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Does Epilepsy Get Worse With Aging?
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 01:29Hi All,
First, I should explain that I have been diagnosed nearly twenty years ago with JME, and that it originates in my Occipital Lobe. I experience tonic-clonic, myoclonic jerks, as well as absence seizures. I stopped taking my medications regularly in October last year - and about a month ago - actually, yes - exactly a month ago, had a tonic-clonic. I will not be skipping out on meds because they're expensive anymore.
Since I've recovered, and by now my meds are up to level - I am still having myoclonic jerks as well as some issues with my eyes (my doc, who is one of the best - thinks they are likely myoclonic jerks in my eyes due to the occipital lobe origin of my epilepsy). So we've upped the ante and I'm now taking an extra dose of the meds.
I went from taking 100mg Zonisamide + .5mg Klonopin in morning and at bedtime (worked like a charm for YEARS) - to now having to add a midday dose of 100mg Zonisamide. It's only been two days of the extra dose.
Today, I experienced my first myoclonic jerk in my right hand ever (and they've been happening there the better part of the day) - they always happen on the left. Then in the afternoon, I had a weird visualization (like when you rub your eyes and see bright floaters) of bright lines and shapes - all the while smelling something yucky. I couldn't shake the vision and at the same time I was aware of my surroundings - but having my eyes open was "painful".
I'm just wondering if this was a seizure? And why the hell am I having more now than ever? I used to be a serious party girl - you would think I would have had them then?!
Does anyone know - as we age can/should we expect our epilepsy to get worse/decline - seizures to escalate or move to other parts of the brain?
Thanks for any stories/info you can share!
Tara
Comments
Re: Does Epilepsy Get Worse With Aging?
Submitted by abcfruman on Tue, 2012-02-28 - 21:30
WOW...Im looking forward to menopause now.lol
Re: Does Epilepsy Get Worse With Aging?
Submitted by 3Hours2Live on Mon, 2010-03-22 - 05:42
Hi Tara,
Generally, seizures that continue regularly through adolescence into adulthood, become worse with age. Migraine headaches also become much more likely with epilepsy in early adulthood, and it is often difficult to differentiate between the aura with migraines versus the aura with seizures, except the effects with migraines typically last longer than a few minutes, while the aura of seizures are shorter.
One class of seizures that is sometimes regarded as "going away" is catamenial epilepsy, but this has lately been associated with a return to the archaic/barbaric notion of genital mutilation as a "cure" for epilepsy for both females and males. (google "epilepsy genital mutilation" for the "modern" medical practice that is "forbidden knowledge," but still widely practiced, and gaining in frequency in the Western World).
One explanation for seizures getting worse is the controversial notion of "kindling," in that seizures damage neighbouring areas in the brain, which has been verified in animals, but rejected as applying to humans. Yet, most neurologists argue that seizures must be prevented or controlled, instead of just tolerated, to prevent this "expanding" brain damage, while they reject the notion. Add to this "Forced Normalization" (the old usage with psychosis, instead of the new limit of just "depression"), and the two sides of neuro and psychiatry both "hit the fan."
Tadzio
Re: Does Epilepsy Get Worse With Aging?
Submitted by tara michelucci on Sun, 2010-03-21 - 15:32
Well, I guess there's an upside to that phase of life then! Thanks for getting back to me. I appreciate everyone's insights and sharing of their experiences.