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Seizure or spell?

Thu, 07/12/2012 - 10:00

Ok..I am 62 yrs old. I started having seizures around Sept-Oct 2010.  After wearing an ambulatory EEG for 3 days, the neuro said there was a lot of activity in the frontal lobes.  He diagnosed Complex Partial seizures.  I don't remember the meds he gave me but I was still having seizures.  After a few months I changed to a different neurologist and after another 3 day ambulatory, he saw no activity.  He started me on zonagram.. still having seizures. Changed to Topamax (really? I'm suppose to function on this med.) He started another med..don't remember but I have info somewhere.  Now I'm on  Lamictal and clonazepam. I also take Lyrica.  

After all the above information..this is my typical  "spell"  I can feel the "buzz" coming on. My head drops and I'm unable to move. I can hear and know what is going on but not able to respond.  This goes on from 5 mins to 45 mins. Afterwards, I have a headache and go to sleep for 3-5 hours. The next day you would think I was intoxicated and that usually  last one or two days.   Dr finally gave up and set up an appointment with a seizure specialist at Emory which is about 2 week away.  Usually I have these right after month end close out where I work 10 & 12 hour days for about 4 days.  Now I'm extremely worried about my job. I have been working from home since Oct 2010 and now out of the blue they want me to come into the office. Really?? I can't drive but they want me in the office? After I email the letter regarding the appt with specialist they decided to wait until after the July appt.  Guess they didn't believe I was still having seizures. Now they are coming more and I'm sure it's from the stress regarding work. They have no empathy of what I am going through.  They do for others who are going thru chemo or another worker with lupus  but me... no concern, no trust, no understanding.  I also apologize for length of this post. Are these real seizures or spells or body and brain shutting down? 

Dotti

Comments

Re: Seizure or spell?

Submitted by teachergreen on Thu, 2012-07-12 - 12:26

no apology necessary,

wow! this sounds so much like me. i mean the work theory about the seizures and everything. I've been having seizures more than 20yr, am 51 and hope to live (pray) to live to next day. I feel so bizarre at times and feel I'm in a different time period. dreaming but awake. haven't had a gran seziure for a while but have to lay down every day for a period of time. 

Memory is not good but I do remember being on Topomax

it made me loose weight. The meds I take right now are Lamital, Benzel and Dilantin. I'm coming off the dilantin at present. It'ss the drug I've taken since the seizures began. I also have a vns implant. 

This whole epilepsy thing is scary and I still haven't accepted that it's what i have. I debate w my husband all the time that I'll get better. I have always been heathly my life. This condition is much harder on my family who worry about me constantly, I can't see how they deal will me accept they must love me. My beliefs and knowledge sometimes gets confused. I feel like I've been in limbo the past years. Don't know how I made it thru school.

Hang in there, perservere, let the love ones help. I know this giving of independence is just part of life. Every person goes though it at some point or another. Childbirth-dependence, puberty-uncertainty, adulthood-independence, elderly-dependent

Maybe I'm suppose to be more brain smart and use the educated knowledge I have. I may have been settling in as an elementary teacher(no offense to anyone this is a tough job). Have a  theory I should be thinking more in theory because i spent so much college time around this.

I guess I could write/chat forever it seems at sometimes.  

no apology necessary,

wow! this sounds so much like me. i mean the work theory about the seizures and everything. I've been having seizures more than 20yr, am 51 and hope to live (pray) to live to next day. I feel so bizarre at times and feel I'm in a different time period. dreaming but awake. haven't had a gran seziure for a while but have to lay down every day for a period of time. 

Memory is not good but I do remember being on Topomax

it made me loose weight. The meds I take right now are Lamital, Benzel and Dilantin. I'm coming off the dilantin at present. It'ss the drug I've taken since the seizures began. I also have a vns implant. 

This whole epilepsy thing is scary and I still haven't accepted that it's what i have. I debate w my husband all the time that I'll get better. I have always been heathly my life. This condition is much harder on my family who worry about me constantly, I can't see how they deal will me accept they must love me. My beliefs and knowledge sometimes gets confused. I feel like I've been in limbo the past years. Don't know how I made it thru school.

Hang in there, perservere, let the love ones help. I know this giving of independence is just part of life. Every person goes though it at some point or another. Childbirth-dependence, puberty-uncertainty, adulthood-independence, elderly-dependent

Maybe I'm suppose to be more brain smart and use the educated knowledge I have. I may have been settling in as an elementary teacher(no offense to anyone this is a tough job). Have a  theory I should be thinking more in theory because i spent so much college time around this.

I guess I could write/chat forever it seems at sometimes.  

Re: Seizure or spell?

Submitted by Dotti on Thu, 2012-07-12 - 12:38
Thanks for the encouragement. :) It's funny, Lyrica makes you gain weight and Topamax makes you lose weight. LOL Guess I was staying the same weight. :) It's good to know I'm not the only one in this boat. Sometimes I think to myself..is this really happening, can't I stop what is going on..etc but I can't. I am very independent person (or was) now my poor husband has to run me around. I'm pretty much in the house 24-7 except for church and Mexican food night! LOL  You are correct in saying we have to let go and let others help. It sure is hard though. Thanks again and feel free to keep on writing. 

Re: Seizure or spell?

Submitted by teachergreen on Thu, 2012-07-12 - 17:06

Hi,

I haven't driven for twenty yrs. My 24yr old is not working and doesn't drive. My 19 yr old son took off about 6 months ago to tour the us and grow up. He's a good kid, not kid any more and I have to let him go. I don't know how they both lived with me. Used to take the dialaride city bus and now i get a ride to church from the neighbor down the steet.

Have to rest now. Sometimes I feel stupid and have "what if" thoughts that I shouldn't listen to. It's annoying but this is how the brain works I guess.

Hi,

I haven't driven for twenty yrs. My 24yr old is not working and doesn't drive. My 19 yr old son took off about 6 months ago to tour the us and grow up. He's a good kid, not kid any more and I have to let him go. I don't know how they both lived with me. Used to take the dialaride city bus and now i get a ride to church from the neighbor down the steet.

Have to rest now. Sometimes I feel stupid and have "what if" thoughts that I shouldn't listen to. It's annoying but this is how the brain works I guess.

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