Seizures?

[andrea904]

I would really appreciate any input.  I posted this before but didn't get any response.

Hello, my doctor is not really giving me much info yet, but this is what is going on:
My boyfriend reported that I was having staring spells. I was also having some memory issues, such as mixing up words and not being able to retrieve words when speaking.  I have a master's degree, and I'm a teacher, so as you can imagine this was quite embarrasing to not be able to use common vocabulary words correctly.  I would also mix up the beginning sounds of words, for example substituting "store" for "sore" and so on.   I went to a neurologist and had MRI, EEG, bloodwork, and neuropsychological testing done.  Dr. says EEG had focal abnormalities in the temperal lobe, specifically that in the left temperal lobe there was "one sharp tracing".  My first question is, what exactly does that mean?

I had been on Tegretol for almost 2 years for bipolar disorder.  There is a dispute among several different doctors of mine about whether or not I am actually bipolar.  I personally don't think so for many reasons, but to make a long story short, once the staring spells became noticable, they increased the dosage of Tegretol to 3 times a day since it is also used as an anticonvulsant.  The day after the increase, I had what think may have been a drop seizure.  I slumped over on the couch.  My eyes started watering uncontrolably.  My boyfriend was saying my name and smacking me in the face.  I could see him and hear him, but I could not speak and lost complete motor control.  I did not have convulsions, but rather just could not move.  He said my pupils were huge and eyes moving rapidly.  I was scared but could not voice it.  I came out of it after a few minutes and was extremely tired. Tried to go to work the next morning and my boss sent me home.  I tried calling the dr. and then I slept for 6 hours more.  Dr. called back and he didn't make a big deal out of it, which seemed strange to me.  I have been reading a lot online.  Does this sound like simple partial seizures?  What can anyone tell me about what is going on with me?  Also, should I be getting a 2nd opinion?

A few weeks later, I suddenly received frantic calls from the dr's office.  The girl from the office said dr. is ordering me not to drive under any circumstances and changed Tegretol to Carbatrol.  Now that I am on Carbatrol, I feel very tired.  I also started mentruating about 5 days earlier than I would have normally.  The side effects mentioned calf pain....my muscles in my thighs are sore, and slightly in my calf, but more so in the thigh.  Is this normal?

Anyway, I would appreciate any input or advice from doctors or anyone who has experience similar symptoms or experiences.
Thank you!

[kay221]

Definately go get a second opinion. I was diagnosed with a mood disorder before finding out I hvae epilepsy. I have some of the same symptoms- memory problems, mixing up words and sometimes when I try to talk I just cant get the words out. I dont know, it can be hard to explain. Anyway, be persistent and if I were you Id track my symptoms and write down everytime something just doesnt feel right. This way if you get a second opinion the doctor will have more info to work with since hes not your primary. Plus you wont have to worry about forgetting something. Everytime I go to the drs. I forget something if I dont write it down (must be those memory problems). Good Luck! I hope everything goes well!

[jazz678]

I would advise you go for a second opinion.I dont know if this information is much help to you but i have a 12 year old daughter who suffers with "silent seizures" or they also call this internal epilepsy.Her syptoms would be in class or at home she would be off in a world of her own at times.This problem is going on 3 years now and still looking for the right medication.She suffers with slurred speech and at times forgets how to spell the easiest words her memory would all be puzzled up she do attend speech and language for this problem now in which im told she will need this for a couple of years.The way i know best my daughter is unwell is at first she would get very hot then her vision would get funny to look at her eyes they would be rolling and then she would clapse to the floor i would call her name 3 or 4 times then she would come to but afterwards would be very tired.I did have an m.r.i. done and came back clear.I hope this information will be of help to you and i wish you all the best.

[KixNgo]

Definitely go get 2nd opinions, They should be doing, MRI's, CAT scans, awake and sleep deprived EEG's.. next time (if there is a next) have whoever is near, chevk your pulse, is it racing? is it severely slow?