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One seizure was enough
Mon, 07/03/2006 - 21:27Comments
Re: One seizure was enough
Submitted by Gubs on Tue, 2010-05-04 - 15:03
A line I regularly heard repeated after my first fit, which for a fortnight or so was my only one, was 'Anyone can have just one fit. We treat it as chance.' After my second and third, I continued to resist medication. I was still trying acupuncture, holistic medicine etc. After the xth I had to concede.
It's time I got to my point. (1) I'm not sure how much of a good idea it is reading Epilepsy.com. Once you start going...once I started going, I began to realise (a) I was epileptic (b) how bad it is. Each new entrant is like another nail: I had to quit my job; I can't spell etc. (2) First of all obviously, hopefully you will never have another fit. But in the worst case scenario, where you do and they're prescribing medication, I'd be aware now that (a) if you start taking medication, you are MORE likely to have fits if you subsequently stop. The same principle applies if you have to increase your dose. (b) my medication has not totally stopped my fits. Now I discover that this is not unexpected.
Long story short I'm starting to wonder whether I should have held out longer without taking medication because (a) it doesn't necessarily fully stop your fits (b) you are MORE likely to have fits altogether if you stop taking the medication (at least they say so) (c) Keppra affects my memory (and maybe other faculties), memory, very badly. VERY badly. Six months ago, and that's when I was diagnosed (at 39 years of age), I'd never have imagined the changes for the worse I've undergone.
Sorry, this story is badly constructed, and badly written. Peace to you soulbrother
A line I regularly heard repeated after my first fit, which for a fortnight or so was my only one, was 'Anyone can have just one fit. We treat it as chance.' After my second and third, I continued to resist medication. I was still trying acupuncture, holistic medicine etc. After the xth I had to concede.
It's time I got to my point. (1) I'm not sure how much of a good idea it is reading Epilepsy.com. Once you start going...once I started going, I began to realise (a) I was epileptic (b) how bad it is. Each new entrant is like another nail: I had to quit my job; I can't spell etc. (2) First of all obviously, hopefully you will never have another fit. But in the worst case scenario, where you do and they're prescribing medication, I'd be aware now that (a) if you start taking medication, you are MORE likely to have fits if you subsequently stop. The same principle applies if you have to increase your dose. (b) my medication has not totally stopped my fits. Now I discover that this is not unexpected.
Long story short I'm starting to wonder whether I should have held out longer without taking medication because (a) it doesn't necessarily fully stop your fits (b) you are MORE likely to have fits altogether if you stop taking the medication (at least they say so) (c) Keppra affects my memory (and maybe other faculties), memory, very badly. VERY badly. Six months ago, and that's when I was diagnosed (at 39 years of age), I'd never have imagined the changes for the worse I've undergone.
Sorry, this story is badly constructed, and badly written. Peace to you soulbrother
Re: One seizure was enough
Submitted by missrose on Wed, 2010-01-13 - 13:21
Hi all, my names Sarah, I'm 28 and new to this! I had a seizure on new years eve at about 3 p.m (at least i think it was a seizure) it was the worst experience of my life and really dont want it to happen again! :-(
It was about 45 mins after i got out of the bath, i was in a good mood getting ready for the night ahead, listening to music and doing a lil Dance! lol ...Then, suddenly i lost control of my left hand, it kind of twitched inwards towards my mouth, my little finger went into my mouth slightly then down my neck, which i had no control over! I felt really faint, my hearing had gone and wondered what was happening to me....i staggered back so as not to fall on the floor and sat on the sofa, I looked up at the picture of my dad (who died 2005) and asked him to help me. Then, sitting down, I looked at my arm and the whole of my left side went numb, next thing, i'm on the floor and feeling utter pain throughout my body(presure on my head mainly) and complete darkness, trying to shout or say anything but couldn't, i thought This is it, i'm dying! the pain must've been so bad i lost consciousness. The next thing, i wake up with my 10 year old son on the phone to the ambulance scared!! I didn't no what had happened first of all, i told him i didn't need the ambulance and that i was just taking a nap! then a few seconds later they had turned up and then i remembered what had happened and was horrified. My son had told me i was on the floor with my eyes rolled back into my head, drooling and looked like i was asleep, he thought i was dead then started shaking me! then as he shook me lots he said i was trying to talk but he couldn't make sense of what i was saying which then made him call the ambulance. There was a big wet patch on the floor from my dribbling.
