neurology-seizure

[RUJO31]

seizures from alcohol-relationship withdraw had seizure March 7 ( 2) and again March 14 (3)  was in hospital for 10 days, ER/ MD put me on Dilantin, ordered new EEG,had  June 15, normal reading. after review of EEG, had my drivers licence pulled and ordered another EEG. for mid Aug/early Sept. MY QUESTION is why, when these seizures are alcohol withdraw related, not epilepsy.  I have been dry since that day of March 7 and do go to A/A
I'm male, age 51...my family doctors aditude is " well this is self inflicted and you are low on a neuroligist lits of things to fix"

[caregiver222]

You experienced an epileptic seizure. The seizure defines the condition. You have epilepsy.

The epilepsy, in your case, may resolve after a year and you may regain your driving priviliges, so don't give up hope. You will need written approval from a physician.

The question is whether or not the long-term use of alcohol has permanently damaged your brain in such a way as to make it prone to seizures. Maybe yes and maybe no. Let's be optimistic.

I know it will be difficult, but you must resolve never again to take another drink.

It is unusual to put someone on dilantin after a single seizure. I suspect during your ten day stay there were several.

There is no specific treatment, so your physicians are not ignoring you.

It's just a period of "watchful waiting", for at least a full year.

After that time, if you are still seizure free, they may try to wean you off the dilantin.

You cannot drink on dilantin.

Good luck.

[ggreg]

Good grief, sorry your doc was unsympathetic, to say the least.  They took your license because if a person might have a seizure, it is too dangerous for them to drive.  Once some time passes and you are no longer in danger of seizure, you'll get your license back.  And I hope you realize that becoming an alcoholic is not "self inflicted" as your family doc said, so I hope you will eventually switch to another doc that is more professional.  As for your withdrawal seizures being "low on a neurologist's list of things to fix," that too is ignorant.  I mean, let us suppose that they are not withdrawal related.  Maybe you DO have a seizure disorder that just happened to show itself when you quit drinking.  Seizures are dangerous to a person irregardless of their origin, too many and lasting too long might damage the brain!  Therefore any neurologist would want to get the diagnosis straight and fix you.  

I am not sure about whether epileptics are allowed to drive, I think you could do a little online research and find out what the driving laws are in your state on that.  And to find out EXACTLY when you will get your license back, if your seizures are withdrawal related, simply inquire at the place that took your license away.  I'm a recovering alcoholic, more than 25 years straight, and I'm glad I didn't get your treatment when I was pretty vulnerable that first year.  So, that's why I have written a little extra for you, so you won't feel a need to "explain yourself" to anybody.  You answer to you.  It's very inconvenient in today's world to be without a driver's license, but just accept it and work out transport, and put all your concentration on living a clean life.  Eventually it'll stick like glue, to where if someone put a million dollars on the table and said it was yours if you had a drink, and you can tell them where to put their money.