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Memory loss from Seizures
Hello,
Last year I had a spell at work and passed out at my desk, I had been having these spells for a while (6 months) and this day at work I woke with the worst headache of my life. I took some Tylenol and went to work, at my desk I had a spell and thought this one was a strong one and then woke to firemen around me. I have seen 2 neurologists, ENT(I have nasel polyps), sleep specialists, my regular MD and have had countless tests and all show I'm normal. The Neurologists both said it must be a seizure but there is zero to back it up with tests. I was started on Tegretol and it is terrible, I react strongly to any drug and the side effects are all bad. I was switched to Dylantin which was better and now they switched me to the generic which is worse then Dylantin , at least to me. I really wonder if the medicine is causing more seizures as I have huge side effects like a reduced ability to think clearly and my memory has been shot to pieces. I have had a few episodes and lost big chunks of memory, sometimes I could reconstruct it with photos and such but not always. A recent event I had a headache on the way home and the next day did not know where all the stuff I had was from, I called my friend who had been with me and he said I complained of a headache (while driving no doubt) and explained how I had won the things at the computer even the day before. My new job really requires me to remember new things and my spotty memory is a huge handicap. I have been reduced to taking pictures and taking notes on everything which is a lot of work. Recently after switching to the new generic medicine I got my sense of smell back so I will assume there is a steroid agent in the medication as this shrinks the polyps. I react badly to any steroid, very bad which is why I was unable to smell as the polyps had grown back. because I could not take a nasal steroid to shrink them. Any ideas on maybe stopping the medicine with doctor approval of course or changing medicines or maybe a different medicine to try. I really think the meds are a contributor to the memory issues and I need to make a change and see what happens. I do not drink (not one drop since the work incident) and do not smoke, I'm in generally good health and life is going well, stress is moderate but tolerable. I could get into better shape and I'm willing to change to a special diet or exercise program or anything really to get back to having photographic memory like the old days and being able to troubleshoot in a second like the old days. Any help or any questions I will answer.
Million thanks
Nick
Last year I had a spell at work and passed out at my desk, I had been having these spells for a while (6 months) and this day at work I woke with the worst headache of my life. I took some Tylenol and went to work, at my desk I had a spell and thought this one was a strong one and then woke to firemen around me. I have seen 2 neurologists, ENT(I have nasel polyps), sleep specialists, my regular MD and have had countless tests and all show I'm normal. The Neurologists both said it must be a seizure but there is zero to back it up with tests. I was started on Tegretol and it is terrible, I react strongly to any drug and the side effects are all bad. I was switched to Dylantin which was better and now they switched me to the generic which is worse then Dylantin , at least to me. I really wonder if the medicine is causing more seizures as I have huge side effects like a reduced ability to think clearly and my memory has been shot to pieces. I have had a few episodes and lost big chunks of memory, sometimes I could reconstruct it with photos and such but not always. A recent event I had a headache on the way home and the next day did not know where all the stuff I had was from, I called my friend who had been with me and he said I complained of a headache (while driving no doubt) and explained how I had won the things at the computer even the day before. My new job really requires me to remember new things and my spotty memory is a huge handicap. I have been reduced to taking pictures and taking notes on everything which is a lot of work. Recently after switching to the new generic medicine I got my sense of smell back so I will assume there is a steroid agent in the medication as this shrinks the polyps. I react badly to any steroid, very bad which is why I was unable to smell as the polyps had grown back. because I could not take a nasal steroid to shrink them. Any ideas on maybe stopping the medicine with doctor approval of course or changing medicines or maybe a different medicine to try. I really think the meds are a contributor to the memory issues and I need to make a change and see what happens. I do not drink (not one drop since the work incident) and do not smoke, I'm in generally good health and life is going well, stress is moderate but tolerable. I could get into better shape and I'm willing to change to a special diet or exercise program or anything really to get back to having photographic memory like the old days and being able to troubleshoot in a second like the old days. Any help or any questions I will answer.
Million thanks
Nick
Nick - Glad your MRI showed no tumors. I have had two brain surgeries last year, and am currently being treated. I am in good shape, and was home from both surgeries within 48 hours. All appears to be going ok, so far, but the Dr. is cautious. Hopefully, your seizure was a fluke. After my seizure when I was put on Dilantin, I then transferred myself to a much better hospital (Columbia Presbyterian in NYC) and the Dr. was surprised I was on Dilantin. He said that it was an old style drug and then put me on Keppra.
Best of luck to you!
Best of luck to you!
