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seizures with periods
Tue, 08/16/2005 - 08:08Topic: Women With Epilepsy
Had a few questions and didn't know if anyone could help. Back in March I began taking Dexatrim diet pills. I was fine for about 10 days and when I got my period, I had my first 2 seizures. The first one happened around noon, my husband was home and he called for an ambulance. They took me to the hospital, ran tests and discharged me around 5:30. I came home and pretty much went to bed. Around 1:00 am I had another seizure, my husband took me back to the hospital and they admitted me. I was there for 2 days and they ran all kinds of tests. Everything came back ok and the neurologist blamed the pills. I didn't have any more seizures until last Tuesday night. We went to an amusement park, I took a Dramimine around 11am. We came home, I got my period, went to bed and around 5:30 am I had another seizure. I called my doctor and the neurologist. My doctor said to get the 6-hour EEG done. I have it scheduled. My neurologist called me last night and told me to get an EEG and MRI scheduled ASAP. I am in the process right now. Didn't know if anyone had any insight. I am a 36 year old woman, mother of 2 small children who never had any problems until March. Thanks for any insight.
Comments
Re: Re: Re: seizures with periods
Submitted by SunflowerPower on Mon, 2007-06-25 - 13:37
JE,
I have seriously increased seizures around my period and when starting a new birth control pill.
I now take a new kind of birth control pill, where I only have my period 4 times a year. I just started taking it last week. I had a very difficult time with seiuzres for the first few days that I took it, which is why I started taking it on the weekend, so I wouldn't miss work. Now that my body has adjusted to it, I feel just fine, and look foward to not having a period for a few months.
As far as I'm aware there is no health reason to have a period at all, if you're not trying to get pregnant.
I urge you all to to consider it. You can learn more at this website...
http://www.seasonale.com/
Re: Re: seizures with periods
Submitted by suzanne32 on Wed, 2007-07-18 - 16:35
hi there
I just got my period...and I think i had a seizure today. Ive never had one before, but i was at work feeling sick...i am on effexor for anxiety and recently reduced my dosage (3 days ago) its common to
have withdrawl problems, so i thought id just drive home.
3 minutes later in the car, i began hyper-ventilating and got all tingly in the hands and feet (typical of hyper-ventilating) BUT then my hands began to cramp up...They folded up so tightly with my fingers like claws pointing into my forearms, i could barely turn the steering wheel...then, my feet began to cramp, then my face! I looked in the mirror and was pannic struck when I saw my face looked like I'd had a stroke! I was shaking, not convulsing but quivering...and very sweaty.
I barely made it up to my apartment..i couldnt open my hand to unlock the doors...when i got inside i was still cramped up, but within 5 mins it was over. I guess it was abbout a 15 minute ordeal.
Scarriest thing ever! I think it was a withdrawal symptom, but when you mentioned your period I remembered that I had just got my period.
Has anyone heard of a seizure like this? I read about them and didn't find a type that described the cramping. my muscles still hurt.
any input? Thanks!
Re: Re: seizures with periods
Submitted by JE1993 on Mon, 2007-06-25 - 13:17
First time on this site. I was diagnosed when I was 14. I had been seizure free for almost 2 years this past January, but then I had one. Grand mal. I am pretty sure that it was due to lack of sleep on my part. This June I was almost at 6 months free and then last week I had one. I had never thought about the connection between my periods and seizures. Still not sure if I can say that is it since I know lack of sleep is one of my triggers, but in Jan. my Dr. increased my dosage to 500mg Lamictal and I started getting my period about 2x each month. I am embarrased to say I didn't really think about it until my next ob/gyn visit. After complaining about the irregularity of my cycle to my Gyno, he put me on FemCon birth control. 3 days after starting my next period and using the birth control for the first time I had a seizure. Could the birth control actually do anything so fast? I am just so frustrated. I keep telling myself that things could be so much worse, but sometimes I just want to scream. The slightest twitch and I start to get nervous. I yawn and I keep thinking did I get enough sleep, and now I have to worry about my period too? I hate being a pity party, but I really just feel like crying sometimes. I have had the MRI etc in the last year and they can't find anything wrong. On one hand I am happy that there isn't anything life threatening, on the other, I almost wish they would find something so there was a chance of fixing it and not just controling it.