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Epilepsy and Memory Loss
Sun, 10/08/2006 - 19:36Comments
Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss
Submitted by tcameron on Tue, 2013-05-14 - 20:09
My memory is also horrible. Mostly long-term, but also some short term. My epileptologist claims it could be a combination of several occurrances. (repeated head injuries, fevers, etc; not just the AEDs. Seizures are the main cause, because the brain makes "electrical pathways", which make it easier to have more seizures. AEDs don't help much, but we could be much worse w/out them. All brain damage is detrimental to us.
Please take pictures with notes including names of loved ones, dates of events, and other important info. Keep them with you all over the place. They can't hurt; only help you smile. You'll be extremely grateful years from now as your memory gets worse. I've known some people w/ severe dementia. Some received help from their families w/ photos, etc; others didn't. The ones who did were obviously happiest.
My memory is also horrible. Mostly long-term, but also some short term. My epileptologist claims it could be a combination of several occurrances. (repeated head injuries, fevers, etc; not just the AEDs. Seizures are the main cause, because the brain makes "electrical pathways", which make it easier to have more seizures. AEDs don't help much, but we could be much worse w/out them. All brain damage is detrimental to us.
Please take pictures with notes including names of loved ones, dates of events, and other important info. Keep them with you all over the place. They can't hurt; only help you smile. You'll be extremely grateful years from now as your memory gets worse. I've known some people w/ severe dementia. Some received help from their families w/ photos, etc; others didn't. The ones who did were obviously happiest.
Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss
Submitted by Tara123 on Tue, 2013-05-14 - 10:51
Hey, I have left temporal lobe epilepsy too since I was 16, possibly younger but parents might have missed seizures during night. Now I am 27. Before seizures my memory was so sharp, I could remember and see in front of me pages of books!!! after I started having seizures I cannot remember and focus at all. I am very high-achiever and managed to graduate from top university in the UK -the LSE, however, it wasnt worth all that trouble and suffering I went through. I could not get a job, and when I got intersnhip had to leave, because seizure happened in the office. Memory is horrible. the worst part I cannot remember any details of life events that happened one, two, three years ago, even 6 month before...only tiny things. I hate asking my mum and sister where I was then and etc. I am thinking about taking photos but it makes me depressed as I feel like living in movie, one day..and that day finishes. In terms of medication. I tried taking them for 3 years- neurontin, topamax, clonazepam, lamictal...all that crap. It made me so much worse!!!! I had seizures every day!!!Only after me and my mum we realised that medication makes it only worse, and that food acts as a trigger I managed to get my life back. i would not recommend taking anti-seizure medication at any cost to anyone, even worst enemies. The side effects and more seizures are horrible.