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.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy blowing up at work

Sun, 05/20/2007 - 13:45
In November 06 I had a VNS implant. It has helped with seizures. But I've been blowing up at work on a regular basis and it is getting worse. Saw my neuro. yesterday and he said the VNS is stopping the seizures so they are building up like they do in TLE and I blow. I used to do this when I was young and then I'd have a seizure. He wants me to take Topamax to replace Carbatrol which I've taken for 30 years and keep taking the Trileptal. Anyone else relate with this? Thanks, Jean

Comments

Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy blowing up at work

Submitted by bex on Tue, 2007-05-22 - 08:34
Hi Jean, I just want to check I understand what you mean by blow up - do you mean like over react to situtations/ fly off the handle? If so I can relate to this. Let me know. I have TLE and am now on Topamax. Best wishes. Bex

Re: Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy blowing up at work

Submitted by JeanMarie on Fri, 2007-06-01 - 21:40
Yes I mean flying off of the handle and over reacting and it is so shaming even though I know what is going on. I tried Topamax but I was so drugged I couldn't do it. I am taking Carbatrol/Trileptal and have to be on all three for a month before getting off of the Carb. I knew I couldn't work and do this so I went off of the Topamax after a few days. How did you feel? Did you notice a difference in over reacting? Do you know much about TLE and the emotional/behavioral aspects? Thanks, Jean

Re: Re: Re: Temporal Lobe Epilepsy blowing up at work

Submitted by bex on Sat, 2007-06-02 - 09:05
Hi Jean, I can completely symphathise. Until I went onto the aeds I used to completely fly off the handle and overeact both in and out of work and not even realise. Like if my partner turned up 5 minutes late, and at work once when someone took their blackberry on holiday I went crazy! It always took me about 45 minutes or an hour to come around to see how I had overreacted or I might even have to have a sleep and I would feel so bad afterwards and emotionally drained. And I couldn't stop myself from it happening it was like something exploded and was out of my control. My moods used to be much more volatile too and they seemed to have calmed down, although I am very emotional. My neuro beleives this is part of my TLE, and said that agressive outbursts can be part of the condition. For me they seemed to come between seizures not part of them. They don't happen now thank goodness. They stopped towards the end of last year when I had been on Lamictal for 12 months and had just started on Topamax aswell. I'm now just on Topamax, I couldn't function with 2 aeds. I too struggled with the topamax initially but after being on it for 6 months am finding it much better, have even gone back to work now. I'm still not having any overeactions because the main person it used to really affect was my partner and he noticed a real difference. I hope this helps. Bex

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.