point, and ignoring this problem feels irresponsible. (And in a very quiet voice, let me add, I do worry about passing this on to our children. It feels bad admitting that, but there goes.)
I don't know more than the internet tells me on the subject, so I'd love to hear what people with personal experience and more knowledge have to say. Mainly I worry about whether the continued seizures may be causing damage to his brain and whether leaving them untreated could make things worse. Am I worrying too much?
Thanks in advance, it already helps to share.
My partner of 7 years has forever had what we both strongly suspect are simple partial seizures. Over the years they have changed a bit, but mainly they come with some twitching (face, hand), nausea and strong stomach pains, voices (that has mostly receded), and sudden attacks of panic and/or anger. His memory gets sometimes distorted, and he usually is sleepy and tired afterwards.
Symptoms aside, we have good reasons to be suspicious: 5 of his 6 siblings have diagnosed epilepsy, and his mother is also suspected to have some form of seizures (undiagnosed). One of his siblings has tonic clonic seizures, the others only partials of various forms and intensity.
Two years back he was diagnosed with high cholesterol - he's only 27. That prompted a complete turn around in his diet and exercise regime: he started daily exercising, quit drinking, followed a healthy diet and, what I think might be also important, started taking fish oil daily. He also started therapy, to help control the stress, which did make a difference. The seizures seem to be much less frequent since then, and also much less severe. Basically we wouldn't know they're there if we didn't know about them.
My problem is, he refuses to go to a doctor with these symptoms. He claims we already know all the doctors are going to tell us and he doesn't believe his "negligible" seizures require medicating. I on the other hand worry. I see some of his siblings' seizures changing for the worse over the years and affecting their quality of life, and I wonder if we may be inviting future trouble by pretending this is nothing. I would like us to start a family at some point, and ignoring this problem feels irresponsible. (And in a very quiet voice, let me add, I do worry about passing this on to our children. It feels bad admitting that, but there goes.)
I don't know more than the internet tells me on the subject, so I'd love to hear what people with personal experience and more knowledge have to say. Mainly I worry about whether the continued seizures may be causing damage to his brain and whether leaving them untreated could make things worse. Am I worrying too much?
Thanks in advance, it already helps to share.
