What can cause grand mal seizures?

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Hello. I have a question. I started to have grand mal seizures only in my sleep starting 5 years ago in 2009. There is no family history of epilepsy or seizure disorder in my family. But there is mental illness in my family as well as sleep apnea. I took Dilantin, then Phenytoin, then Tegretol for my seizures. After taking the seiz. med. for a year I stopped them because of emotional and personality problems, and also because of memory loss.

Right now I take no seizure meds for my seizures. I have one maybe two seizures a month, then sometimes I go a month or so without a seizure, then the next month I may have two seizures. All my seizures only happen in my sleep. I am currently unemployed but looking for work. I have no health insurance and therefore can't afford seiz. meds. anyways. After the problems I had with them I would rather have seizures then take meds to stop them. I don't like seiz. meds and think they are worse than stopping the seizures.

My question is this. How can someone know their seizures are caused by some genetic disorder like epilepsy and not caused by some kind of chemical poisoning? I always thought grand mal seizures were caused by epilepsy? Can my seizures be caused by some chemical poisoning? The seizure meds I used to take stopped the grand mal seizures I have. When dr.s first diagnosed me with seizures, they did blood tests but found nothing out of the ordinary, so that makes me think my seizures are real grand mal seizures caused by some genetic disorder like epilepsy. Does anyone know the answers to my questions? Thank you.

Comments

Re: What can cause grand mal seizures?

Submitted by just_joe on Fri, 2013-09-20 - 18:30

I see that you wanted me to know that you had an EEG and that it came up negotive. Fine that happens and it is not due to malfunctions in the equipment. I too had EEGs come up negative but not 1. I had at least 15-20. I was also in a hospital that ran a battery of tests to see why I was having seizures. Believe me you would not want those tests run on you/ Back then technology was not like it is now.Kennedy was still president so the CT scan wasn't arounnd neither was the MRI. how ever they still do spinal taps which ain't realy fun. The last test they ran was another EEG and during that EEG I fell asleep. By falling asleep they found an abnormality (seizure activity). Whit that they went back to a test that would be about like a MRI only the 1960's version.I believe it is a neuro-angeoplasty. They pump air up into your head and take x-rays. Knowning where in the brain the seizure activity cam from they focused in that area. They found scared brain tissue caused earlier in my life. That scared tissue is wher my seizures come from.

As for what was found on the web and cats causing epilepsy because they eat rodents and birds. I had a dog that ate rabbits does that mean my dog caused my epilepsy? The drocot may have talked to the people but does he have positive proof that cats cause epilepsy? Understand I can interview lots of people asking many questions and use their answers to prove the sky is red or green even tho what most people see is blue.

But it was at a charity hospital I went to for the EEG test so what did I expect? They are most likely behind the times in their diagnosis and treatments. With a statement like that you might think those charity hospitals don't know what needs to be done and they don't help anybody. I too have used charity hospitals for assistance. I knew I could get the care I needed and not go to an ER which would jack up the charges and bill me later. You see I have been around this world for many years and know that in almost every town there are free clinics which can help in many ways. I also know that if approched with a problem like your they can and do contact doctors who can look at things. All 3 of my doctors can and do answer calls from several different clinics here in Dallas.

Hop you get the assistance you need

Joe

I see that you wanted me to know that you had an EEG and that it came up negotive. Fine that happens and it is not due to malfunctions in the equipment. I too had EEGs come up negative but not 1. I had at least 15-20. I was also in a hospital that ran a battery of tests to see why I was having seizures. Believe me you would not want those tests run on you/ Back then technology was not like it is now.Kennedy was still president so the CT scan wasn't arounnd neither was the MRI. how ever they still do spinal taps which ain't realy fun. The last test they ran was another EEG and during that EEG I fell asleep. By falling asleep they found an abnormality (seizure activity). Whit that they went back to a test that would be about like a MRI only the 1960's version.I believe it is a neuro-angeoplasty. They pump air up into your head and take x-rays. Knowning where in the brain the seizure activity cam from they focused in that area.  They found scared brain tissue caused earlier in my life. That scared tissue is wher my seizures come from. As for what was found on the web and cats causing epilepsy because they eat rodents and birds. I had a dog that ate rabbits does that mean my dog caused my epilepsy? The drocot may have talked to the people but does he have positive proof that cats cause epilepsy? Understand I can interview lots of people asking many questions and use their answers to prove the sky is red or green even tho what most people see is blue.  But it was at a charity hospital I went to for the EEG test so what did I expect? They are most likely behind the times in their diagnosis and treatments. With a statement like that you might think those charity hospitals don't know what needs to be done and they don't help anybody.  I too have used charity hospitals for assistance. I knew I could get the care I needed and not go to an ER which would jack up the charges and bill me later. You see I have been around this world for many years and know that in almost every town there are free clinics which can help in many ways. I also know that if approched with a problem like your they can and do contact doctors who can look at things. All 3 of my doctors can and do answer calls from several different clinics here in Dallas.  Hop you get the assistance you need Joe

I see that you wanted me to know that you had an EEG and that it came up negotive. Fine that happens and it is not due to malfunctions in the equipment. I too had EEGs come up negative but not 1. I had at least 15-20. I was also in a hospital that ran a battery of tests to see why I was having seizures. Believe me you would not want those tests run on you/ Back then technology was not like it is now.Kennedy was still president so the CT scan wasn't arounnd neither was the MRI. how ever they still do spinal taps which ain't realy fun. The last test they ran was another EEG and during that EEG I fell asleep. By falling asleep they found an abnormality (seizure activity). Whit that they went back to a test that would be about like a MRI only the 1960's version.I believe it is a neuro-angeoplasty. They pump air up into your head and take x-rays. Knowning where in the brain the seizure activity cam from they focused in that area. They found scared brain tissue caused earlier in my life. That scared tissue is wher my seizures come from.

As for what was found on the web and cats causing epilepsy because they eat rodents and birds. I had a dog that ate rabbits does that mean my dog caused my epilepsy? The drocot may have talked to the people but does he have positive proof that cats cause epilepsy? Understand I can interview lots of people asking many questions and use their answers to prove the sky is red or green even tho what most people see is blue.

But it was at a charity hospital I went to for the EEG test so what did I expect? They are most likely behind the times in their diagnosis and treatments. With a statement like that you might think those charity hospitals don't know what needs to be done and they don't help anybody. I too have used charity hospitals for assistance. I knew I could get the care I needed and not go to an ER which would jack up the charges and bill me later. You see I have been around this world for many years and know that in almost every town there are free clinics which can help in many ways. I also know that if approched with a problem like your they can and do contact doctors who can look at things. All 3 of my doctors can and do answer calls from several different clinics here in Dallas.

Hop you get the assistance you need

Joe

Hi- I've had seizures in my

Submitted by erin630 on Thu, 2017-06-01 - 12:25

Hi- I've had seizures in my sleep about every 6 weeks for the past year. Wondered if you found any answers? I've been researching, going through many tests...the latest theory is that I have sleep apnea, caused by swollen thyroid (goiter), causing me to choke in my sleep. Loss of oxygen can cause nocturnal seizures. Thanks if you can reply!