|
|
Here's a typical story: I have always had these little jerks of my arms, ever since I was 12 or 13 years old, but I assumed everybody had them. They never really bothered me until one day I had a big one and fell down. I had a couple of grand mal seizures and was put on medication for a few years. Because I didn't have any more seizures, the drugs were stopped. But during college, whenever I stayed up all night or drank too much, the next day I would get lots of those jerks, and sometimes a big seizure right after the jerks. I never thought much about those jerks; in fact, my wife, who doesn't have epilepsy, gets them sometimes as she is falling asleep.
People with JME have myoclonic seizures (quick little jerks of the arms, shoulder, or occasionally the legs), usually in the early morning, soon after awakening. The myoclonic jerks sometimes are followed by a tonic-clonic seizure. Absence seizures also may occur.
Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is one of the most common epilepsy syndromes. It accounts for 7% of all cases of epilepsy. The seizures of JME may begin between late childhood and early adulthood, usually around the time of puberty. Fifteen percent of children with childhood absence epilepsy later develop JME. It also is more likely in people who have family members with generalized epilepsy. The intellectual ability of people with JME is the same as that of people in general.
Some people with JME experience seizures that are triggered by flickering light, such as strobe lights at dances, TV, video games, or light shining through trees or reflecting off ocean waves or snow. These are called photosensitive seizures. Occasionally, myoclonic seizures are also provoked by factors such as decision-making or calculations.
The EEG usually shows a pattern of spikes and waves, which often appears in response to flashing lights. An EEG performed during sleep and continuing for a short time after awakening is the best way to confirm the diagnosis. CT and MRI scans of the brain are normal and are seldom necessary.
JME often has a genetic basis. In some families, genes associated with an increased risk of JME have been identified on chromosomes 6, 8, or 15. Nevertheless, the large majority of children in these families do not develop epilepsy.
The seizures of more than 80% of people with JME are well controlled
with medication. Depakote (valproate) is usually used. It works for
each of the three types of seizures that can be seen with JME
This content is user-generated. Content is not monitored nor consistently reviewed by the epilepsy.com Editorial Board. Epilepsy.com therefore cannot guarantee the accuracy of any content edited with the Wiki sections. While epilepsy.com, the Epilepsy Therapy Project, and its partners encourage visitor interaction and publishing within these sections, users should use caution when exploring content, especially as it pertains to health concerns. No content on epilepsy.com is intended to replace the care of a doctor. We encourage you to contact your own health care provider for individual medical advice. We cannot provide second opinions or make specific recommendations regarding therapy, nor does this Wiki content constitute a recommendation for any diagnosis or treatment options.
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy :People with JME have myoclonic seizures (quick little jerks of the arms, shoulder, or occasionally the legs), usually in the early morning, soon after awakening. The myoclonic jerks sometimes are followed by a tonic-clonic seizure. Absence seizures also may occur..
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Juvenile onset genetic? Epilpesy JME | Apr 8, 2009 | |
| dainty | ||
| From Depakote to Keppra... Right or Wrong Choice? | Apr 6, 2009 | |
| Dar51 | ||
| Shivers and Epilepsy | Apr 3, 2009 | |
| Andrew T | ||
| Newly diagnosed JME | May 23, 2009 | |
| Jess_sMom | ||
| Misread EEG/ JME medications | Apr 12, 2009 | |
| kncarmichae2 | ||
| Son having surgery-have questions | Apr 17, 2009 | |
| dlc1967 | ||
| Epilepsy | Apr 23, 2009 | |
| kieran | ||
| Just FYI YouTube epilepsy and me video | Apr 20, 2009 | |
| dainty | ||
| Future with myoclonic seizures? | Apr 15, 2009 | |
| Julie B. | ||
| epilepsy and physical activity | Jun 28, 2009 | |
| odey8 | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| My son has BRE and also has jerking and twitching day and night | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| rodandgeneve | ||
| I'm Afraid My Current Seizure Problems Could Cost My Me My Marriage | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| grazianina | ||
| newbie questions | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| mcamp2006 | ||
| They want to drill a hole in my head. Should we have a look? | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| phidippus | ||
| After surgery difficulties with my work at a State agency; now at risk of losing my job, insurance and my retirement benefits | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Nylrad | ||
| new here and i have some questions regarding my seizures | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| skyetastic | ||
| daughter just recently diagnosed with E | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| uhwheresmycoffee | ||
| Lamictal and tremors | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Gina Marie | ||
