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Questions!
Sat, 09/16/2017 - 01:11Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hi, my name is diana. I was diagnosed with focal or partial seizure this July. I am 24 years old. I'm new to all this. So my question is, i feel as the medication has worsen my condition before I have taken my meds, is that normal? I am on lamotrigine. And another question, so I am confused with focal seizure and auras. I experience, weakness where my head gets heavy and I have no control, I breathe hard, my hand taps, I cough, and I space out non responsive but aware is that a focal seizure or auras or not related. I am confused. I currently experienced a spell that lasted more than an hour. My body got weak. I was non responsive but aware. I would randomly open my eyes and stare and go back to closing my eyes. At times I had a hard time opening them. Once I could move again not being were and open my eyes with control. The last thing throughout this spell I couldn't talk my mouth was it was shut and heavy couldn't talk but nod my head. Was this a sezuire or not related. As a student that is studying to be a counselor but new to this condition as there is little research. I wonder if it consciously I do it or it is the condition of that makes sense. As if my mind is playing tricks. I am sorry if I offend anyone I new to this and so many questions. And lastly, i noticed I have difficulty put my thoughts or words together is that normal or has nothing to do I am bilingual. I occasional had that problem but it has been reoccurring more. I don't know maybe I am overthinking it. And lastly I promise, on my MRI it showed that I had this condition since birth.
Comments
Slow down and relax. You
Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2017-09-20 - 18:13
Slow down and relax. You were diagnosed in July with focal or partial seizures. <<<Auras for some people are smells or tastes or flashing lights different things/ They are called auras because to many people that get them they are warnings that a stronger seizure may happen. <<So lets forget about auras. You may never have one. I never had one in the 50+ years I have been living and dealing with epilepsy and seizures,,,FOCAL I do know about. My diagnosis was before the neurologists started specializing. That diagnosis was Grand Mal (generalized tonic clonic today), Petite Mal (absence today) and Focal Motor Epilepsy. I think I had a couple absence seizures back in 1963. I had a grand mal back in 1964. All of the other seizures I have had were Focal Motor seizures. Today any and all partial seizures will fit into focal seizures. they can generalize. Focal to me is the starting point of my seizure. For me it is my right hand feeling weird. The side of my brain that controls my right hand is on the left side on my brain. Therefore the seizures start in the left lobes of my brain. Proof to that would come out in my EEG which shows were abnormalities came from. Followed by an MRI which shows that I have scar tissue in the left lobes of my brain. SO focal seizures are partial seizures. Partial seizures can generalize. Meaning they can advance and cover other parts of the brain or the entire brain.The best thing you can do is get the EF My Epilepsy Diary it can help you keep track of you seizures, medications, notes about your seizure, different things you think might have happened that day. Give your doctor permission to bring it up and all the information can be looked at and they can see the graphs and other information that might help with medications or dosages or procedures that can get your seizures under control
I would say it is not normal
Submitted by birdman on Tue, 2017-09-19 - 20:27
I would say it is not normal that the medications worsen your condition before you take them. Does your condition get better after you take your medications? Maybe this experience is an indication that you benefit from taking lamotrigine.Auras are seizures. Many people think that an aura is just a warning of an imminent seizure but it is a seizure at a different stage. An aura is a seizure while it is at the seizure focus or starting point. That is why they call your seizures focal seizures.You have many unanswered questions. Being that you have just been diagnosed it is important to keep record of all your medication changes, doctor visits, and these different experiences. The doctors who treat your epilepsy are dependent upon the information you give them. And one day as you gather enough data about your experiences this will help you take control of your treatment.