post pregnancy seizures/treatment/help please!!!

[motherofone0604]

I'm a 34 y/o female who suffered multiple seizures after giving birth to my daughter in 2005.  (I was not diagnosed with pre-eclampsia), but after after giving birth, I suffered numerous head jerking, tongue biting, loss of conciousness seizures, and was diagnosed with Eclampsia.  After that, after the MRIs, CAT scans, and everything else, they said I had a mini-stroke and Leukoencepholopathy (possibly reversible).  I was put on Dilantin.  I had an allergic reaction, so they put me on Depakote.  I was unable to drive for 6-12 months.  The neurologist, after bloodwork, tapered me off depakote. When I went back to my regular drs at the VA, as I am a veteran, they sent me to Neuro.  I began suffering debilitating migraines as well from that ordeal.  They did another MRI.  They (VA neuros) diagnosed me with a seizure disorder.  To treat me, they gave me topamax.  That has helped with the seizures and the migraines.  I occasionally get breakthrough migraines.  They had to adjust the topamax a few times though.  However over the past 3 years, I have also suffered from stomach palpatations, and I'd get really flush and I'd sweat.  And I can't breathe.  I also get tingling and numb in my hands and fingers.  My primary care drs have told me its anxiety.  I told them no its not. I know my body.  It's something more than that.  So they sent me to the gastroenterologists.  They couldn't find anything either.  Well, I was surfing the internet tonight and I came across an epilepsy article that froze me in my tracks.  It was about partial seizures.  It described everything I am having still to this day to a T.  The epigastric sensations and hand/finger tingles and numbness it says are simple partial seizures.  Now, although I haven't had the "big seizures" since 2005, (although sometimes I feel like I am going to have one, I get the symptoms, but I'll take my meds), do I need to have my meds adjusted again?  And will an MRI or CAT scan help the dr. more accurately treat my simple partial seizures?  Is there a treatment for that, or is my topamax supposed to help that?  I take 50mg daily.  And since I have the epigastric sensations a few times a month, will my license be revoked?    Please help me.

[motherofone0604]

no, it's not anxiety.  I do not suffer anxiety.  I am relatively laid back.  My primsry care drs told me it was anxiety, so they referred me to psych.  they told me it does not sound like anxiety or panic attack episodes. They are referring me back to neurology.  I do not drink caffeine, I drink plenty of water, etc...  I do have an upcoming routine appt. with neurology.  I was just hoping to get some info before my appt.  I really don't mind losing my license again for another 6-12 months while my meds get readjusted.  And as far as remembering what is happening, it's my husband who is witnessing what is happening to me, not myself.  

[becky808]

I'm certainly not a Dr, but it's not very common to have different types of seizures. An MRI or EEG would typically show which type of seizures you are having based on where the activity is in your brain.

It does sound to me like you are experiencing anxiety which could also be a side effect of the Topamax. When you take drugs that effect the brain, any number of side effects can occur. How long have you been taking Topamax? Did you also experience the finger tingling and numbness on depakope? Do you have high blood pressure? Are you drinking plenty of water and taking daily vitamins? In someone who had a mini stroke it's pretty important to drink water instead of caffeine. It does sound like you have some problems that are making your life uncomfortable, but from an amateur's prospective I would suspect the Topamax before partial seizures.

Partial seizures are typically caused by having a difficult birth (your own, not your child's). My sister didn't breathe for 15 minutes after being born and has partial seizures. If you were having partial seizures you would not be able to describe what happened during the event. You would not remember. Yes, you would also have your license revoked again if they discovered you were having seizures while medicated.