temporal lobe epilepsy

Hello Doctor,

In the early spring of 1998 I began having "spells" that were eventually diagnosed through an EEG and a neurological exam as temporal lobe epilepsy.  The activity is in my right temporal lobe.  I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of most of my symptoms and how they relate to my seizure disorder, however, there are two aspects of this that I am wondering if you would have any thoughts on.

1)  My seizures have followed a recognizable pattern of greatly increasing during the spring months.  This is the third year in a row that I have observed this.  (I have severe allergies which have not been helped by medication or allergy shots.  My tree allergy is so severe that I must wear a mask at all times when I am outside:  otherwise I have an asthma attack within minutes.)  Could my allergies somehow be triggering increased seizure activity?  I also notice an increase in the frequency of my seizures when I eat certain foods that I am sensitive to.

2)  I am having symptoms involving my eyes that my doctor has not commented much on.  At least 10 to 20 times per day I have a sudden sensation that my eyes are rapidly "darting" of to the side and back again.  I can not control the movement.  Sometimes the jerking movement is so strong that it is momentarily painful.  The eye movement seems to be even more pronounced when I try to focus on something small --  trying to read; plucking my eyebrows; etc.  When I mentioned this to my doctor, he checked for nystagmus by having me follow his fingers with my eyes.  I felt nothing unusual and he didn't see anything unusual either.  Could this uncontrolled eye movement be a symptom of my temporal lobe epilepsy?

Doctor, thank you in advance for your comments.  I am very impressed by this web site and by the respect and caring that you have shown in your replies to our questions.  Keep up the good work!  

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear L.N.

Sorry to hear about your epilepsy.  As you know temporal lobe epilepsy, especially mesial temporal lobe or hippocampal sclerosis is very difficult to control with medication.  Depending on the case, we find that usually surgery is the best treatment, especially when it is in the non-dominant hemisphere.  My initial impression is that your feeling of eye movement may be involved in your epilepsy.  I can't tell for sure, but maybe since it is happening all the time, an overnight stay in the epilepsy monitoring unit might help clarify things.  There are many triggers for seizures, but usually not allergies.  However, the medications that are used to treat allergies, especially the antihistamines have been associated with seizure activity in some patients.  Maybe a switch to another type of medication might help resolve this issue also.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Sidney]

L.N.  I and my son both suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy.  I've had it as long as I can remember, but didn't know what it was.  For a long time  I thought everyone had it.  I found it that it was not normal when  I was about 18.  It was not actually diagnosed until about 10 years later.  I've never noticed that it becomes more active during the spring, but I did find that a few years ago it had gotten to where I was feeling weird all day long. My tongue would feel thick and I just felt strange like every few minutes.  Also, my memory got absolutely horrible.  I finally went to a Neurologist for the first time and was diagnosed with what  I had already diagnosed myself a couple of years before. I had seen something about it in a book called "The Brain has a Mind of its Own". I saw the symptoms and realized it was EXACTLY the symptoms of what I have had my entire life.  I noticed your question about allergies and the doctor's reply about antihistamines.  I found an article once in my search for information on temporal lobe epilepsy that indicated that antihistamines triggered seizure.  I don't if the medication you are taking had antihistamine in it, but I'd take a look at that if I were you.  Good luck.

[Sidney]

L.N.  I and my son both suffer from temporal lobe epilepsy.  I've had it as long as I can remember, but didn't know what it was.  For a long time  I thought everyone had it.  I found it that it was not normal when  I was about 18.  It was not actually diagnosed until about 10 years later.  I've never noticed that it becomes more active during the spring, but I did find that a few years ago it had gotten to where I was feeling weird all day long. My tongue would feel thick and I just felt strange like every few minutes.  Also, my memory got absolutely horrible.  I finally went to a Neurologist for the first time and was diagnosed with what  I had already diagnosed myself a couple of years before. I had seen something about it in a book called "The Brain has a Mind of its Own". I saw the symptoms and realized it was EXACTLY the symptoms of what I have had my entire life.  I noticed your question about allergies and the doctor's reply about antihistamines.  I found an article once in my search for information on temporal lobe epilepsy that indicated that antihistamines triggered seizure.  I don't if the medication you are taking had antihistamine in it, but I'd take a look at that if I were you.  Good luck.

[Kathy]

I do have Allergies up the wazoo. I did figure out that my allergies to almost everyithng effect my brain and my szs.. I then took my findings to some of the top E neuros in the country for it to be labled as "Reflex Epilepsy" where I can bring them on with my alleriges to chemicals, perfumes, foods ect anytime I want..I personally label it as Neurotoxcity-immune damage being my problem. I live an allergy free life. which gives me 90% of my sz control. BTW I no longer take meds A top E neruo suggetsed I wear a nose plug which controls them all when I go into public places.

Good Luck
Kathy