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Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Mon, 03/20/2006 - 12:45Topic: Living With Epilepsy - Youth
Hello,
Please excuse me if I sound like I don't know what I'm talking about. I don't. The possibility of epilepsy in our family has just very recently been brought up. Specifically -- juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Perhaps not coincidentally our oldest son and I both have a history of unexplained "twitches" or spasms which last only a second or two. In both cases, we started noticing them sometime in our mid-teens. We don't lose consciousness. We are currently waiting for the results of our son's EEG.
Does juvenile myoclonic epilepsy itself have any aftereffects which we should look for? Would fatigue/exhaustion be one? What about effects on memory? What about increased likelihood of headaches? I recently fell and badly injured my knee -- and have absolutely no recollection of the actual fall. Unfortunately, noone was around to see what happened.
Thanks for any insights.
Comments
Re: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Submitted by SoccerFreak248 on Wed, 2006-06-28 - 19:54
hey!
Im Christine, a 15 year old girl. I believe I have juevenile myoclonic syndrome. It's not officially diagnosed. I have to ask; right before your jerks do you get a strange feeling? Because right before I jerk I feel weird in my arms and neck, similar to what restless leg syndrome feels like I guess. OMG! yeah, my arm just flew up and hit me in the face, that was plesant. Sorry yeah, anyway I never have any after effects except when it happens one right after another then my arms get a little tired and im a bit frusterated. And do you ever un-contolably yelp out. (note that I don't have tourettes because this started with my other symptoms) It feels like my whole abdomen is being squished. I saw the stomach doctor and he said it's all neurological myclonic stuff.
Re: Re: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Submitted by jme78 on Fri, 2006-11-03 - 00:28
Hi Christine,
I was diagnosed with JME when I was 13 (28 now). I also used to get a strange feeling before I would have a seizure. It was always the exact same feeling and the only time I would get them were before seizures, so I was told they were auras. During the time that it took to get my medication under control (about 3 years), I learned to really rely on this feeling and would actually have about 15 minutes before a grand mal seizure. As for the jerks, I wouldn't have a long time, and I do also remember it being quite embarrassing. You never know what to say to people after it happens.
Good luck with everything!
Re: Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Submitted by Mary264 on Tue, 2006-06-20 - 01:42
Hey my name is Mary and i have both epilepsy and juvenile myoclonic jerking. I've had the second one for many years so i know very well what you're talking about. I've never really felt anything weird after the jerking, i just go on with whatever i'm doing. My friends have learned to ignore it (my wish) since i think its embarrassing. Lately when i've gotten my grand mal seizures, people have told me that i at first get the jerking for one second, and then look like i'm fine, but then fall down in a seizure. I do not remember the twitches ever, when they happen b4 a seizure. If you have any questions please let me know! ~Mary