Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Submitted by dbrown44 on Sat, 2012-03-17 - 11:24

I also have a very noticeable short term memory loss. I went to a neurologist yesterday. He seems to think that it is repairable at least some of it. I am so hopeful.

Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Submitted by princesskyles on Fri, 2012-01-20 - 19:55

I have had epilepsy since I was six weeks old. Memory loss comes both from certain medications and, not from the epilepsy but from seizures. So the more seizures you have the greater effect it has on memory loss. I have over 100 seizures a day. But also severity of seizures too, It has gotten worse because my epilepsy has goten worse and they increased my medications and changed them around, talk to your doctor about a medication that doesnt can balance your seizures but at the same time does not have the memory loss as a strong side effect. A good doctor or Neurologist or Epileptolgist will have your best interest in mind...not just picking a medication that "shoud control your seizures", they will try to find balance and work hard to do it...

Re: Epilepsy and Memory Loss

Submitted by rebmil on Thu, 2012-04-05 - 21:50

Hello all. I had my first seizure ever 2 years ago in my sleep. I was taken to the hospital and had a CT scan which was normal. I was sent home. 2 months later I had 2 seizures 2 hours apart again they happened in my sleep. Went to the hospital again. Was given a liquid anti seizure medication intravenously, had blood drawn, the test was normal and was given a prescription for Dilantin 100 mg 3xaday. The Dilantin 3xaday got to be too much so the dr. said to take it 2xaday.

Months later I was given an EEG, was normal, had an MRI, was normal. No dr. has ever told me why I am having seizures or what kind they are. After doing my own research, I have come to the conclusion that I have Nocturnal Seizure Disorder. This is grand mal tonic clonic seizures that only happens when the person is asleep. All the seizures I have had (15 so far from 2 yrs ago) happen in my sleep. My boyfriend has told me my face and lips turn blue and I stop breathing. I wake up from a seizure confused, knowing something happened but not sure what. I use the bathroom and then it hits me. I had a seizure. After effects of seizure are weak legs, tongue bitten, and peed pants. I always have an extreme headache and extreme nausea as well, which lasts for 2-3 hrs.

Months before I had my first seizure I was always sick all the time like I had the stomach flu 5-10 times a month. But I was always hungry but yet nauseated. I may also have Abdominal Epilepsy. This is a seizure disorder that is not well know for there have only been 36 documented cases. Dr.s don't believe it even exists and it happens mostly with children. It is a gastrological disorder where the person may have a seizure accompanied by stomach nausea and be really tired the next day. Another time they may have a headache. The symptoms of this seizure disorder is exactly how I would feel and still do, but the stomach nausea is much less from 2 years ago for my dr. gave me an anxiety pill that helps with nausea. Like I said I would wake up feeling sick like I had the stomach flu, I would feel really tired and I had a slight headache for the rest of the day and just feel crappy. I suffer from auras as well, and because of my meds or the seizures, I have memory problems as well and anger issues too. I think I also have depression as well. It seems my whole personality has changed from 2 years ago and I don't know myself anymore. One day I could not remember my cousins last name (I remembered it later), or my cell phone number. I had to keep asking my boyfriend what the number was until I wrote it down. Then the next day I look at the number and asked him if that is my cell phone number.

My boyfriend is supportive of me, but I still feel so alone in this world with this condition. My step mom is not very supportive of me and does not believe alot of the stuff I tell her concerning my seizure disorder. She used to suffer from seizures 5 or 6 yrs. ago and I don't think she had any of the probs I have with my seizures and thinks that cuz she didn't, I shouldn't. But now I think she is starting to believe me. My boyfriend told her one day about my memory loss and she looked shocked, not realizing how bad it has gotten. I also told her that my boyfriends dr. told me that yes seizure meds to in fact cause memory loss. Yesterday I called her and told her how bad I feel every morning. I feel like crap, when I wake up, very tired and kind of nauseated all the time. I have slight headaches every day. I know the way I feel has something to do with my seizures or my meds.

Right now I am unemployed, lost my job in June of 2011, so I don't have insurance to always see a dr. I have a dr. appt. in July at a charity hospital and I am going to tell the dr. that I need to have better care done for my seizure disorder. I need to have a Neuropsych exam test done cuz that would show if I have any mental illnesses, memory loss, and it would show how my seizures have affected me. I am going to tell the dr. that I have my seizures in my sleep so the EEG I had done 2 yrs. ago was useless cuz it did not show ANY seizure activity cuz I was awake. Because my seizures only happen during sleep, I need a sleep deprived EEG done.  If the dr. does not help me then I am done with seeing dr.s or taking meds for my seizures. I know this might be a mistake but I am sick of the bullshit I have gone through concerning my seizures and not getting the help I need. In the state I live in I have to be disabled to get any help from the state and according to them, I am not disabled. So maybe this is the only way I can get the help I need, by stopping my meds and having the seizures get worse.

Sorry for talking this way but I have had it. 

Peace