What do you think???

[kinda_scared]

Hello and please forgive me in advance. This will be pretty long, I just really need some advise. Late last year I had an episode. I was at home on my couch and felt a very strange sensation in my upper lip and right side of my face. before I knew it, my entire body was stiff and I began to convulse. I was awake the enitre time but unable to speak. My husband came to me and was scared as I have ever seen him. When it was over I was out of breath, sweaty and loopy. We just held it each oter and went to urgent care.

The urgent care Dr must have been upset that he was working on Saturday morning because it seemed like he could care less about what was the scariest thing that had happened to me...... ok so fast forward two similar incidents took place over the next few months, then......

Last week I was at work, typical day- kinda stressful but funny because my coworkers are a hoot! I felt that weird face thing again and off I go shaky and twitching at my desk good thing I told my supervisor about my previous episodes.... she reacted perfectly and sent me to the ER. Dr there told me to seek counseling because it may be in my head... as I thought umm yeah buddy it is in my head can we figure it out?

My GP was very caring when I saw her a few days ago. I have a MRI scheduled for next week and neurologist appoint after that. oh btw after these episodes/seizures i am pale, tired, confused, a little bit drooly and this last time I cursed immediatley after, nauseous and my head has been hurting for a week even after a toradol injection. I had a MRI on the 13th and
I recently got my MRI results that were "normal" I saw a neurologist yesterday and he suggested that I see an epitologist. I am scheduled for the epi visit and then an inpatient admission into the EMU (epilepsy Monitoring Unit) ... does this sound like I have epilepsy? The drs that I have seen keep saying "seems like it" but no one is really sure. Im scared confused and in need of some help. Oh,I take keppra 500mg per day along with citalopram and 800 mg for those horrible headaches.

 

[skillefer]

You might...but then again, there are other medical conditions that can present seizures as a symptom. Now...if you do, there are some things that you need to do to help your doctor. Ok?

First, keep a journal. Write down the following stuff everyday.

1. Food and Drink (what you ate/drank, when, how much.)
2. Sleep (How many hours each night, and ws it uninterrupted)
3. Stress (what stresses do you have, how do you deal with them? And yes, being ill counts as a stress)
4. OTC meds/supplements (what you take, when, and how much)
5. Oddness ( Any odd feelings/smells/tastes/sounds/sights as well as how long it lasted and when...and any migraines)
6. Seizures (Any of your fits, how long it lasted, what it was like, and what you were doing before it happened.)
7. If your a female , your period (how long a cycle, the day that you start, the day that you end)

Here's some things you need to know....most of us have things that trigger a seizure, or are things that make us more likely to have a seizure. The most common ones are lack of sleep, too much stress, illness, flickering lights/patterns, and use of stimulants. So if you do have epilepsy, you'll probably need to make some listyle changes. Like the following:

1. Eat 6 small meals a day (By small, it should fit on a dessert plate. Also, eat a protein anytime you have a carb.)
2. Eat healthy (shop around the edge of the grociery store. As much as possible, avoid eating fast foods or other foods that are premade. These things are loaded with chemicals/salt/sugar.)
3.Get 7 hours of sleep every night...no ifs, ands, or buts.
4. Find healthy ways to deal with stress. (exercise, yoga, meditation, art, prayer, baking, cooking, sewing, gardening, etc...relaxing things...)
5. Cut out ALL caffeine. ( No more coffee, tea, mate, sodas, energy drinks, etc....)
6. If you smoke, cut back or quit. (Caffeine and nicotine are both stimulants...the last thing a person with E. needs.)
7. Quit using all OTC meds for colds/allergies. (antihistamines are also stimulants. Use a neti pot or saline spray instead for congestion.)

Give a copy of your journal to your doc. IT will let them know what your average day is like. And they might just see a pattern that you don't. You need to go back and look at it every once in a while and see if there's a pattern. For example, do you seem to have seizures just prior to your period? Do you always have a seizure after hearing odd noises? Stuff like that.

Epilepsy is not the end of the world. There's lots of people here who have college degrees, careers, families, etc. Try to think of Epilepsy like you would asthma or diabetes...something to be treated. Ok? Hope this helped.

OH! almost forgot. Write any questions you have for the doc down...and their answers. Also, if you have family that can do it, have them go with you. sometimes it's easier for them to remember stuff. My hubby always goes to my appt.'s with me...In fact, I think all my docs like him better.

 

[Crystal11]

Hello, sorry to hear of your frustrations. I do think that you might have Epilepsy but also remember that other conditions could cause seizure-like events. Cardiac, metabolic and other systems malfunctions could cause what looks like a seizure. Syncope is one cardia condition that causes fainting and stiffining/jerking but itsn't caused by electrical discharge problems which Epilepsy is. I would ask for blood work (if you didin't have it in the ER already) and to review your MRI/EEGs and things with your doctor and ask if anything else could be the cause. Keppra is a anti-seizure med which I take along with Tegretol XR. It helps me quite a bit. I would think that the Keppra you take would help if the seizures are Epileptic in nature. Anyways, let us know how you do after your testing is over with. Please take care.

Crystal and her guide Umbro (Barks!)

 

[dfwtexas]

Welcome
I take 750 mg 2xs a day for seizures. I have petit mals (both simple and complex partials), so my seizures are different than what you describe. But the aftereffects of a seizure does leave me very confused, sleepy, etc.
It does sound like you may have seizures...but we don't want to deem that for you...seeing a specialist and have EEG are a good plan.
Keep a journal and also write down your questions for your doctor visit. There are various triggers...stress, lack of sleep, etc. I am also photosensitive, I can not watch flashing lights or go to movie theater.
Best of luck, we are all here for you.

 

[matchu]

I have had seizures when my cell phone alarm went off, my friend was there and had put on snooze so I had a seizure everytime it went off. That has happened once and try to be aware of what my alarm is set to. I have triggers that are noises, or lot's of people talking at once, or people harrasing each other.

I just can't keep a journal of this sorts it seems. I feel like i have opened up so much, and that would be something difficult to keep if you are not fully aware. Maybe I can get help filling my journal throughout the day.

I believe I have atleast 3-4 absent seizures per day. do these show up on overpriced janitor tech eeg testing?