Absence Seizures

[Autumn55]

My mother is 52 and was recently diagonsed with Absence Seizures.  She started taking Lamictal about 4 months ago but it doesn't seem to be helping as of yet.  The doctor is continuing to increase her doses.  

I've seen her having her seizures which don't last longer than a minute.  She looks as if she is daydreaming and is unresponsive.  Afterward she is extremely confused.  Usually not knowing where she is, how she got there and what her name is.  Her memory seems to be getting worse all the time at a very rapid pace, even between her seizures.  

She cannot do many of the normal tasks she was able to do such as use a computer, her bank card, or a microwave or stove.  I've noticed that most of her seizures are brought on during times she feels are stressful such as being asked questions about herself, meeting new people or traveling.  

About 10 years ago she was given electric shock therapy for depression, which I feel is horribly wrong and believe to be a possible cause of her seizures.  

She usually knows when she is about to have a seizure, she complains about feeling what she calls "little electric shocks" in her head that she says are similar to the shock you get from a car door.  

After reading more on different types of seizures I've started to wonder is she is having Parietal-lobe seizures.  I was thinking about having her try taking Omega 3 and Co Q10.

I realize regular sleep and meals would help her, however she can't seem to sleep since she is so worried about what's happening to her and that she might forget something.  She is not allowed to drive anymore which is more stress for her.  She also forgets to eat most of the time.  

I haven't really asked any questions here, I was just hoping someone could offer me some advice about anything I could possibly do to help her.  I would be extremely greatful of any opinions or advice.

Thank you so much for your time!

[Autumn55]

Well... It feels like so much has happened to Mom since my first post!  I was calling her about six times a day to make sure she was ok and trying to get her to eat.  I would try to explain to her what pills to take over the phone, since she has nobody that can help her close to home.  She would get so confused about everything and get so depressed.  She was constantly talking about suicide and I was despertly trying to talk her out of it, thinking if I didn't and she did do something, I could never live with myself.  I finally started to wake up and realize I couldn't deny it anymore, she needed help and couldn't be alone anymore.  With much struggle with doctors they finally sent her to a psychiatric hospital where she spent 2 1/2 months.  They did some testing, played with lots of different drugs and came up with nothing other than she needs to move to a Personal Care Home.  They said she might have *false dementia*, whatever that means.  They took her off her seizure meds which I'm struggling to get her back on since she says she has them still.  The have her on some anti-psychotics to help with her paranoia but that's it.  I am trying so hard to help her but I feel like I need to become a doctor first to figure it all out.  Nobody else cares anough about her to put any effort into it it seems.  Sometimes I wish someone else would jump in and take some of the responsibility for it... so I can stop stressing constantly.  I'm beginning to believe its taking a bigger toll on me than on mom.  I feel selfish for saying that... but my brain wants to explode.  I'll just continue to try my best and hope for a miracle.

[kay221]

I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I have juvenile myoclonic and I know what it's like to have an absence seizure. The thing that worried me the most about your posting is that you said she forgets to eat meals. I know she has gone through a lot, including stress and depression. Have you considered any other possible cause such as Alzheimers? I lived with my great grandmother as a child and she had Alzheimers. We had to feed her because she was unable to do that herself. When you noted that she forgets to eat it just gave me a strange feeling in my stomach. I'm currently on lamictal and it's helped me a lot. keep talking to the doctors and good luck!

[peaches653]

Amanda,
Just read your comment there in regards to driving....SO DANGEROUS! You say you are not supposed to and the Depakote does not really help - i take it you are not controlled then - how do you have a licence?? Not only are you putting yourself in danger, you are putting your child and everybody else on the road and near the road in danger too and their lives at risk - for what? Just posting the comment you wrote might make another person with difficult to control epilepsy feel it is okay to take a chance and drive. It is NEVER okay to do this whether you are in a remote area or not. It is highly illegal, you could live to regret it, end up in jail, kill someone including your own child, or kill yourself. A short absence seizure is all it would take. Is it really worth it? I am around the same age as you, with absence seizures daily that are not well controlled and occasional grand mals, I realise and understand the frustration at not being able to drive and do other things when you don't have seizure control, but I am actually in shock reading the above, how casually you said you don't have a choice in driving.. you're right, you don't have a choice, you are not allowed to drive until you are 1 year clear of seizures or whatever the law states for where you live. I cannot believe you put your own child at risk in this way. Please, anybody else reading this who even occasionally has an absence - a brief one is all it could take to kill yourself or somebody else. Be smart.

[Kay0201]

Hi,
I found out I have absent seizures two years ago. I have some of the same symptoms as your mother. My seizures would only last a min or so some time not even that long (at least I think) or I would fall out in the floor like I would pass out or something. I am taken Depokote 700mg every night, but does not really help. I am also not supposed to drive but I have no choice I am 25 years old and have a 5 year old daughter, but i do not go much only when I have to. My memory is also very bad I can never remember anything. I hate to hear this about your mother. I have not learned or figured out when I am going to have an episode I wish I could because that probably would  help at times especially if she is doing something she should stop doing before she has the seizures. When your mother has her seizures does she sometimes jerk? That is how my seizures are it is like I am twitching maybe once or twice or like I had said I would fall out in the floor. I had this problem as a teenager but never thought anything about it then in 2005 they started up again but were worse. I remember one morning I had a cup of something to drink in my hand and the next thing I new I had threw the cup and the drink went every where my husband had gotten it up for me asking me if I was ok,  then I started fixin my husband's lunch for work and I had a knife in my hand and I just fell out in the floor and it scared my husband to death so I went to the ER but they just sent me home said it was probably my medicine I was taken, which I thought was crazy, so I then made an appointment with my Neuro and found out I had seizures. I hate to tell you but I don't think their is really anything you can do for your mother just be their for her. Does your mother have spells where her mind goes blank at times and then not remembering what she was doing or what she was saying? I do that  a lot but have not said anything to my doctor. It is time for my check up with my doctor so when I get my appointment I am going to ask him about it.
Amanda