All the ambulance men said was 'did i have my bath too hot'!! or was i pregnant? which i wasn't as they did a wee test. Did my blood presure which was a little high, They didn't seem to be worried at all and just said that i could drink now as i wasn't pregnant!! :-( and if it happens again then they'll take me in!
I ended up staying in that night, felf a bit shaky but had a drink later on to try n forget what had happened.
My mum was not at all happy with the ambulance crew, so called the docs, had an appointment, who then referred me to a neurologist which i'm still waiting for the appointment.
I've been sleeping more since then and have had on and off head pains.
If anyone has had anything like this please comment or if you could help me make more sense of it i would really appreciate a comment.
Thanks :-)
Hi all, my names Sarah, I'm 28 and new to this! I had a seizure on new years eve at about 3 p.m (at least i think it was a seizure) it was the worst experience of my life and really dont want it to happen again! :-(
It was about 45 mins after i got out of the bath, i was in a good mood getting ready for the night ahead, listening to music and doing a lil Dance! lol ...Then, suddenly i lost control of my left hand, it kind of twitched inwards towards my mouth, my little finger went into my mouth slightly then down my neck, which i had no control over! I felt really faint, my hearing had gone and wondered what was happening to me....i staggered back so as not to fall on the floor and sat on the sofa, I looked up at the picture of my dad (who died 2005) and asked him to help me. Then, sitting down, I looked at my arm and the whole of my left side went numb, next thing, i'm on the floor and feeling utter pain throughout my body(presure on my head mainly) and complete darkness, trying to shout or say anything but couldn't, i thought This is it, i'm dying! the pain must've been so bad i lost consciousness. The next thing, i wake up with my 10 year old son on the phone to the ambulance scared!! I didn't no what had happened first of all, i told him i didn't need the ambulance and that i was just taking a nap! then a few seconds later they had turned up and then i remembered what had happened and was horrified. My son had told me i was on the floor with my eyes rolled back into my head, drooling and looked like i was asleep, he thought i was dead then started shaking me! then as he shook me lots he said i was trying to talk but he couldn't make sense of what i was saying which then made him call the ambulance. There was a big wet patch on the floor from my dribbling.
All the ambulance men said was 'did i have my bath too hot'!! or was i pregnant? which i wasn't as they did a wee test. Did my blood presure which was a little high, They didn't seem to be worried at all and just said that i could drink now as i wasn't pregnant!! :-( and if it happens again then they'll take me in!
I ended up staying in that night, felf a bit shaky but had a drink later on to try n forget what had happened.
My mum was not at all happy with the ambulance crew, so called the docs, had an appointment, who then referred me to a neurologist which i'm still waiting for the appointment.
I've been sleeping more since then and have had on and off head pains.
If anyone has had anything like this please comment or if you could help me make more sense of it i would really appreciate a comment.
Thanks :-)
Re: One seizure was enough
Submitted by Diane Robidoux on Tue, 2010-05-04 - 14:14
Hi, I am 26 and I had my first seizure two weeks ago while I was shadowing a physician (I'm premed.). I am going to two Internal Medicine doctors before the Neurologist. One seizure was enough for me, too. Did you experience anything strange leading up to it? My heart rate was doing weird things the week before while running. They checked my blood work for everything that could have metabolically caused it. They also did an EKG, because I mentioned my heart. It was all normal. The ER doctor did not order a scan even though I lost consciousness, because I didn't have health insurance. He thought I passed out and the nurse practitioner (who has an advanced degree in nursing) just didn't know what she saw. I am livid the more I think about it. After hearing her description, it was confirmed that I seized. Since everything metabolical is ruled out, so it has to be neurological for me. I'm going to two doctors before hand, because I want to see the neurologist once I've heard the diagnostic side of things. I'm hoping to go to one Allopathic (traditional) and one Osteopathic (looks at what structurally could explain it) physician for two different viewpoints. My advice is to get a second opinion. Doctors are highly trained, but not infallible. Many don't listen to what you say. If the first is right on the money, a second opinion shouldn't hurt. Also, keep copies of your medical records! My dad, who was a medic in the army for years, told me to start documenting everything-- start a journal of sorts so that the doctor has more information to go on. I hope this helps, and that you find an answer. If I can give you one last piece of advice, don't over research things and freak yourself out more than you are. Wishing you well, Diane