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Seizure or spell?
Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:00Ok..I am 62 yrs old. I started having seizures around Sept-Oct 2010. After wearing an ambulatory EEG for 3 days, the neuro said there was a lot of activity in the frontal lobes. He diagnosed Complex Partial seizures. I don't remember the meds he gave me but I was still having seizures. After a few months I changed to a different neurologist and after another 3 day ambulatory, he saw no activity. He started me on zonagram.. still having seizures. Changed to Topamax (really? I'm suppose to function on this med.) He started another med..don't remember but I have info somewhere. Now I'm on Lamictal and clonazepam. I also take Lyrica.
After all the above information..this is my typical "spell" I can feel the "buzz" coming on. My head drops and I'm unable to move. I can hear and know what is going on but not able to respond. This goes on from 5 mins to 45 mins. Afterwards, I have a headache and go to sleep for 3-5 hours. The next day you would think I was intoxicated and that usually last one or two days. Dr finally gave up and set up an appointment with a seizure specialist at Emory which is about 2 week away. Usually I have these right after month end close out where I work 10 & 12 hour days for about 4 days. Now I'm extremely worried about my job. I have been working from home since Oct 2010 and now out of the blue they want me to come into the office. Really?? I can't drive but they want me in the office? After I email the letter regarding the appt with specialist they decided to wait until after the July appt. Guess they didn't believe I was still having seizures. Now they are coming more and I'm sure it's from the stress regarding work. They have no empathy of what I am going through. They do for others who are going thru chemo or another worker with lupus but me... no concern, no trust, no understanding. I also apologize for length of this post. Are these real seizures or spells or body and brain shutting down?
Dotti
Comments
Re: Seizure or spell?
Submitted by tonialpha on Fri, 2012-07-13 - 16:35
I agree no apology necessary!
I have had seizures since 13 and I will 59 this year. Gee that came fast. I have tried almost all the meds.
I have had bad reactions too. From anaphylaxis to hallucinations. Topamax I hallucinated on. Other meds I had skin reations to. Valporic Acid worked well for a year and suddenly I started to have more seizures.
Each patient is different. I got nauseated on other medication.
I am on Keppra XR, Zonegran, Klonopin and Ativan for continual seizures. I have had 2 brain surgeries. I also have had a VNS which has helped.
I worked in the health care field and had to go on disability. I have a healthy family but health gets in the way at times and sometimes is frustrating.
I agree no apology necessary!
I have had seizures since 13 and I will 59 this year. Gee that came fast. I have tried almost all the meds.
I have had bad reactions too. From anaphylaxis to hallucinations. Topamax I hallucinated on. Other meds I had skin reations to. Valporic Acid worked well for a year and suddenly I started to have more seizures.
Each patient is different. I got nauseated on other medication.
I am on Keppra XR, Zonegran, Klonopin and Ativan for continual seizures. I have had 2 brain surgeries. I also have had a VNS which has helped.
I worked in the health care field and had to go on disability. I have a healthy family but health gets in the way at times and sometimes is frustrating.
Re: Seizure or spell?
Submitted by Dotti on Fri, 2012-07-13 - 17:05
Thanks so much for sharing. This is so frustrating. Thank goodness I have a very understanding husband and family. Some times I think our bodies get use to the meds and just quit working sooo let's try another med. I think in somes cases it's not the drug that needs changing but the lifestyle causing the stress that triggers the seizures. I am anxious to learn what Emory finds but scared also. I hate the unknown.
Thanks so much for sharing. This is so frustrating. Thank goodness I have a very understanding husband and family. Some times I think our bodies get use to the meds and just quit working sooo let's try another med. I think in somes cases it's not the drug that needs changing but the lifestyle causing the stress that triggers the seizures. I am anxious to learn what Emory finds but scared also. I hate the unknown.
Re: Seizure or spell?
Submitted by teachergreen on Fri, 2012-07-13 - 14:53
Questioning myself during some spells. Where I hear voices in my head telling me how to handle situations or just make a verbal "comeback". These voices come from my mom, people I've known, religion and the confusion is trying to tell myself to be sensible. Maybe sensiblity is a part of humans that gets "thinner" less strong as we age.
I write in a journal and and when I go back and read what I've written laugh half the time at why I did what I did. Didn't do what I could've done. Maybe this is part of feeling confidence. I believe I can keep confidence if I aspire to move on. Been thinking I can teach music more often out of my home. I play the guitar and a little piano. Am teaching the little girl next door the guitar. This I don't charge for and consider this my "teacher training"
to pull my resources together and plan my strategies. This is so fun for me feel like I still got a head up there.
Maybe I could even do counseling: Have a degree in psychology but have never pursude this path. Still believe in life has many paths and I'm not ready to die. Even though a while back I had a vision of dying. Very visual and scary.
Questioning myself during some spells. Where I hear voices in my head telling me how to handle situations or just make a verbal "comeback". These voices come from my mom, people I've known, religion and the confusion is trying to tell myself to be sensible. Maybe sensiblity is a part of humans that gets "thinner" less strong as we age.
I write in a journal and and when I go back and read what I've written laugh half the time at why I did what I did. Didn't do what I could've done. Maybe this is part of feeling confidence. I believe I can keep confidence if I aspire to move on. Been thinking I can teach music more often out of my home. I play the guitar and a little piano. Am teaching the little girl next door the guitar. This I don't charge for and consider this my "teacher training"
to pull my resources together and plan my strategies. This is so fun for me feel like I still got a head up there.
Maybe I could even do counseling: Have a degree in psychology but have never pursude this path. Still believe in life has many paths and I'm not ready to die. Even though a while back I had a vision of dying. Very visual and scary.