Concerns about husbands second seizure

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Hi all,

My husband is 24 years old and just had his second seizure yesterday afternoon. His first was a grand mal 14 months ago and he's managed it really well with valproic acid. I'm not so much concerned that he's had his second given the circumstances - missed pills, excessive alcohol and lack of sleep, (family reunion, not usual behaviour) - but more concerned that this one seemed different, more of just a clonic rather than tonic clonic. He's been diagnosed at a rather unusual age according to our neuro, and I'm concerned that it may be changing? Does the medication control severity as well as limit irregular brain wave activity? Can his epilepsy change throughout his life, become more or less severe? He also remembered up to the point of the seizure and most of afterwards which he remembered none of with his first. My second concern is that he develops petechiae around his eyes when he has them, and once in awhile he wakes up with it but less severe, could this be a side effect of the medication? Im a fairly light sleeper and I know I would wake if he had a seizure like the ones he's had and there's also been no other sign of them while he's sleeping. (I've read about sore muscles in the morning, thrashed bedding and side tables etc.) or could he be having a different kind I haven't seen before that's not as violent? Which brings me to my third and worst concern; SUDEP. Is the fact that young adult males are more prone to SUDEP physically based on the fact that they are young and male or based in the fact that young males, let's face it, could lead a lifestyle less than ideal for controlling epilepsy? Social drinking, running on little sleep, forgetting meds.

Any insight on these is appreciated... I would love to meet with his neuro and ask him these things but my husband isn't as concerned as I am and isn't convinced he has to go for an appt.

I'd also love to hear from any other spouses who have found ways to deal with the anxiety. I'm having a very hard time. Thanks so much in advance.

Comments

A person can have more them 1

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2015-08-06 - 15:27

A person can have more them 1 type of seizure. I was diagnosed back before the neurologists went into specializations. I had grand mal (tonic clonic) petite mal (absence seizures) and focal motor epilepsy focal seizures (sinple partial) simple partial seizures can and do generalize which means they morph into other seizures partial simple partial complex partial and into convulsive seizures which look like tonic clonic seizures..So yes seizures can and do change some. I haven't had a tonic clonic seizure since 1970, But absence, simple partial and focal seizures I have had. Medications are created to stop the electrical activity causing the seizure. Some newer medications also help shorten the time in the seizures and time to get back to normal. Keppra being one of the best. Read triggers in the help section. lack of sleep is one and stress another ov the biggies. Alcohol is not recommended. I have had some neurollogists say NO alcohol. I also had some say a drink now and then doesn't hurt. I was a drinker when I was his age and yes it did not help in controlling my seizures. He also needs to make sure all of his doctors know all the medications he takes. One medication can counter the other medications purpose. I don't take many medications because I want my seizure medication to work like it was designed to. I learned how to block things out. meaning I take aspirin for pain rather then pain killers since they can either add to or counter my nedications. Research will show that anybody at anytime can get epilepsy. He may have been having seizures before without knowing it. A absence seizure looks like the person is in a daydream. A focal seizure looks like that to the difference is in one the person doesn't remember what happened during the seizure but in a focal seizure it is focalized in one part of the brain. With mine it is focused in my left lobes that control my right hand. I get a wierd feeling or a numbness which lasts a couple of seconds. As for meds!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the medication is prescribes needs to be taken 2 times a day those times need to be 12 hours apart. Yes there is a reason for that. If he is late in takong them then he might have a breakthru seizure. That is what a delay can do. Forgetting them ummmmmmmmm should never be done. Every day I set mine up. I get them in the morning and set the might meds up which then go in my pocket. They have keychains that can hold pills and I have had them for years. Just ask the pharmicist and they can show you where they are.. I hope this helps and he gets his seizures under control Joe PS I am not saying he can't go out with his friends. I did and drank with them. I also knew the bartenders who knew I only wanted 1 drink with alcohol. So they made all my drinks alcohol free after the first. My drinks looked like everybody elses and we had a great time at the clubs and closing down the bars

