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Hormones and seizures

Thu, 04/19/2018 - 15:59
Hi everyone, I'm new to this site so I apologize if this has been discussed already. I've been dealing with seizures for about 3.5 years now. My very first one was when our first child was 8mo old. I was breastfeeding still and had not started having periods again yet. I had another 6wks later and then my periods started back about a month after that and the seizures stopped (I had not started taking medication). I got pregnant again a few months later and had a seizure around 5wks so I was started on Keppra and had a miscarriage a few weeks later (blighted ovum). I have been on Keppra since and take 750mg twice a day. I got pregnant again and had our child May 2017. I had another seizure on Feb 24 & another yesterday (6.5wk apart). The seizures seem to be following a pattern in my late post partum period and that I have catamenial epilepsy. We believe all my seizures are hormonal related. Our regular neurologist wasn't very helpful in looking into this possibility, so we have begun working with a neuroendocrinologist. I'm just wondering if other women have had similar issues and patterns with seizures and fluctuating hormone levels. Please share your experiences and if you've found anything that works!! Thank you!

Comments

My seizures were always worse

Submitted by Kathy781 on Sun, 2018-06-17 - 11:07
My seizures were always worse and more frequent when it was "that time of the month". It never failed. Although this is telling you I'm not a "spring chicken" but menopause has helped them more than any medications ever did.

I have had seizures since I

Submitted by Free 2 B Me on Fri, 2018-06-22 - 20:18
I have had seizures since I was 13 yrs old. That is when my body started going through puberty. I have seizures monthly around the time of my cycle. It's due to high level of estrogen during that time of the month. My neurologist has put me on the depo shot which has helped a little bit b/c it's a high progesterone contraceptive which lowers my level of estrogen a bit. I still have cluster seizures monthly and am on keppra and lamictal. If I'm stressed or don't watch what I eat I am more likely to have them as well.

Hi, I am new to this site and

Submitted by tsm4583 on Tue, 2018-08-28 - 13:50
Hi, I am new to this site and just read your post. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 14 and have been dealing with a similar issue for over 20 years. Every seizure I've ever had I've been on my menstrual cycle and my neurologist has never wanted to really explore the hormonal aspect of my epilepsy. I was seizure free for about 12 years with a combination of topamax and birth control pills and 2 years ago I stopped everything to try and get pregnant and I've since had 4 seizures. I have been trying to find a neuroendocrinologist so that maybe I could find some answers,  could you recommend yours? Thanks so much!!Tsm4583@aol.com 

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