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Need a Little Advice for TLE

Fri, 05/26/2006 - 12:06
Hi All, Since being diagnosed with TLE, 1yr ago after a GMal, I have had what I now know as Complex Partial seizures for the past 2-3 yrs. For a long time I just thought I was having major Déjà vu type experiences. When I had an EEG and MRI they both showed nothing unusual. My confusion is that I have been told that I have Complex Partial Seizures but from reading info I understand that you generally lose consciousness and although I cannot speak nor really understand what is being said during the episode, I can gesture and am completely aware of my surroundings. Depending on the degree, I am sometimes confused afterwards for a bit. Anyone else with similar symptoms. I am on 1000 Keppra a.m. and p.m. and still can have 1-3 per day. Some days none. The neuro has suggested I up the meds by 500mg per day to try and control. Tks, for any thoughts and best wishes, Rita

Comments

Re: Need a Little Advice for TLE

Submitted by cjcurls on Fri, 2006-05-26 - 12:14
I too am "aware" during my complex partial episodes. Though I occasionally discover that my perception of what happened is a bit distorted (length of time, what I physically did, etc.) One of my worst ones happened while I was driving (before I stopped driving that is) Thank goodness I didn't loose conciousness, but had that familiar "stuck" feeling and an out of body-ish sensation. I wound up in a parking lot - but have no recollection of turning into the lot. Good luck with your meds - it can take a while to find the combination that's right for you. - Christine

Hi Rita. Please remember

Submitted by happycat2 on Fri, 2006-05-26 - 12:55
Hi Rita. Please remember that each and every one of us that has complex partials is going to feel something different. Two people with the same type of seizure can have dramatically different experiences, and I certainly believe that. My own experiences, and reading tells me that, as your own personal experience has to. Even within the same person, symptoms can differ from seizure type to seizure type. Consciousness or awareness is altered, producing a vague, confused or dreamlike appearance. The person may respond, but often inappropriately, and display strange, random or repetitive behaviour, which I've seen examples of that happening more than once. As I have people been mistaken for others, along with lack of awareness they have done that when experiencing a complex partial seizure. What needs to be remembered with these type of seizures, and when experiencing them. Along with lack of awareness, complex partial seizures may spread to the rest of the brain leading to a generalised seizure. As the link says...Sometimes this can happen so quickly that the person may appear to have a straightforward tonic clonic seizure — the fall down and convulse type. Although someone may appear to be conscious because he stays on his feet, his eyes are open and he can move about, it will be an altered consciousness-a dreamlike, almost trancelike state. http://www.trileptal.com/info/understanding/complex-partial-seizures.jsp A suggestion I thought of, if you are not doing so already. Was for you to write down details of the seizure so you can report them to your health care provider. Include the date and time of the seizure, how long it lasted. Which body parts were affected, the type of movements or other symptoms. Any other possible causes you can think of. I hope it helps if you do, or are doing. Hang in there. That helps, as does staying positive and upbeat. Cat. "Many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1

Re: Re: Need a Little Advice for TLE

Submitted by heidi on Fri, 2006-05-26 - 15:10
I just wanted to chime in and say that my experiences have been very similar to yours. I am tentatively diagnosed with TLE, and my doctor refers to my seizures as complex partial, but I maintain awareness and have finished a sentence, continued vacuuming the carpet, all kinds of things while they were going on. I'm on 500 mg of Keppra twice a day, and I still have seizures--milder than before, but more often. I already feel like a zombie. I have an appt in a few weeks, and if they want to up the dose I'm going to be upset. Everything I've read indicates a loss of consciousness with complex partial seizures, but like I said, my experiences have been nearly identical to yours. Hang in there.

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