A person can have more them 1 type of seizure. I was diagnosed back before the neurologists went into specializations. I had grand mal (tonic clonic) petite mal (absence seizures) and focal motor epilepsy focal seizures (sinple partial) simple partial seizures can and do generalize which means they morph into other seizures partial simple partial complex partial and into convulsive seizures which look like tonic clonic seizures..So yes seizures can and do change some. I haven't had a tonic clonic seizure since 1970, But absence, simple partial and focal seizures I have had. Medications are created to stop the electrical activity causing the seizure. Some newer medications also help shorten the time in the seizures and time to get back to normal. Keppra being one of the best. Read triggers in the help section. lack of sleep is one and stress another ov the biggies. Alcohol is not recommended. I have had some neurollogists say NO alcohol. I also had some say a drink now and then doesn't hurt. I was a drinker when I was his age and yes it did not help in controlling my seizures. He also needs to make sure all of his doctors know all the medications he takes. One medication can counter the other medications purpose. I don't take many medications because I want my seizure medication to work like it was designed to. I learned how to block things out. meaning I take aspirin for pain rather then pain killers since they can either add to or counter my nedications. Research will show that anybody at anytime can get epilepsy. He may have been having seizures before without knowing it. A absence seizure looks like the person is in a daydream. A focal seizure looks like that to the difference is in one the person doesn't remember what happened during the seizure but in a focal seizure it is focalized in one part of the brain. With mine it is focused in my left lobes that control my right hand. I get a wierd feeling or a numbness which lasts a couple of seconds.  As for meds!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the medication is prescribes needs to be taken 2 times a day those times need to be 12 hours apart. Yes there is a reason for that. If he is late in takong them then he might have a breakthru seizure. That is what a delay can do. Forgetting them ummmmmmmmm should never be done. Every day I set mine up. I get them in the morning and set the might meds up which then go in my pocket. They have keychains that can hold pills and I have had them for years. Just ask the pharmicist and they can show you where they are.. I hope this helps and he gets his seizures under control Joe PS I am not saying he can't go out with his friends. I did and drank with them. I also knew the bartenders who knew I only wanted 1 drink with alcohol. So they made all my drinks alcohol free after the first. My drinks looked like everybody elses and we had a great time at the clubs and closing down the bars

A person can have more them 1 type of seizure. I was diagnosed back before the neurologists went into specializations. I had grand mal (tonic clonic) petite mal (absence seizures) and focal motor epilepsy focal seizures (sinple partial) simple partial seizures can and do generalize which means they morph into other seizures partial simple partial complex partial and into convulsive seizures which look like tonic clonic seizures..So yes seizures can and do change some. I haven't had a tonic clonic seizure since 1970, But absence, simple partial and focal seizures I have had. Medications are created to stop the electrical activity causing the seizure. Some newer medications also help shorten the time in the seizures and time to get back to normal. Keppra being one of the best. Read triggers in the help section. lack of sleep is one and stress another ov the biggies. Alcohol is not recommended. I have had some neurollogists say NO alcohol. I also had some say a drink now and then doesn't hurt. I was a drinker when I was his age and yes it did not help in controlling my seizures. He also needs to make sure all of his doctors know all the medications he takes. One medication can counter the other medications purpose. I don't take many medications because I want my seizure medication to work like it was designed to. I learned how to block things out. meaning I take aspirin for pain rather then pain killers since they can either add to or counter my nedications. Research will show that anybody at anytime can get epilepsy. He may have been having seizures before without knowing it. A absence seizure looks like the person is in a daydream. A focal seizure looks like that to the difference is in one the person doesn't remember what happened during the seizure but in a focal seizure it is focalized in one part of the brain. With mine it is focused in my left lobes that control my right hand. I get a wierd feeling or a numbness which lasts a couple of seconds. As for meds!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the medication is prescribes needs to be taken 2 times a day those times need to be 12 hours apart. Yes there is a reason for that. If he is late in takong them then he might have a breakthru seizure. That is what a delay can do. Forgetting them ummmmmmmmm should never be done. Every day I set mine up. I get them in the morning and set the might meds up which then go in my pocket. They have keychains that can hold pills and I have had them for years. Just ask the pharmicist and they can show you where they are.. I hope this helps and he gets his seizures under control Joe PS I am not saying he can't go out with his friends. I did and drank with them. I also knew the bartenders who knew I only wanted 1 drink with alcohol. So they made all my drinks alcohol free after the first. My drinks looked like everybody elses and we had a great time at the clubs and closing down the bars

I started having seizures at

Submitted by pfincher@gmail.com on Wed, 2015-09-02 - 16:48

I started having seizures at 20 years old. My first was a grand mal in front of my mother. I have since had complex partial absence seizures except when I was in the hospital for testing as they took me off my meds (Video EEG). He should see a nuero and talk about the ones hes had so they can determine the best course of action. It is hard though. My seizures started happening more often but I hid this from the doctor.I finally realized that he can't help if I'm not open and willing to admit they are happening. Regarding spouses, my wife left me a few years ago because she couldn't handle them anymore. Stand by your husband no matter how hard it gets. He needs you to be there. Take care. Paul