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Seizures/Sleeping/Menopause
Tue, 03/01/2005 - 19:49Comments
RE: RE: Seizures/Sleeping/Menopause
Submitted by Lynn610 on Wed, 2005-03-02 - 11:19
RE: RE: RE: Seizures/Sleeping/Menopause
Submitted by cricket2674 on Wed, 2005-03-02 - 12:02
Isn't that interesting. When I went to the neurologist last time, my husband went with me (we sleep in separate beds). He described my memory loss, confusion and headaches to the Dr, and the Dr. said that those were all common post-ictal symptoms. As a matter of fact he was surprised that I hadn't reported any of them before. He says that all that abnormal electrical activity is almost like having a concussion or brain injury. What I didn't report to the dr. was my emotional state for the next 3-4 days. I was so anxious and depressed...I felt like crying most of the time, for no reason. I also had this weird feeling that I was trying to remember something and I would almost get that thought into the part of my brain where it needed to be ...but it wouldn't quite get there. I had this feeling that if I didn't remember it something terrible was going to happen. I didn't think it was because of the seizure because it lasted for such an extended period of time and I hadn't ever experienced it with previous seizures.I was not interested in anything but sleeping or resting. It was just awful, so I logged on to this website and read a little about epilepsy and depression. Just finding out that depression often accompanies epilepsy seemed to reassure me. I don't know if it was that information, or it was just naturally enough time for it to subside, but I seemed to get over it then. In the meantime I have developed a new empathy for anyone who suffers from depression, especially if it's long term. How on earth do they face each day feeling that way? My heart goes out to them.
I will now pay extra attention to my moods after I have a seizure and make sure I mention it to the Dr. next visit. I have also read that Keppra can affect you emotionally, even to the point of being suicidal.
By the way I often make repetitive movements with my hand when I'm having a seizure, i. e. turning my food over and over if I'm eating or swaying from side to side if I'm standing. Again, it's only because people tell me that I know about this because I am completely unaware.
Are you on medication? I've read on this website about other people having a headache as well. Some of the AED's can cause a headache too. One thing I learned is to be very upfront with my Dr. about side effects. I was on Dilantin and even though the dosage had been reduced twice I was feeling a little dizzy. I thought I would just suck it up and live with it but then one day when I was cooking I turned too quickly, lost my balance, and came VERY close to landing on the hot stove burner (1/4 in. away).
As for finding out about why I started having these, I don't think I'll ever know for sure, I've never had a serious head injury. One of the Drs told me it could be the result of having a high fever as a child, but then another Dr. told me that was just their way of saying "I don't know". Everybody has probably had a high fever when they were a child.
Be careful when you're out there Lynn. I'm not afraid of this condition either but it does require some adjustments to your lifestyle. Keep checking this forum for information too. I have found it very reassuring. Cheers...
Isn't that interesting. When I went to the neurologist last time, my husband went with me (we sleep in separate beds). He described my memory loss, confusion and headaches to the Dr, and the Dr. said that those were all common post-ictal symptoms. As a matter of fact he was surprised that I hadn't reported any of them before. He says that all that abnormal electrical activity is almost like having a concussion or brain injury. What I didn't report to the dr. was my emotional state for the next 3-4 days. I was so anxious and depressed...I felt like crying most of the time, for no reason. I also had this weird feeling that I was trying to remember something and I would almost get that thought into the part of my brain where it needed to be ...but it wouldn't quite get there. I had this feeling that if I didn't remember it something terrible was going to happen. I didn't think it was because of the seizure because it lasted for such an extended period of time and I hadn't ever experienced it with previous seizures.I was not interested in anything but sleeping or resting. It was just awful, so I logged on to this website and read a little about epilepsy and depression. Just finding out that depression often accompanies epilepsy seemed to reassure me. I don't know if it was that information, or it was just naturally enough time for it to subside, but I seemed to get over it then. In the meantime I have developed a new empathy for anyone who suffers from depression, especially if it's long term. How on earth do they face each day feeling that way? My heart goes out to them.
I will now pay extra attention to my moods after I have a seizure and make sure I mention it to the Dr. next visit. I have also read that Keppra can affect you emotionally, even to the point of being suicidal.
By the way I often make repetitive movements with my hand when I'm having a seizure, i. e. turning my food over and over if I'm eating or swaying from side to side if I'm standing. Again, it's only because people tell me that I know about this because I am completely unaware.
Are you on medication? I've read on this website about other people having a headache as well. Some of the AED's can cause a headache too. One thing I learned is to be very upfront with my Dr. about side effects. I was on Dilantin and even though the dosage had been reduced twice I was feeling a little dizzy. I thought I would just suck it up and live with it but then one day when I was cooking I turned too quickly, lost my balance, and came VERY close to landing on the hot stove burner (1/4 in. away).
As for finding out about why I started having these, I don't think I'll ever know for sure, I've never had a serious head injury. One of the Drs told me it could be the result of having a high fever as a child, but then another Dr. told me that was just their way of saying "I don't know". Everybody has probably had a high fever when they were a child.
