No physiological reason for seizures?

[Nena351]

I am writing on behalf of my mother who was recently diagnosed as having complex partial seizures. We have had 2 EEG (nothing - during the second she had a numb er of seizures but the EEG still showed up normal), 2 CT Scans -normal, and an MRI -also normal.

She had a grand mal and was told initially that it was caused by a stroke. Then it wasn't a stroke but a sodium deficiency and all symptoms appeared to subside with an initial 300 MG dose of Dilantin. 9 days later, smaller seizures began and ultimately the disgnosis was complex partial seizures. Subsequently we have been on a number of drug combinations:

1. Dilantin 300mg
2. Dilantin 360mg + Lamital 300mg
3. Dilantin 360mg + Lamital 300mg+Clobazam 30mg
4. Dilantin 400g + Clobazam 40mg

- and though what the seizures look like has changed/evolved the number of seizures per day is approx. 30+ (Yes, per day). We have recently weaned her off the Lamictal as we believe that this contributed to sleeplessness but now she is having "falling" episodes, some hallucination, even more impaired memory and has even more of her "typical" complex partial seizures.

Has anyone seen/heard anything like this? Any ideas that could be considered?

The poor thing is getting more and more depressed...I would realy appreciate your help

[zoe114]

I am so sorry about your Mom and what your going through as well. I can only speak in reguards to my dog that started having seizures,  I had to put him down 5 months ago...this will not help you..sorry
But have them check her thyroid level. I ran into a woman who helped me understand what my dog was going through and that one the common factor in both the human and dog. Also have them check Potassium level, it is not a comon item for them to check but can be a bad things for anyone, but seems that eldery go very low on this.

Please post what you learn so others will have more understanding for themselves. Hang in there, I know it must be very hard on you right now.  

[medbuss]

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

[PeterPutts]

Hey, I'm actually from Trinidad. I have a brief story on the beginning of the seizure page here. Anyways, your daughter should not be drinking alcohol, period! People who suffer from seizures should be eating healthy, adequately and getting adequate rest, 7-8 hrs minimum. Alcohol is a no-no and water is a yes yes. Usually, they'd say, don't give a person who just had a seizure anything to eat or drink(especially drink), but after all my episodes in the past, when I drank water, immediately I became more aware and had more energy. Your daughter needs to take care of herself and keep herself hydrated. Epilepsy itself isn't as dangerous as say asthma in some cases, but when you fall and injure yourself(I broke my jaw and got concussions), start experiencing slurred speech, forgetfulness to the point that during a sentence you completely forgot what you were going to say....all the time, it's not fun. It's a difficult thing to deal with and few people understand. Epilepsy have killed people before; if you fall and seriously injure yourself, or experience a seizure while driving, swimming...not good, especially if others are in th car. I'm still very afraid to drive, even though I haven't had a seizure for some time; it's always in the back of my mind. And the medications don't help ease the pain. Sometimes, you have to try so much to find the right one or combination for you, and sometimes you never find it, and other times, the medication that seems to work, may need to change as time progresses. I was on both Trileptal and dilantin, and both of them made me sick, and drowsy.

To Nena351, I hope everything works out for your mom. I am of the belief now that epilepsy is not fully understood. Science have standards as what constitutes epilepsy, but so many people have epileptic symtoms and test results are normal. My EEG showed absolutely nothing that was abnormal, according to them, I was fine. But, if I was fine, they wouldn't have had me on meds and monitored me; something was wrong with me. Get a 2nd and 3rd opinion if you have to, try other meds under the watch of a doc of course. Epilepsy can really hinder your life, trust me I know and your mom is in my thoughts and prayers.

[zoe114]

I have a dog that just started having seizures, I thought I would come over on this side and see if there was any information that would help me. From what I have read, it does indeed sound like your daughter has seizures. Something that I wonder about is Calcium and Magnesium work on the energy production in our brain, when I take them at night at times I feel very relaxed. I do not know if this would be helpful with seizures, but you might look and see if anyone has done studies on this. Before you try this with her, take this combonation yourself and see what I mean. I think our food is so milled that we are lacking in some of the minerals our bodies need. This is just a theory on my part. You might add this to her diet but I would also highly suggest that you have her on some medications for awhile, you do not what her to fall and hurt herself.  One other note, I ran into a girl ( actually at the vets) who has seizures and she said she has a low thyroid ( just like my dog) and takes that medication along with anti-seizure med's. One other note, if my dog is around too much activity it can make him go into a seizure, but one traite I have noticed is his head will be hot the day prior an attack. I wish you well.

