memory loss

[momma9803]

May 2007 I had a seizure.  (the only one I have ever had)  Was in the hospital for 3 days so they could figure out what the problem was.  The dr didnt know why I had one.  Since then I have suffered memory loss on 3 occassions.  I call them blackouts, because I didnt remeber anything for about 4 days in a row each time.   In fact, according to my sister I carried on as if I was feeling fine.  Even driving.  She said I was as if I had been drinking(wasnt drinking)  On two of those occasions I have woken up in ER.  The 1st time I went the dr stated that I had taken 15 xanax and I had taken quite a bit of either tylenol or Ibuprofen.  I would like to know if this could be related to the seizure I had. Can I still be having seizure activity?  I am on 100 mg 2x day of Lamictal and 40mg of paxil.  All three occasions I didnt remeber anything not even my own name.  The funny thing is a few hours before this happens I felt "disconnected"  I would like to know what else could be happening to me.   I would like to take care of this very soon.  I have two children(9 &4) I am worried about what could happen if this happens again and I am alone with them.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Topchef1971]

I was put on Wellbutrin by Amy Doctors in basic training. I did not graduate. When I was sent home I was put on paxil, when I found myself lost and confused as to where I was. I could not remember anything. I was later put on celexa by Dr. Amy Parry in Liberty Missouri. I was put on Depicote by the Kansas State Mental Hospital. I was aldo put on Depicote in Oklahoma at a mental health hospital. Then the Doctors at my tribal hospital put me on Trazodone, and xanex. I feel like the doctors are using me as a pharmaceutical guinni pig. I was a truck driver, and experirnced several black outs while driving down the hi-way. That put me out of work. I have a severe memory loss problem now. I have quite a few years that I have lost in my memory. I have a very bad memory retention problem now. I can't even remember recipes at school for cooking. I am going to Le Cordon Bleu. I thought How could I mess up cooking? I like to cook and have cooked all of my life. I have even tried to cut my wrists open, because it is getting so bad. Even though I quit taking these drugs on my own, the memory loss is still there, and getting worse. The doctors don't know why I am having these problems. I am so fatigued as well all of the time, no matter how much sleep I get. Is their help for me?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The crab football head injury does not seem to be significant.

The seizure looks like a generalised one. But it could also have started with some part of the body and spread all over. (Partial with secondary generalization).

The 'black-outs' you have had seem to be the memory loss associated with a seizure. In a 'complex partial seizure', one is not aware of the surroundings, and may have certain facial movements,  like, lip-smacking.

I suggest you get another EEG done. And also take your Neurologist's appointment.

Regards

[momma9803]

Thank you Dr.  The only thing they told me about the EEG was that I had a seizure.  As for the seizure I had...I  don't remeber any of it.  My husband told me he came into the kitchen and saw me on the floor "jerking and twitching"  I had a little bit of blood coming from my mouth and my eyes were closed.  He said he had to put something under my head before he called the ambulance.  I was banging my head quite a bit!!!  The only thing I remeber from this experience was that headache.  It was the worst headache I have ever had.  As far as head injury before that.  When I was in 9th grade(1981/1982) my mother said I was kicked in the head.  We were playing crab football in school.  That is the only head injury I can recall.  

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Since you were admitted in the hospital for three days, I guess all the required investigations were done. I would like to know particularly about the EEG report. An EEG is a sensitive test to detect seizure activity in the brain.

Also, it will help if you could describe your first seizure that occurred in May 2007. It is possible that the other incidences of memory loss were actually post seizure, but the seizure may not have manifested in body movements.

Your brain might still be having the activity. It can be found out by doing the EEG test.

Did you have any infections or head injury recently (Before May 2007) ?

Regards