Be careful when you're out there Lynn. I'm not afraid of this condition either but it does require some adjustments to your lifestyle. Keep checking this forum for information too. I have found it very reassuring. Cheers...
RE: Seizures/Sleeping/Menopause
Submitted by cricket2674 on Wed, 2005-03-02 - 10:44
I came to this discussion this morning because I think I might have had a partial complex seizure last night. I am blown away by some of the similarities I found here between me, "cookie-party", "renezellweg" and "Lynn". I am 55, menopausal...at last , have had epilepsy for about 4 years but wasn't diagnosed for a yr. and a half. I've lost 85 pounds doing Atkins' diet but can't seem to get back on track with it right now. I am unable to work until my seizures are controlled so made a commitment to myself to get fit. Now I go to the gym 3 times a week, and am currently training for a 10K run, but can't get my nutrition under control and am starting to gain weight again. @#$#. Your comments and notes about diet, exercise, sleep deprivation and menopause really made me think. I recall mentioning menopause and sleep deprivation to my neurologist but he didn't make any positive connections. Hormonal activity can stress your body so maybe he just added it to the long list of potential causes.
I have tried several AED's, currently on Lamictal, just started Keppra and I'm tapering off Dilantin. When I have a seizure I go off to the twilight zone for about 3 minutes, saying and doing weird things, even undoing my clothes or trying to remove them. I used to have an average of 5 seizures a month and, although all of the meds. have reduced the number of seizures, none have given me complete control without causing too many intolerable side effects. I am a relentless optimist and know that it's just a matter of time before I get on to the right combination of medication.
I have no warning of the seizures, no awareness when I'm having one, and no memory of it after it's over. I have to rely on someone else's observation, usually a family member, in order to confirm that I have had a seizure, and even then I sometimes argue with them. If I had a seizure around someone who didnt know me pretty well, they might just chalk it up to thinking I was a little too scary to talk to. I sleep alone, so how would I know if I had one while I was sleeping?
Sometimes in the post-ictal stage, I have a severe headache and vomit. I also feel very confused and "fuzzy". The post-ictal symptoms vary in severity though, but when I got up to use the bathroom this morning, I had a slight headache, and I noticed that all the cabinet doors and drawers were wide open and "stuff" was everywhere....very unusual for me. Since I'm changing medication I want to be able to track seizure activity carefully. Maybe I'll just record this as a question mark.
As usual, hearing what other people have to say makes me feel a little less weird. It reminds me that my problems are small in comparison and you don't have to look very far to find someone dealing with far worse problems than epilepsy. Take care everyone.
I came to this discussion this morning because I think I might have had a partial complex seizure last night. I am blown away by some of the similarities I found here between me, "cookie-party", "renezellweg" and "Lynn". I am 55, menopausal...at last , have had epilepsy for about 4 years but wasn't diagnosed for a yr. and a half. I've lost 85 pounds doing Atkins' diet but can't seem to get back on track with it right now. I am unable to work until my seizures are controlled so made a commitment to myself to get fit. Now I go to the gym 3 times a week, and am currently training for a 10K run, but can't get my nutrition under control and am starting to gain weight again. @#$#. Your comments and notes about diet, exercise, sleep deprivation and menopause really made me think. I recall mentioning menopause and sleep deprivation to my neurologist but he didn't make any positive connections. Hormonal activity can stress your body so maybe he just added it to the long list of potential causes.
I have tried several AED's, currently on Lamictal, just started Keppra and I'm tapering off Dilantin. When I have a seizure I go off to the twilight zone for about 3 minutes, saying and doing weird things, even undoing my clothes or trying to remove them. I used to have an average of 5 seizures a month and, although all of the meds. have reduced the number of seizures, none have given me complete control without causing too many intolerable side effects. I am a relentless optimist and know that it's just a matter of time before I get on to the right combination of medication.
I have no warning of the seizures, no awareness when I'm having one, and no memory of it after it's over. I have to rely on someone else's observation, usually a family member, in order to confirm that I have had a seizure, and even then I sometimes argue with them. If I had a seizure around someone who didnt know me pretty well, they might just chalk it up to thinking I was a little too scary to talk to. I sleep alone, so how would I know if I had one while I was sleeping?
Sometimes in the post-ictal stage, I have a severe headache and vomit. I also feel very confused and "fuzzy". The post-ictal symptoms vary in severity though, but when I got up to use the bathroom this morning, I had a slight headache, and I noticed that all the cabinet doors and drawers were wide open and "stuff" was everywhere....very unusual for me. Since I'm changing medication I want to be able to track seizure activity carefully. Maybe I'll just record this as a question mark.
As usual, hearing what other people have to say makes me feel a little less weird. It reminds me that my problems are small in comparison and you don't have to look very far to find someone dealing with far worse problems than epilepsy. Take care everyone.