Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Simple Partial Seizures & Long-term memory
Mon, 07/07/2008 - 05:26Hi, I am new to this forum.
I suffer from what are suspected to be Simple Partial Seizures. They are currently under investigation, and having had an MRI and EEG with nothing abnormal showing, the doctor is starting to suspect epilepsy, although nothing has been diagnosed as yet. I have always thought since they started that these simple partial seizures are just a minor inconvenience which I can live with, and as such I probably wouldn't want medication in case the side effects were worse than the actual seizures.
However recently I've started wondering if these seizures are cumulatively damaging my long-term memory. Sometimes my wife talks of things we've done, places we've been, and it's worrying that, for some things, I have no memory of them at all.
If this is the case then of course I'd want to take medication in the assumption that controlling the seizures might prevent further memory loss.
Does anyone know of a link between seizures (I believe they are temporal lobe based) and long-term memory loss? Or maybe I've just always had a lousy memory anyway?
Comments
Re: Simple Partial Seizures & Long-term memory
Submitted by jkburgess on Mon, 2008-07-14 - 20:33
Hi,
I was diagnosed with partial complex seizures in Oct 2006. Prior to being diagnosed, my husband and family would talk about the past and like you I had no memory of it at all.
My seizures are also based in the temporal lobe which I believe memory and speech are located.
I decided to take medication as the seizures were steadily getting worse. I tried many and am currently on 2,500 mg of Keppra and 600 mg of Carbatrol a day. I do notice that my speech and concentration have been slightly affected by the medications. My memory still sucks but at least I've been seizure free since March 6th.
Back to your statement, I was told by different neurologists that it was more damaging to your brain to leave the seizures uncontrolled.
Take Care.
joelle
Hi,
I was diagnosed with partial complex seizures in Oct 2006. Prior to being diagnosed, my husband and family would talk about the past and like you I had no memory of it at all.
My seizures are also based in the temporal lobe which I believe memory and speech are located.
I decided to take medication as the seizures were steadily getting worse. I tried many and am currently on 2,500 mg of Keppra and 600 mg of Carbatrol a day. I do notice that my speech and concentration have been slightly affected by the medications. My memory still sucks but at least I've been seizure free since March 6th.
Back to your statement, I was told by different neurologists that it was more damaging to your brain to leave the seizures uncontrolled.
Take Care.
joelle
Re: Simple Partial Seizures & Long-term memory
Submitted by BeckyH on Mon, 2008-07-14 - 20:30
Hi! As someone who has temporal lobe epilepsy and so far is lucky enough to only have simple partials, I can tell you that yes, simple partials in your temporal lobe can affect memory. This excerpt is from the description of tle here on this site:
Temporal lobe seizures usually begin in the deeper portions of the brain's temporal lobe. This area is part of the limbic system, which controls emotions and memory. Some individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy may have problems with memory, especially if seizures have occurred for more than 5 years, but these memory problems are almost never severe.
I had problems with my memory before I was diagnosed with tle. And it's true that the AED's can also affect your memory. You just have to decide how much risk you want to take. Simple Partials can spread to other areas causing grand mal seizures. I opted to take the meds & deal with the increased memory loss rather than increase the chance of a grand mal. Just my 2 cents. :)
Good luck to you!
Becky
Hi! As someone who has temporal lobe epilepsy and so far is lucky enough to only have simple partials, I can tell you that yes, simple partials in your temporal lobe can affect memory. This excerpt is from the description of tle here on this site:
Temporal lobe seizures usually begin in the deeper portions of the brain's temporal lobe. This area is part of the limbic system, which controls emotions and memory. Some individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy may have problems with memory, especially if seizures have occurred for more than 5 years, but these memory problems are almost never severe.
I had problems with my memory before I was diagnosed with tle. And it's true that the AED's can also affect your memory. You just have to decide how much risk you want to take. Simple Partials can spread to other areas causing grand mal seizures. I opted to take the meds & deal with the increased memory loss rather than increase the chance of a grand mal. Just my 2 cents. :)
Good luck to you!
Becky