Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Epilepsy and Memory Loss
Sun, 10/08/2006 - 19:36Topic: Women With Epilepsy
I'm brand new to this forum. Looking it over, I don't see my major problem & don't have much info about it. I have lost alot of my memory & it supposedly is because of seizures. I have been on Neurontin since I had some blackouts, which I guess are called Absence Seizures. I just blank out & my eyes get glassy.
I want to know if the memory loss & "feeling weird" are the result of having Epilepsy, or could they be from meds? I also take Effexor XR for depression. I tried to go off that when I thought maybe I'd been mistakenly diagosed with depression before they realized I have Epilepsy. That resulted in some very bad mental & emotional health problems. I'm taking both now, & the memory loss & (sometimes)weird feelings persist. Anyone out there know anything about these issues?
Comments
Re: Re: Re: Re: Good luck Seizuregirl. Let
Submitted by chances on Mon, 2007-10-15 - 12:28
Just recently been diagnosed after the EEG showed seizure activity. Simple partial is what they're calling it. I was having the "aura" and deja vous type and wasn't sure if I was imagining it until they started getting stronger and more frequent. I'm on anti seizure meds now and my neurologist has booked an MRI hoping he can pin point the area and do surgery. I'm not as enthusiastic about the surgery as he is!My memory wasn't great to start with and now I feel like an idiot most the time and get words all mixed up.Family had a good laugh when I told them I was going out to "phone" the horses last night. Glad I have my horses I think when people are dealing with stress animals are the best therapy.
Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss
Submitted by Jennie on Mon, 2006-10-23 - 20:46
Hi Terri,
I understand what you're talking about... I am 25 years old and had my first seizures at age 13 (i had the blankout seizures that you mention aswell as the full on seizures). Since then my memory has pretty much packed up and gone on vacation. I have virtually no memory prior to the age of 13 and what I can remember seems to be made up memories of things people have told me. I don't think it has got worse over the years but I'm definitely more aware of it now and at times it is very embarrassing to have to ask 3 or 4 times something that you have already been told. Atleast a few times a month I get this incredibly strange feeling over me that is too strange to describe - more often than not I can associate this with stress/lack of sleep, so that is the only thing that I can recommend to help keep this all at arms length; or maybe see what is happening in your life at the time to find 'your cause'. I have tried to find bits and pieces to read about it, but there doesn't seem to be much definitive stuff out there, and I think this is because everyone is different.
I know that prior to Epilepsy I had an over the top fabulous memory and was in the top 1% of my age group in the country academically. After I got epilepsy I could hardly remember anything in exams anymore and my schooling declined steadily over the years.
I hope knowing that others feel the same may have helped - it can sometimes be very lonely.
Re: Re: Re: Good luck Seizuregirl. Let
Submitted by equine_luver on Wed, 2006-10-25 - 19:27
Lately I've been praying about the weird feelings and the past two days I hae felt awesome, no freaking out or anything! thats exciting! yeah we have 11 horses, and we have 2 here for training. Since I can't work or go to college (i'm 18) i've been giving a friend riding lessons and training their horses. (technically I'm not supposed to be riding, but really I'm less likely to have a sz on a horse, I love riding) I woud like to get into barrel racing, just need to get the right horse. Half of them are miniatures. we've had horses since i was 10 so almost 9 years. we live in Indiana. Nichole