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19yr ols son with poss epilepsy
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 09:22hi i'm new here and looking for reassurance/help.
let me start by saying i don't know where to get advice! my son is profoundly deaf and has suffered from horrific migraines which began 2 years ago.they are more or less under control now-he takes amiltryptiline,a small dose of topamax and also took small dose of epilim as a form of anti- migraine treatment.
but then last july he had what we term a seizure.he stood up,stretched and yawned then dropped to the floor and he said he could feel his body shaking but was unable to open his eyes or stop shaking.it was over very quickly and he recovered very quickly but had an awful headache.he was seen by our neuro who said he didn't want to give our son another "label" and say he was epileptic and felt it was possible the amitriptyline he took lowered his seizure threshold and it was probably that.however,in february this year he had another small "seizure".his friend was with him and he said he did same again.got up,stretched and yawned,then fell to the floor and his hands shook and face twitched.our neuro advised my gp over the phone to increase epilim to 600mg in am and 600mg at night.i don't want this to be epilepsy but my gp seems to think it probably is.we won't see neuro til his appt in september.meanwhile my son has become depressed and says he hates his life.bad enough with migraine and being deaf.he has also got a terrible tremor in his hands which seem to be worse if he'd had to carry things or hold onto things.he literally cannot hold anything as it would drop. he has terrible short term memory too.
is it possible it could be something else?does anyone else get shakes in their hands and is it the epilim doing that?
sorry it's a long post.thankyou for any advice.
Comments
Re: 19yr ols son with poss epilepsy
Submitted by annika0001 on Mon, 2009-06-15 - 12:34
Hello Pickle, Have you looked up the side effects of amitripyline? I have been taking that same medication for muscle and nerve pain. (I also take Topamax for migraines). I'm not a doctor (I'm just a mom!) but what you have been describing sounds a little like what is described on the list of side effects for that med. This might be something to look into while you wait for the appointment with the neuro.
Take care and good luck.
Regards,
Erika
Hello Pickle, Have you looked up the side effects of amitripyline? I have been taking that same medication for muscle and nerve pain. (I also take Topamax for migraines). I'm not a doctor (I'm just a mom!) but what you have been describing sounds a little like what is described on the list of side effects for that med. This might be something to look into while you wait for the appointment with the neuro.
Take care and good luck.
Regards,
Erika
Re: 19yr ols son with poss epilepsy
Submitted by dianaric on Mon, 2009-06-15 - 10:03
Hi Pickle, I'm not a doctor and my only knowlege is my own experience with epilepsy. Unfortunatelly, I think your son has epilepsy. I have epilepsy since I was 12, now I'm 24 and I can tell you that I feel very proud of myself because the epilepsy has not stop nor decide my life. Of course when I found out about my illness, I was really sad and I wanted to die. Since 12 I have really hards migranes. The best way to handle a migrane is not thinking about it, if he has haedaches (no too hard ones) tell him to get busy in something or start thinking in something else. Furthermore, personally I have experienced that when I exercise at leats 3 days a week my migranes get lower or I don't get any in the week. So, when I have migranes, I take a walk in the park, I call a friend or play with my nephews. It's very important that you and your son learn to live with this. Remember him how special and how strong he is. He can handle this. And don't worry it's normal that he feels sad and angry. I know that your love willmhepl him feel better. Be positive. I said this to yourself:
I control my life, not the epilepsy. I can with this and more.
Good luck.
Hi Pickle, I'm not a doctor and my only knowlege is my own experience with epilepsy. Unfortunatelly, I think your son has epilepsy. I have epilepsy since I was 12, now I'm 24 and I can tell you that I feel very proud of myself because the epilepsy has not stop nor decide my life. Of course when I found out about my illness, I was really sad and I wanted to die. Since 12 I have really hards migranes. The best way to handle a migrane is not thinking about it, if he has haedaches (no too hard ones) tell him to get busy in something or start thinking in something else. Furthermore, personally I have experienced that when I exercise at leats 3 days a week my migranes get lower or I don't get any in the week. So, when I have migranes, I take a walk in the park, I call a friend or play with my nephews. It's very important that you and your son learn to live with this. Remember him how special and how strong he is. He can handle this. And don't worry it's normal that he feels sad and angry. I know that your love willmhepl him feel better. Be positive. I said this to yourself:
I control my life, not the epilepsy. I can with this and more.
Good luck.