[cj1011]

I am in a quandry. I thought my daughter was ADD often has difficulty staying on task and is easily distracted. Before my pediatrician would try meds for this with her I was told to do a routine eeg to rule out seizures. Confident this wasn' t the problem we did. After being told their were some abnormailies and 3 eegs including a 2-day study at home the dr. says there is seizure activity without showing an actual seizure.I have never noticed any symptoms till Halloween. She got stuck staring at a stobe light she had an odd half smile on her face and while heard us talking to us did not look away from the light and afterwards reported seeing colors. She was not tired and acted fine afterwards so I wasn't sure if this was something to be concerned about. Her dr. thought it was a seizure and suspects she is at risk for complex partial seizures. I don't want to jump the gun and medicate for something she may not have. Advice please.? Dr will retest in 2 months.

[PLougee]

My 32 year old, adult daughter had her first seizure about 6 years ago when she was in Trinidad with a friend.  It was very hot, they were not drinking water, and she had a few beers.  During the night, in her sleep, she had a grand mal seizure.  This was the first time she ever experienced a seizure and it terrified her when it was finally over.  She was admitted to the hospital and then told to see a doctor when she returned to the US.  Since then, she has a seizure about every 6 months to a year.  In all, she has had about 6 or 7.  I witnessed the first one two days ago when she came home for Christmas.  After reading posts on several websites I can say that she definitely had a grand mal seizure.  She has seen specialists and they tell her that they can find no reason for the seizures.  However, it seems that they happen after she has had beer or wine which can make her dehydrated.  As soon as she feels the "aura" begin she drinks water and can sometimes keep it from happening.  Not so two days ago.  I heard her cry out and then heard her fall to the floor.  When I got to her she was having a seizure and I think it lasted about 2 minutes, from start to finish.  My daughter occasionally has wine or beer, never daily and never much.  But after these happen she says it's been within a day after having had some alcohol.  Is there any connection to occasional alcohol and dehydration and grand mal seizures?  She isn't taking any medication for this or anything else.  There is no evidence of epilepsy and to my knowledge no one else in the family, on either side, has seizures.  Anyone out there having a similar experience?

[kallily]

I forgot to mention. No Dr. has ever been able to specifically tell me why I have seizures either. They just keep telling me that it is genetic and that someone else must have seizures in my family. But no one does. So I've had to let the why's go. Each day is a new day, with new choices and possibilities.

[kallily]

I have found that drs really don't know that much about the brain. I have had epilepsy since I was 2 yrs. old. I have gran mal seizures if not treated. I had many as a child and seemed to be related to emotions. If I got hurt, excited, overwhelmed...I would have a seizure and it was always gran mal. This was many years ago and back then they would not diagnose me as having epilepsy because that would mean that I couldn't attend a regular public school. This was back in the 50's. I wasn't actually diagnosed until the 80's. Like your mother they put me on Dilantin. I had a lot of trouble on this drug. My balance was off. I was depressed and spacey. I felt weird and just didn't like the way I was feeling. I went to the Drs and he was simply studying me while on this medication. I told him of my symptoms. He then left the room, entered a room next door and began recording my symptoms on the medication. He didn't help me but expressed that I should just give it time. After that I got another Dr. he put me on Tegretol, that was in 1988. I haven't had any problems since. I'm sharing this with you because I want to encourage you to be your own advocate. You know how you feel. You know the rapour you have with your Dr. This drug may or may not be the right one for you. There are many out there now that treat Epilepsy. You are not bound to one drug. Your quality of life is what your interested in and if this drug isn't making your life 'better' than I would try another Dr. or another medication. Take care and don't give up or get depressed about it. There are other choices.

[bjphlieger]

My father just went through a similar experience, but was having seizure like activity every 3-4 hrs the first two days and then every hour and a half the next day.  It eventually went back to fewer.  All tests came back normal.  They also diagnosed him with depression saying his brain is reacting to the depression by having what looks like seizures, but is really not.  Somehow I don't truly believe it either.  A little bit different scenario for us because my father has either a brain tumor, cyst, or encephalomalacia.  Doctors give different diagnosis so it's hard to say what was actually put in his file.  I know how hard it must be for you to go through this.  We thought we were losing my father, and it sounds like your mother is having a worse time.  You'll be in my thoughts.  Please keep us posted as to what you find out, if anything!!!

[dollyn]

I am very sorry your mom is going threw all this .

my ten year old son has seizures and they do change.

being depressed  can cause you to have more seizures,I would see about getting her to someone to talk .

I know it is hard not being depressed with all she has gone threw.

and since she is now fallen ,you need to make sure the home is safe like  you would for a baby. Use the back burns on the stove, so if she was to fall into the stove she would be less likely to her burnt.

and with having that many seizures every day is she sleeping a lot?
Because the seem to make you sleepy after you have them.

hope and pray that your mom and your family are doing better.