I see, no tumors thankfully ( I hope yours is treatable and you are doing better) and I have had MRI and xray to look for anything and nothing was found. I got an email from my Neurologist today and he agrees with the new plan, taper the Dilantin or should I say the generic version called "Extended Phenytoin Sodium" and then if the issues do not go away we will start again and try Keppra. My daughter was sick today so while she was being seen by her pediatrician I quizzed him on Keppra and he talked about seizures and an interesting comment he made was many many patients have one seizure and never have one again (he deals with kids remember) and it made me think that my seizure was possibly a fluke or just my brains way of coping with the huge stress I was under at at the time(old job). My new job is so awesome and next week I will be going to Vegas on them for a week of training, hey, somebody has to step up and say I will go to Vegas on the company card......8^)
I will report back if I have any issue or no issues for that matter....fingers crossed.
Nick
I will report back if I have any issue or no issues for that matter....fingers crossed.
Nick
Nick,
My seizure was due to an anaplastic cytoma (brain tumor). I wish it was a fluke..... Your seizure was most likely not due to a concusion when you were a kid. If it had to do with head impacts, then boxers or football players would be having seizures.
My seizure was due to an anaplastic cytoma (brain tumor). I wish it was a fluke..... Your seizure was most likely not due to a concusion when you were a kid. If it had to do with head impacts, then boxers or football players would be having seizures.
Hi Nick,
How are you feeling? I feel you are already feeling better. I think you should not go off drugs just like that, but you should taper them slowly and gradually and then you should stop. After stopping one drug, then you can continue on one drug only.
Gradually and slowly you have to taper.
Keep yourself busy with whatever you like.
Hope this helps.
Bye.
How are you feeling? I feel you are already feeling better. I think you should not go off drugs just like that, but you should taper them slowly and gradually and then you should stop. After stopping one drug, then you can continue on one drug only.
Gradually and slowly you have to taper.
Keep yourself busy with whatever you like.
Hope this helps.
Bye.
Lots of comments tonight
I just sent a note to my neurologist and suggested we go off drugs and if that does not work then come back on with Keppra if that is acceptable with him of course. I feel better all ready just thinking about it, maybe now I can use my gym membership and really get into shape. Any thoughts on caffeine or energy drink use?
Nick
I just sent a note to my neurologist and suggested we go off drugs and if that does not work then come back on with Keppra if that is acceptable with him of course. I feel better all ready just thinking about it, maybe now I can use my gym membership and really get into shape. Any thoughts on caffeine or energy drink use?
Nick
Here is my new thinking, my Doctor said I do not have to be treated with drugs at all and the more I think of this I'm willing to try it. Because there has been so little reasoning(for seizures) besides the concussion I had as a kid which is a possibility but why 30 something years later. I believe the real reason was the huge stress I was under at work at the time, I was really angry and frustrated and had huge anxiety, never have I felt this way about my job. I don't know if this could cause the issue but I was really pushing the ragged edge at work. Since then I have done so many things to take away any stress and even left my job after 12 years to take an awesome new job that even pays more money. My home life is far better and with the extra money comes far less stress indeed. I think my reactions to the drugs may be the ride I'm on now and perhaps it is a good time to just wean myself of the drugs with my Dr's help and see what happens. I'm acutely aware of the symptoms and will monitor them very closely indeed to see if there is any continuance, what do you all think, worth a try?
Thanks
Nick
Thanks
Nick
Mike,
Was your seizure diagnosed with a reason why, was it just a fluke out of the blue or any reasoning there, I will check into Keppra and consult my Neurologist as well as Aricept.
Maybe there is hope
Nick
Was your seizure diagnosed with a reason why, was it just a fluke out of the blue or any reasoning there, I will check into Keppra and consult my Neurologist as well as Aricept.
Maybe there is hope
Nick
Nick,
I too had a seizure last year and was put on Dylantin. I had terrible side effects. Spacey all of the time and memory loss. The dr. changed the med to Keppra, which has had no side effects on me, and I have had no seizures.
I too had a seizure last year and was put on Dylantin. I had terrible side effects. Spacey all of the time and memory loss. The dr. changed the med to Keppra, which has had no side effects on me, and I have had no seizures.
Hi Nick,
I think you need to discuss this issue with your neurologist who is treating you. I would suggest starting you on Aricept. This should be started only on prescription of your treating physician. It is used for treatment of Alzheimer’s, but is helpful for short term memory loss.
There are website discussing about this medicine, you can visit one of them and discuss with your neurologist about it.
Hope this helps you.
Bye.
I think you need to discuss this issue with your neurologist who is treating you. I would suggest starting you on Aricept. This should be started only on prescription of your treating physician. It is used for treatment of Alzheimer’s, but is helpful for short term memory loss.
There are website discussing about this medicine, you can visit one of them and discuss with your neurologist about it.
Hope this helps you.
Bye.
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