| I don't think i reacted well.... what should i have done | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| NikiPacker | ||
| Does anyone know? Can seizure medicines make someone exhibit signs on paranoid scitzophrenia accompanied by short term memory | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Desperado | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,400 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,924 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,778 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,622 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 14,881 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 12,892 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 12,636 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,259 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 9,928 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,372 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| A little about... | Apr 28, 2009 | |
| jmemama | ||
| Haley's Blog | Jun 19, 2009 | |
| haley09 | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| I'm back. ( : Does anyone know anything about nicotine patches and epilepsy? | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Living with Epilepsy as a Teen | ||
| Summer! | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Living with Epilepsy as a Teen | ||
| please answer :) | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| brittanyanngr | ||
| Seizures and Epilepsy Traumatic Braun Injury Pakistani Patient Jawad Pasha 26 A Persistent vegetative state | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| Anwer Pasha | ||
| support worker people with learning disability | Jul 4, 2009 | |
| bhing | ||
| Depakine Chrono (natrium valproate) side-effects | Jul 3, 2009 | |
| Ashvura | ||
| Rasmus' walk-off lifts Cards over Giants | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| linhanyi | ||
| nice site | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| lee | ||
| my son sheldon | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| gvalegirl | ||
| Meds do not stop all of my seizures | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| wenko | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 7,951 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,842 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,628 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,448 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,013 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,837 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,806 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,777 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,636 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,555 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Lesional Epilepsy Surgery | Jun 22, 2009 | |
| Chi-gal | ||
| Lamotrigine memory loss | Jun 17, 2009 | |
| superfurry | ||
| Pregnant on Topmax | Jun 16, 2009 | |
| sarah123 | ||
| why don,t they understand, I,m a person too | Jun 3, 2009 | |
| Angela71 | ||
| Living a full life with Epilepsy | May 29, 2009 | |
| Amazon | ||
| teenager driving | May 27, 2009 | |
| babygirl416 | ||
| Epilepsy Surgery Group | May 10, 2009 | |
| lisam11463 | ||
| Dilantin to Lamotrigine & Pregnant | May 7, 2009 | |
| apereira728 | ||
| What is going on here? | May 5, 2009 | |
| jyhprice | ||
| Parent of child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. | May 2, 2009 | |
| bunglemc | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Years of Searching For a Diagnosis | Jun 6, 2009 | |
| capecodmom | ||
| Live, Laugh, Love | Apr 18, 2009 | |
| dainty | ||
| This is my story of epilepsy | Mar 28, 2009 | |
| hannah_s89 | ||
| My story of JME | Apr 1, 2009 | |
| stephard8183 | ||
| my son | Apr 17, 2009 | |
| judith | ||
| Just Found Out | Jun 13, 2009 | |
| K.roQ | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Epilepsy does not control my life | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| sweettmaidenn | ||
| Police Officer Discharged Regarding Seizures | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| scott west coast | ||
| JAN 26,2006 CHANGED MY LIFE FOR GOOD | Jul 2, 2009 | |
| kimberly1975 | ||
| Concerned Bystander | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| Bystander | ||
| temporal lobe epilepsy | Jul 1, 2009 | |
| dennyxx82 | ||
| Epilepsy is now part of my life | Jun 30, 2009 | |
| Running Free | ||
| MY NEW LIFE WITH EPILEPSY! | Jun 29, 2009 | |
| unicorn26 | ||
| Track Day | Jun 28, 2009 | |
| danniegirl | ||
| My son's seizures | Jun 27, 2009 | |
| Magali | ||
| Who Knows? | Jun 25, 2009 | |
| Sheri Lopez | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,238 | |
| kroiz | ||
| Seizure Cat helps unfold my seizure life! | 591 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 455 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 427 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 400 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 382 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 363 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 324 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Crystal's story | 320 | |
| Crystal11 | ||
| Life......... | 319 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| View all Stories | ||
