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ice pick headaches and seizures

Sun, 07/28/2013 - 22:14
I started having these extremely sharp pains in my head as if I was being stabbed. I was concerned at the time because the were starting to be more painful and more frequent over several weeks and I all I could think of was that I might have a blood clot in the brain. I eventually had several grand-mal seizures back-to-back that hospitalized me and I have no memory of half that day. After testing by my neuro. (CT scan, MRI, Eeg, act.) I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was on Dilantin for about 2 years that kept everything under control except abscent seizures and bad balance issues. My neuro now has me on keppra (750 mg, twice a day) to help control my balance problems because it was getting out of control, some people even asked if I was drunk while I was at work. Now these ice pick headaches are occurring again I eventually had a small seizure which I blacked out and had memory loss. I really don,t have any warning signs that I am going to have a seizure other than these painful stabs in my head, once I start having them frequently I will have the calm before the storm cliche. I won't have any for 2-3 days and they will hit me with a vengeance for a day or 2 then I will have seizure. From what I have read these ice pick headaches are not associated with epilepsy at all but they are my extremely painful sign that I will be having a seizure soon. Every time I have them a seizure follows once they are very frequent. I don't get these headaches except when I start this 2-3 week cycle that ends up in a seizure. My question is there anybody else experiencing these icepick headaches like me that leads up to seizures or know of any good articlesto follow up on this matter? Thanks, Derrick

Comments

Re: ice pick headaches and seizures

Submitted by Stanstedy on Sun, 2013-11-10 - 21:47

These sound like auras before the seizures. Some doc may tell you they are migraines. I have had the similar stabbing headach pain plus a very sensitive scalp tingling; a day later came the simple partial seizure. I have had epilepsy since 1969. Various headach pain relievers help just some; the best thing when it gets to being 48 hours is to avoid any mental stimulation, coffee and rest in  a dark room. Actually I have had one now for about two days. My family notices I am out of it but trying to take a nap is difficult.

Prayer does help.

Best wishes on getting better.

Stanstedy

These sound like auras before the seizures. Some doc may tell you they are migraines. I have had the similar stabbing headach pain plus a very sensitive scalp tingling; a day later came the simple partial seizure. I have had epilepsy since 1969. Various headach pain relievers help just some; the best thing when it gets to being 48 hours is to avoid any mental stimulation, coffee and rest in  a dark room. Actually I have had one now for about two days. My family notices I am out of it but trying to take a nap is difficult.

Prayer does help.

Best wishes on getting better.

Stanstedy

Re: ice pick headaches and seizures

Submitted by Aimee2532 on Mon, 2013-11-11 - 10:49
I have them also, but they only last a second or 2. Pain is so bad that I can't even think of what it would be like if it lasted any longer. I had a frontal lobe brain tumor removed in 2007 always thought it was because of that. Truth is I really don't know why I get them.

Re: ice pick headaches and seizures

Submitted by 9livecat on Mon, 2013-11-18 - 11:22

Dr.Sanjay Gupta did a report on migraines for cnn. the ice pick headaches made me vomit and i would see blinding bright lites/couldn't see and was afraid of going blind.i discovered running helps keep em to a minimum as for  the epilepsy run in the zone watch your breathing don't hyperventilate and watch your sodium level-if that drops too low it'll trigger a seizure.sounds like you know their frequency level mine are monthly.have you checked what you eat.msg makes me sick. msg free is easier diet to follow than gluten free.

i hope it helps you and that you feel better soon.there's lots of help here on this site.epilepsy is just a challenge don't let it eat you alive.

Dr.Sanjay Gupta did a report on migraines for cnn. the ice pick headaches made me vomit and i would see blinding bright lites/couldn't see and was afraid of going blind.i discovered running helps keep em to a minimum as for  the epilepsy run in the zone watch your breathing don't hyperventilate and watch your sodium level-if that drops too low it'll trigger a seizure.sounds like you know their frequency level mine are monthly.have you checked what you eat.msg makes me sick. msg free is easier diet to follow than gluten free.

i hope it helps you and that you feel better soon.there's lots of help here on this site.epilepsy is just a challenge don't let it eat you alive.

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