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Age 59 and scheduled for my first EEG

Thu, 11/09/2006 - 00:16
Hi, My name is Mari(Mary) I am new to this forum. I just had my first appointment with my Neuro on Tues. Am scheduled for EEG on the 15th. Here is my story. On Oct. 17 at around 6:00am, I was starting to make our bed. All of a sudden the lights went out and I don't remember anything until 30 min later. My husband called the ambulance and my medical Dr. order a CT scan. She claimed I had a stroke, although there really was no evidence of it. I don't remember anything from the blackout until the hospital. I have had a couple of flashbacks, but that is all. I fell and when my husband came into the room I had one arm in the air and trembling, foamy stuff coming out of my mouth, and wide open, and my eyes were fixed and body very rigid. I scared him to death. I had 3 different episodes. one on Sunday evening, one Monday am and one Monday evening. It was like this black fog started at my head and and continued through my body. I never lost consciousness but would hear voices, which weren't the ones around me, and they sounded like someone I should know or something I had heard before, but couldn't sort it out. This would happened until it passed through my body and then I would be very tired. When these first started they were scarey and then they almost seem to have a pleasant feel for a moment then fear sets in. I had taken care of our grandchildren and the baby, 6 mo., didn't sleep well the night before. I probably only had 3 hour sleep. I had not been sleeping well all week and the stress level I was under with our business was pretty high. Once I had the first one of these, I realized that it was the same thing that had happen about 4 years earlier. I kinda shoved in under the rug and forgot about them. My question is: Is it possible to start having epilepsy at my age, or do you think I maybe had it and didn't realize some of the stuff I experience in my earlier years as seizures. I had several of the lying in bed and couldn't talk or move, but could see. Like I was paralzed. These happened when I was in my 30's. I always thought it was because I caught myself just as I was falling a sleep. Just needing answers and support. I am so glad it was not a stroke, as I can live with the seizures with meds, but you never know when the next stroke will take you. What sucks is not being able to drive for 6 mo., but I will deal with it. I just don't want to go through the big one again. It was so frightening to wake up in the hospital and not know why you are there and realize how much time had passed. Oh, and I forgot to mention, my youngest daughter has epilepsy, but has not had a seizure for about 15 years. She is not on meds now. Thanks for anything you all can add.

Comments

Re: Re: Re: Re: Age 59 and scheduled for my first EEG

Submitted by mrich on Mon, 2006-11-13 - 13:11
Thanks for responding! I have found this site great for the info. I have been reading everything I can find. After reading, I think that I have had some of these problems for awhile. I guess my parents didn't see it as unusal and as a matter of fact me too. The Neuro called it a generalized Tonic/Clonic seizure. I hope I never have one like it again. Everytime I get a little dizzy, I get worried. Wed is my EEG and I have to sleep only half of what I normally sleep. We have an hour and 45 min drive to the dr. DH is concerned that I will have one on the way if sleep is a trigger. I'll be fine. It will just be good to find out what it is and of course I realize it may be negative. Hopefully I will find a med that works for me. Are there some that cause weight gain. I just lost 60lb about 21/2 years ago and don't want to gain it back. I know some meds will do that. Thanks for responding and sorry for the blank post. I hit the wrong button. LOL Mari

Re: Age 59 and scheduled for my first EEG

Submitted by sdtaylor on Fri, 2009-11-13 - 22:53

Hi, I woke up in the ambulance after having my first seizure in July at the age of 52!  Since then the doctor has suggested that l have lesions on the right side of my brain that may have been forming for a long time.  I don't know; he wants to know if anyone ever told me I had "zoned out" and I can't really remember that happening.  It is scary to be this age and suddenly begin having seizures.  I can tell that the doctors are not sure what caused the big one I had in July.  I know just how you feel.  I am having trouble dealing with not being able to to drive, also.

Sheila

Hi, I woke up in the ambulance after having my first seizure in July at the age of 52!  Since then the doctor has suggested that l have lesions on the right side of my brain that may have been forming for a long time.  I don't know; he wants to know if anyone ever told me I had "zoned out" and I can't really remember that happening.  It is scary to be this age and suddenly begin having seizures.  I can tell that the doctors are not sure what caused the big one I had in July.  I know just how you feel.  I am having trouble dealing with not being able to to drive, also.

Sheila

Hi Mari & welcome

Submitted by solis on Mon, 2006-11-13 - 14:33
Hi Mari & welcome too! RE:"...I had one arm in the air and trembling, foamy stuff coming out of my mouth, and wide open, and my eyes were fixed and body very rigid." Look under (physical) seizure symptoms: http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_symptom.html Look under 'Motor Seizures" http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_simplepartial.html See page: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_secondgeneralized.html vs Tonic Clonic http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_tonicclonic.html RE: "I never lost consciousness but would hear voices, which weren't the ones around me, and they sounded like someone I should know or something I had heard before": Look under Psychic Seizures: http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_simplepartial.html RE: "This would happened until it passed through my body and then I would be very tired." Check out post ictal (ictal = seizure) sensations (under 'physical') http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_symptom.html RE:"Is it possible to start having epilepsy at my age, or do you think I maybe had it and didn't realize some of the stuff I experience in my earlier years as seizures" "New cases of epilepsy are most common among children, especially during the first year of life. The rate of new cases gradually declines until about age 10, and then becomes stable. After age 55 or 60, the rate starts to increase, as people develop strokes, brain tumors, or Alzheimer's disease. (All of these disorders can cause epilepsy.)" http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_who.html As for your seizures being generalized; they might be but the one where you fell could also be a secondary generalized partial as opposed to a tonic clonic generalized seizure. IMO only tests can tell the real story. hope that helps.. best of luck with the testing ~sol

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