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Short-term memory loss post- seizure

Sat, 06/04/2005 - 14:56
Please, does anyone identify with this problem?My son, 21yo now, has always found that after a seizure he has no memory of the past 2-6 hours preceding the seizure.e.g. went out to tea with his friend to celebrate their anniversary and had a seizure later that night. The following day he could not remember anything of that evening from when I had dropped him at her place at 6.30pm. Still doesn't till this day 2yrs later. (by all accounts they had a lovely time..)He finds this aspect of his condition the most upsetting. This is just one of many examples. My heart aches seeing the sad look on his face as we piece together his movements on a particular day.This doesn't help when trying to identify auras etc. either as he doesn't remember.Does anyone find this happens to you?I have read many posts about memory in general and see this in him too, but not seen much about this other aspect.Thanks for your time,Maryanne.

Comments

RE: RE: RE: Short-term memory loss post- seizure

Submitted by txrhb1 on Sun, 2005-06-05 - 11:10

Hi everyone -

I was diagnosed with epilepsy about 2 years ago.  Recently, I went to an epileptologist, and she has really educated me on seizures and reactions.  Here is what she told me about memory loss:

Temporal lobe seizures can cause both long-term and short-term memory loss.  Specifically, if the seizures affect the hippocampus part of the brain.  One side of the hippocampus controls short term memory, and the other controls long term memory (I'm sorry I don't remember which side controls what).  What this means is that short-term memory loss should indicate to your neuro, where in the brain the seizure is beginning and what part of the brain is being affected.  By knowing this, they should be able to prescribe a medication that specifically helps TLE and the type of seizures you have.

By no means am I an expert, just repeating what my doctor told me.  However, I would ask the doctor about this, and if you don't get good answers, consider finding an epileptologist who specializes.  I know it has helped me!

Best wishes,
Barbie

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone -

I was diagnosed with epilepsy about 2 years ago.  Recently, I went to an epileptologist, and she has really educated me on seizures and reactions.  Here is what she told me about memory loss:

Temporal lobe seizures can cause both long-term and short-term memory loss.  Specifically, if the seizures affect the hippocampus part of the brain.  One side of the hippocampus controls short term memory, and the other controls long term memory (I'm sorry I don't remember which side controls what).  What this means is that short-term memory loss should indicate to your neuro, where in the brain the seizure is beginning and what part of the brain is being affected.  By knowing this, they should be able to prescribe a medication that specifically helps TLE and the type of seizures you have.

By no means am I an expert, just repeating what my doctor told me.  However, I would ask the doctor about this, and if you don't get good answers, consider finding an epileptologist who specializes.  I know it has helped me!

Best wishes,
Barbie

 

 

 

 

RE: RE: RE: RE: Short-term memory loss post- seizure

Submitted by yannie44 on Sun, 2005-06-05 - 18:41
Thanks everyone and please jump on whenever you want!It's nice being able to talk to people who understand. I have felt kind of alone in all this except for the occassional 10 min consultation with a doc and then you're on your own til next time.My husband is a sweetheart but trusts all docs and what they say therefore any querying is up to me. My son just wishes it would all go away. He had his first EEG age 12 and refers to himself as 'the lab rat'.He has a great sense of humour but I can see the depression creeping back in and that concerns me more than anything.We are seeing an epileptologist on Thursday, so fingers crossed.Smiles and thanks, M.A.

Re: RE: RE: RE: RE: Short-term memory loss post- seizure

Submitted by tbaldwin on Fri, 2011-01-07 - 14:21
I've had uncontrolled complex-partial seizures when 17 y.o. in '74, in '96 had an unsuccessful surgery, it didn't stop or reduce seizures, but; it did create verbal-memory loss. Been on over 25 medicines and feel like a guinea pig. When I had my first two seizures I just began to smoke pot and drink beer. Then after being dianosed I was put on drugs for 36 years. That I keep trying over and over, maybe I should just stop it. Drug use caused the first ones, maybe drug use keeps them happening.     

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