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This is my second time trying to post so out this is a repeat please excuse. I was recently diagnosed with seizures. I had some difficulties while driving. I got ill three days in a rowv while driving my car. .. headache, nausea...on the fourth day I had the same thing while driving but hit some mailboxes and felt drunk. I don't drink. Mri cat scan normal...but abnormal eeg. I beleive co poisoning but the hospital didn't do blood gasses...I don't want to take anti seizure meds but they say I need to. I haven't had any problems since and seem to be very sensitive to side effects. My neurologist won't listen...suggestions please?

Comments

Re: help

Submitted by schnorbits on Tue, 2013-02-12 - 22:21

Hi. Was just wondering if it was the same time of day that you were driving when you were feeling nauseous etc? Was it through trees when the sun was going down or coming up? Just curious as I know this can affect some people, i.e. the 'flashing' effect of the sunlight. If you are unhappy with your diagnosis the best thing to do is to find another neurologist and have another EEG and get that second opinion. Glad your MRI & CT come back normal. EEG's are a completely different test. EEG's pick up on brain waves whether you are having a seizure at the time or not. They can come back as abnormal even if you haven't haven't had a seizure in years. Do some research on them, and learn about the way they work. If you are unhappy with your diagnosis the best thing to do is to find another neurologist and have another EEG and get that second opinion. Epilepsy presents itself differently in everyone who has it. My seizures are different to anyone else that my neuro has seen in the last 30 years! It's never easy to deal with the diagnosis of epilepsy & being told you can't drive. It feels like you have been smacked in the face & suddenly have lost all of your independence. Please let us know how you go. There is a lot of support on this site. Never feel like you are alone no matter what!!! (It's always OK to vent if you need to!!) Sarah

Re: help

Submitted by lesshadow on Tue, 2013-02-12 - 21:40

Ok...perhaps you aren't understanding. I didn't have seizures. I got ill three days in a row driving my car. On the fourth day I got somewhat altered. I made it from point a to point b...have no neurological history but because of this my Doctor sent me to a Neurologist...I had a slightly abnormal eeg and am now diagnosed with a seizure disorder. I have never had difficulties except in that specific car. I am not driving as I am respecting the wishes of my doctor but am not having seizures either. I wondered if it was common to jump to a seizure diagnosis. I have told the Drs that the only time I was affected was in THAT car but no one listens. It is frustrating. I was hoping someone here would understand or have some experience with what to do with doctors who rush to diagnosis with incomplete information.

Re: help

Submitted by tcameron on Thu, 2013-02-14 - 01:39

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S. after migraine, stroke, and Alheimer's disease. It's prevalence is greater than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. Despite how common it is and major advances in diagnosis and treatment, epilepsy is among the least understood of major chronic medical conditions, even through one in three adults knows someone with the disorder.

Don't stop taking this medication until your neurologist tells you its okay. It could cause status epilepticus, which could kill you. Call your neurologist's office and tell them you refuse to take your prescription because you hate the side effects. You'll get a prescription change ASAP! (When I was first diagnosed, the side effects were horrible, so I decided to stop. I called my neurologist's office and told the nurse. My neurologist changed my prescription that day!)

The fact that your EEG came back abnormal is enough reason to put you on antiseizure medication. This website has a lot of information about this. Since your neurologist won't listen to you about your side effects, please find one who will. Every brain is different and nobody knows your body better than you do. A lot of neurologists think they know more than you, but they don't. Some people have horrible reactions to one drug, while others can take them. There are several other anti seizure medications that won't have the same side effects. It might just mean a different prescription or trying several different ones until you can find one that won't produce side effects.

None of us want to have a seizure disorder, but we do. It's not so bad, especially if your seizures can be controlled completely. Taking medication is an extremely small price to pay to get your driver's license back.... I hope your seizures are controlled, but some of us don't have control, even with medication. Please check the videos on this site regarding 'Seizure Medication' and 'Understanding Epilepsy.' Good luck!

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S. after migraine, stroke, and Alheimer's disease.  It's prevalence is greater than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined.  Despite how common it is and major advances in diagnosis and treatment, epilepsy is among the least understood of major chronic medical conditions, even through one in three adults knows someone with the disorder. Don't stop taking this medication until your neurologist tells you its okay.  It could cause status epilepticus, which could kill you.  Call your neurologist's office and tell them you refuse to take your prescription because you hate the side effects.  You'll get a prescription change ASAP!  (When I was first diagnosed, the side effects were horrible, so I decided to stop.  I called my neurologist's office and told the nurse.  My neurologist changed my prescription that day!)  The fact that your EEG came back abnormal is enough reason to put you on antiseizure medication. This website has a lot of information about this. Since your neurologist won't listen to you about your side effects, please find one who will.  Every brain is different and nobody knows your body better than you do.  A lot of neurologists think they know more than you, but they don't.  Some people have horrible reactions to one drug, while others can take them.  There are several other anti seizure medications that won't have the same side effects.  It might just mean a different prescription or trying several different ones until you can find one that won't produce side effects.    None of us want to have a seizure disorder, but we do.  It's not so bad, especially if your seizures can be controlled completely.  Taking medication is an extremely small price to pay to get your driver's license back....  I hope your seizures are controlled, but some of us don't have control, even with medication.  Please check the videos on this site regarding 'Seizure Medication' and 'Understanding Epilepsy.'  Good luck!  

Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S. after migraine, stroke, and Alheimer's disease. It's prevalence is greater than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. Despite how common it is and major advances in diagnosis and treatment, epilepsy is among the least understood of major chronic medical conditions, even through one in three adults knows someone with the disorder.

Don't stop taking this medication until your neurologist tells you its okay. It could cause status epilepticus, which could kill you. Call your neurologist's office and tell them you refuse to take your prescription because you hate the side effects. You'll get a prescription change ASAP! (When I was first diagnosed, the side effects were horrible, so I decided to stop. I called my neurologist's office and told the nurse. My neurologist changed my prescription that day!)

The fact that your EEG came back abnormal is enough reason to put you on antiseizure medication. This website has a lot of information about this. Since your neurologist won't listen to you about your side effects, please find one who will. Every brain is different and nobody knows your body better than you do. A lot of neurologists think they know more than you, but they don't. Some people have horrible reactions to one drug, while others can take them. There are several other anti seizure medications that won't have the same side effects. It might just mean a different prescription or trying several different ones until you can find one that won't produce side effects.

None of us want to have a seizure disorder, but we do. It's not so bad, especially if your seizures can be controlled completely. Taking medication is an extremely small price to pay to get your driver's license back.... I hope your seizures are controlled, but some of us don't have control, even with medication. Please check the videos on this site regarding 'Seizure Medication' and 'Understanding Epilepsy.' Good luck!

Comments

Re: help

Submitted by schnorbits on Tue, 2013-02-12 - 22:21

Re: help

Submitted by lesshadow on Tue, 2013-02-12 - 21:40

Re: help

Submitted by tcameron on Thu, 2013-02-14 - 01:39

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