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Stress Trigger Sezures

Thu, 04/29/2010 - 11:55
Hi, I am 30 years of age, male, had petite mal seizures from the age of 4 to 15 then was taken off the medication and was doing fine...At the age of 21 I started getting what was believed to be simple partial seizures, I had numerous eeg and Mris all came back negative...Was diagnosed with TLE,  I get seizures and the faze will sometimes last for a month, when I get stressed or panicy it triggers my seizures, and the intensity lasts for a few minutes, but the after effects are terrible, fidgity, disoriented, panicy, anxious, sweaty, dizzy, fake world, light headed, cant feel my body, tingling sensation, heavy tongue, etc....I am on keppra by the way.....Thease sensations can last the whole day on and off and differ in intensity, Can anyone share with me if the get similar feelings...Also has anyone who increase there dose of medication felt worse....After seizures to u suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and for how long.....Thank you in advance for your feed back

Comments

Re: Stress Trigger Sezures

Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Sun, 2010-05-02 - 10:51

 

 First of all, as you know, stress is a major trigger. Stress can trigger hyperventilation which can provoke seizures, especially absence seizures.  It can increase cortisol, known as “the stress hormone” because cortisol is secreted in higher levels during the body’s “fight or flight” response to stress.  And it’s responsible for several stress-related changes in the body which also may influence seizure activity.

Negative emotions related to stress, such as anger, worry or fright, may also cause seizures. This happens because the limbic system, the portion of the brain that regulates emotion, is one of the most common places for seizures to begin.  You’ll probably find that you have more seizures during or after periods of anxiety or stress.

As for the testing: You've already been diagnosed with TLE and many EEGs and MRIs are inconclusive.  For more information on various other testing options, go to:  Beyond EEGs…Diagnostic Tools for Epilepsy.

And finally, Keppra may not be the right drug for you.  For a comprehensive list of Keppra side effects, go to:  http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/keppra/keppra-side-effects-p2.html 

Fortunately, there are many other seizure medications that can be used as alternatives to Keppra.  For a (confusing ) list of possibilites see: http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/keppra/alternatives-to-keppra.html

Finally, keeping a daily diary of triggers, behaviors, occurances, physical and emotional feelings both during and after the seizures...might help your neurologist understand what you're going through.

I hope this helps!      Phylis Feiner Johnson    www.epilepsytalk.com

 

 

 First of all, as you know, stress is a major trigger. Stress can trigger hyperventilation which can provoke seizures, especially absence seizures.  It can increase cortisol, known as “the stress hormone” because cortisol is secreted in higher levels during the body’s “fight or flight” response to stress.  And it’s responsible for several stress-related changes in the body which also may influence seizure activity.

Negative emotions related to stress, such as anger, worry or fright, may also cause seizures. This happens because the limbic system, the portion of the brain that regulates emotion, is one of the most common places for seizures to begin.  You’ll probably find that you have more seizures during or after periods of anxiety or stress.

As for the testing: You've already been diagnosed with TLE and many EEGs and MRIs are inconclusive.  For more information on various other testing options, go to:  Beyond EEGs…Diagnostic Tools for Epilepsy.

And finally, Keppra may not be the right drug for you.  For a comprehensive list of Keppra side effects, go to:  http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/keppra/keppra-side-effects-p2.html 

Fortunately, there are many other seizure medications that can be used as alternatives to Keppra.  For a (confusing ) list of possibilites see: http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/keppra/alternatives-to-keppra.html

Finally, keeping a daily diary of triggers, behaviors, occurances, physical and emotional feelings both during and after the seizures...might help your neurologist understand what you're going through.

I hope this helps!      Phylis Feiner Johnson    www.epilepsytalk.com

 

Re: Stress Trigger Sezures

Submitted by dawnwinks on Mon, 2010-05-03 - 01:36
Hi, this sure sounds familiar. I also had TLE until I underwent right temporal lobectomy. Post ichtal i was dazed, heavy tongue, felt like I was in a different world and couldn't relate to my own body. Stress triggered my seizures as well including my menstral cycle, puberty, even chocholate and caffeine!!! I never really felt panicy because I was on klonopin which reduces anxieties and is an anticonvulsant. Klonopin helped reduce my spikes on my eeg and I guess helped my anxieties. Good luck!! If you want to talk further email me dawnwinks@aol.com

Re: Stress Trigger Sezures

Submitted by scott.allerdice on Mon, 2011-04-18 - 07:10

If you are in a situation that brings on strong emotions and feelings of stress, you may be more susceptible to a seizure. Feeling stressed can also lead to felling out of control, helpless or anxious. This can lead to a tendency to hyperventilate, which increases brain wave activity. This increase in breathing and brain wave activity can trigger a seizure. In studies published in the Archives of Neurology, patients who were prone to seizures showed increased electrical activity in the brain when they were hyperventilating. When monitored, these patients experienced more seizures during these periods.

Regards
Scott
veterinarian listing

If you are in a situation that brings on strong emotions and feelings of stress, you may be more susceptible to a seizure. Feeling stressed can also lead to felling out of control, helpless or anxious. This can lead to a tendency to hyperventilate, which increases brain wave activity. This increase in breathing and brain wave activity can trigger a seizure. In studies published in the Archives of Neurology, patients who were prone to seizures showed increased electrical activity in the brain when they were hyperventilating. When monitored, these patients experienced more seizures during these periods.

Regards
Scott
veterinarian listing

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