What Tests Can I Do? What Actions Can I Take?

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Starburst

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Hi Everyone,

I joined the forum about a year ago because my newborn son was having seizures. He has since been diagnosed with epilepsy as has another son of mine. It has been really overwhelming to have two children diagnosed with epilepsy within the span of a year. My older son is 17, and I did not see this coming at all.

In any case, it may sound odd but I believe that I, too, may be having seizures. I have been experiencing jerking sensations in specific areas of my body for a few months now, and the problem is getting more frequent. I am kind of hesitant to see the neurologist because I am not really to the point where I feel that I would want to take medication for this problem if I am, indeed, having seizures. Although both of my children are being treated with medication, it is hard for me to imagine myself going down the same path. I guess I am also hoping that my problem is not epilepsy but some other condition that is causing my muscles to twitch and jerk--something easy to treat like a vitamin deficiency.

Which brings me to the point of my post. I live in a country where you can easily and cheaply go to a laboratory and order whatever tests you like. So I was thinking that perhaps I should have some blood work done to check for common disorders and vitamin deficiencies that may be causing my issues. The only thing is that I don't really know what I should test for or what vitamins might help my problem.

I already eat healthy, sleep pretty well, do not drink caffeine or alcohol, etc. I am, however, under a bit of stress which is something I am working on.

If the problem persists or gets really bad, then I will eventually go to the doctor. But in the meantime, I was wondering if anyone might have suggestions on things I could investigate or do on my own.

Thanks a bunch for any insights you might have.
 
Hi,

I know how you must feel, not wanting it to be SO, but if you infact are having seizures, than I think you need to see a neur.
There are many triggers that can bring on a seizure and stress is one of them.
I would like to advise to start keeping a diary of EVERTHING, seizure, time of day, how long it lasted.
Anything that could possibly be a trigger, lack of sleep, infection, new meds. that has just be added. hormonas, fatigue.
We all react diff. to the diff. meds. that are out there.

I worry that if you don't see a neur. you brain could get in the habit of seizuring.

I'm no Dr. - and I could be wrong.
 
Hi um-adam --

If you're low on magnesium that can sometimes lead to twitching and jerking. That may be a good place to start. Unfortunately, it's tough to measure magnesium levels with a standard blood test -- blood levels do not reflect total body magnesium (TBM).

You could ask your doc about trying a magnesium supplement. Or you could up your intake of chocolate, nuts, seeds, and dark, leafy greens.
 
Thank you for your replies and suggestions. I appreciate your concern, jyearta. I am definitely noticing some patterns related to sleep and hormones.

If I do take magnesium, can anyone advise how much and what kind I should take? What about vitamin b? I see a lot of people here talking about b6 and b12. I'd really like to try something on my own before going to see the doctor.
 
Magnesium citrate is well-absorbed, and easily available. Generally start with the recommended dose, maybe a 140mg capsule and take it once or twice a day with meals to see how you feel. If it irritates your digestion or gives you the runs, then the dose is too high. I'm cuurently taking a 500mg dose in a multivitamin that also has calcium and viatmin D, since those nutrients affect each other's absorption and metabolism.

B vitamins also work well when taken in a supplement together. I also take extra B12 because my medication gives me "tired blood." B6 can help people taking Keppra in particular. If you take it you high want to avoid taking it close to bedtime since it can interfere with sleep for some people.

Best course, assuming there are no contraindications, is to start small and see how you feel.

More info about magnesium in these threads:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/tags/magnesium.html
 
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