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TIAs vs. epileptic seizure

I'm 31 yrs old and took seizure meds for over 10 yrs due to 2 grand mal seizures many yrs ago. I had about a 1 year history of petit mal seizures when I started meds. I discontinued my meds (phenobarbitol, 90mg/day) about 7 mos ago.  My MRI was completely normal.  No problems till now.

On Sat. I had some neurological problems that were very different from my past experiences. Everything I've read sounds like it was a migraine aura, but I only had a mild headache afterwards and have no history of headaches or migraines. It started with a blank spot in the vision of my rt eye which spread to almost the whole rt side of my field of view. It was not so much a 'blind spot' as it was a zigzag of colors where things became indistinguishable from one another. I was cold and shaky, like I was in shock, and had some anxiety. About a 30-45 min later 3 fingers on my rt hand became numb, and it slowly spread up my arm.  I also had some numbness in my tongue.  I thought it might be a blood sugar problem and drank a glass of water with 3 tsp of sugar. The numbness cleared up within about 5 min.  My head is still a bit fuzzy.

This was distinctly different from anything I ever felt with seizures. The seizures I had in the past consisted of the 'classic' symptoms of anxiety, nausea, pungent odor, confusion, deja vu and a metallic taste in my mouth. What I felt on Saturday was nothing like this.

I made a docs appt for next week.  I tried to get one asap, but I live in Germany and my German is not so good.  Is this soon enough?  Was this a TIA or is it likely related to epilepsy?  Or both?
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Avatar universal
Thanks, Donna.  No meds are causing the thirst...all I'm taking is birth control.  I'd be surprised if it was anxiety since I had no such problems during my thesis write up (when I was under a LOT more stress!).  I guess it's probably related to my nervous system and stopping the meds.  Unfortunately, the doctors I've been to offer no suggestions, and the only one who might be able to - the neurologist - I can't afford to visit and my insurance company refuses to pay (pre-existing condition clause).  Sadly, I think I'll just have to learn to live with it...
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Avatar universal
Hi, just wondering if you might be taking a medication that would cause you to drink so much.  I'm on Dilantin and drink even more than you! I also had surgery (hysterectomy in Feb.) and just got through with getting a growth out of my throat. I get pain going down my left leg, which I figured out it was my bowels causing the pain. Hopefully your probelm is just anxiety; although, I shouldn't say "just" because it's hard to deal with.Hope things work out well for you.  Donna
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Avatar universal
The symptoms you describe could be consistent with a TIA, migraine, or seizure. Given the fact that you have had seizures in the past, re-evaluation to exclude these as seizures is recommended. Also, the fact that you are an otherwise healthy 31 year old makes a TIA less likely.

Therefore, seeing the doctor is reasonable to have this re-evaluated. If this happens again cover each eye independantly to determine if the visual problem is only present in one eye or both. This will help your local doctor. Good luck.
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Avatar universal
Maybe I should also add that I have been having other medical problems.   About the same time that I stopped my meds (7 mo ago) I had rt side abdominal surgery, and I have been having complications from that which all point toward adhesions.  Tests (blood and urine tests, abdominal CT scan, colonoscopy) all come out normal, though I have had thirst causing me to drink 5 liters/day, side pain which sometimes extends down the inside of my thigh, eczema, etc., etc..  If, by some random chance, I had adhesions restricting the flow of blood in the femoral artery, would this cause such problems as this episode last weekend?  Does anyone have any suggestions?
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