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seizures and heart problems???

Mon, 08/09/2010 - 13:35
I am on Keppra xr and vimpat and I have been having pressure in my chest and wierd heart beats like my heart is beating real hard sometimes. I am now having to get tests done for my heart and everything has came out normal so far. The heart problems are getting worse. I think they are anxiety but my mom has some heart condition and of course I can't remember the name of it but it is genetic. Can seizures cause heart problems or what? I don't understand all this and am confused. Im also taking Lexapro but shouldn't that help anxiety? Does anyone else have this same problem? Im now starting to get pains in my chest like if I have real bad indigestion sometimes they come without the indigestion.

Comments

Re: seizures and heart problems???

Submitted by candysb on Thu, 2010-08-12 - 01:37

O wow, thanks a bunch Im on a heart moniter right now and I hate it. Oh well life goes on.

thanks Angel Baby.

O wow, thanks a bunch Im on a heart moniter right now and I hate it. Oh well life goes on.

thanks Angel Baby.

Re: seizures and heart problems???

Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Thu, 2010-08-12 - 04:14
Hi Candysb, Do you mean the set of syndromes often associated with Long QT Disorders? In my very early childhood, my "like a dead body" phase would happen just before physical movements like a seizure. From most of the descriptions from witnesses, these were likely from some type of Long QT Disorder. They probably easily resulted in minor brain damage that then resulted in my Temporal Lobe Epilepsy of simple partial seizures until a decade or so later, then kindled into seizures closer to complex partial categories. The types of seizures with Long QT Syndromes are not necessarily epileptic seizures, but also include cardiogenic syncope, reflex anoxic seizure, reflex asystolic syncope, and/or convulsive vasovagal syncope. Frequent, severe and long such seizure/syncope can lead to brain damage that soon is the origin of epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures also mess up my heart rate. In numerous instances, secondary tonic-clonics ending would stop my heart or make my pulse undetectable, and CPR would be applied. Other times, my heart would start to beat too fast, until my pulse would cease despite quickly un-rhythmic fast heartbeats, till my heart stops, and soon starts back up after a pause of a minute or so. I don't know if CPR actually helps, but I'm not totally dead yet. Some journal articles mentions that the heart has a mass of neurological tissue that could be considered to be the heart's own "mini-brain" where Long QT Disorders are often centered at, with cross-connections to the brain stem. Some articles note that Long-QT can cause epilepsy and can easily be confused with epilepsy: http://www.theheart.org/article/989905.do Since epilepsy can cause death, it can also cause heart damage. Tadzio

Re: seizures and heart problems???

Submitted by candysb on Thu, 2010-08-12 - 09:34

Hi 3Hours

Thanks Ill check that out. I have been tested for Syncope and it came out neg. but of course I wasn't having problems at the time. Ive had epilepsy for 20 years but this heart thing is new so I guess the stress from the seizures maybe is a factor.

Thanks again Candace

Hi 3Hours

Thanks Ill check that out. I have been tested for Syncope and it came out neg. but of course I wasn't having problems at the time. Ive had epilepsy for 20 years but this heart thing is new so I guess the stress from the seizures maybe is a factor.

Thanks again Candace

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