First time seizure

I am a 19 year old female who recently experience my first seizure.  I have never had seizures before, though I do have basilar migraines (1 yr).  About 2 days ago, I felt really weird and decided to sit down on some steps.  THe next thing I knew, I had four cops around me, and two were holding me down.  I thought they were trying to arrest me, so I tried to get up, but they wouldn't let me up.  They called EMS, and they came and took me to a local university hospital, which said I had a seizure.  I called the officers later and they said they found me on the ground in what they presumed to be a grand mal seizure.  They said my entire body was jerking and I was not breathing.  They told me the first seizure lasted 6-7 minutes, I stopped, then began again for about 3 minutes.  I didn't know anything as to what was going on.  When I woke up, I didn't know who I was or where I was, or even worse what had happened.  It absolutely terrified me.  I was already on depakote (500mg per day) for migraines.  My question is, is it normal for seizures to start at my age, and do they come with that kind of intensity?  I am currently looking for a good neurologist because they one I was referred to refuses to listen to me.  Thank you for your help and information.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Seizures can actually occur at any age and can be caused by many different reasons including genetic or hereditary epilepsy, tumor, infection, stroke, metabolic (like electrolyte abnormalities), head trauma, and unknown causes among many others. There is even a relationship with migraine headaches.  New onset seizures in a 19 year old should prompt a full neurological exam, EEG with light stimulation and hyperventilation, and an MRI of the brain as well as more routine laboratory testing.  There is a hereditary epilepsy called juvenile myoclonic epilepsy that typically presents in your age group.  The MRI is normal, but there are classic changes on EEG in reaction to light/photostimulation. Patients usually complain of little jerks or twitches in the morning on wakening or brushing their teeth.  Then they have a generalized seizure (grandmal) at about age 16-19 when they go off to college.  Can be precipitated by alcohol and sleep deprivation. Just a thought. Fortunately there are a lot of medication options for this type of seizure syndrom (syndrome) as well as generalized seizures that aren't a part of the syndrome.
You need a full workup. Get a second opinion at a major academic center nearby for further evaluation and treatment options.  Good luck.

[jan]

Hi,

If you're feeling all alone and want to share your experience with others or read about theirs, this is a good site:

http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&forum=Epilepsy&number=33

That sounds like a commercial. LOL  But the site has been a great help to me and so many others.

Good luck

[Elisabeth]

I had my first seizure when I was 19 as well and a freshmen in college. I continued to have seizures for a year and then they were controled with meds. I ended up taking myself of the meds and have not have a seizure since. Make sure you blanace quality of like with seizure control. Having no seizures won't do you any good if you are so drugged out of your mind you can't function.
Good Luck!