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Old 12-21-2010, 08:59 PM
Friedbrain Friedbrain is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30
10 yr Member
Friedbrain Friedbrain is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 30
10 yr Member
Default Laura and Mark

I was diagnosed with a seizure disorder 8 ys ago, and haven't been back here in a couple years, or even researched seizures for a couple years, so this is new to me, but makes sense. And I'm so glad!

When my head blew up 8 ys ago, on my second trip to the ER in a month, I was unconscious and seizing the entire way from home to the hospital. My neuro witnessed my status epilepticus in the ER. And yet follow-up testing with a video-EEG and sleep-deprived EEG etc never showed any instability or anything. An epileptologist at the time told me I didn't have epilepsy, which didn't make sense because I definitely had seizures! I still was treated with anti-epilepsy medication (keppra, which reduced the seizures from unconscious grand mal seizures to periodic partials, and then plus lyrica). Back then, it was clear that the seizures were related to my hormones, but that's all I knew.

Now, with my health getting worse following a bad year of stress, I am having breakthrough seizures that are more clearly related to physiological things in my body. I'm even wondering if the Status episode and other major seizure episodes weren't also related to these things. I can't explain it all because that's what I'm back researching, but things that appear to be malfunctioning and are hypothetically contributing (and probably even related, but I'm not yet sure how): sugar sensitivity/insulin, vvv low blood pressure at night may induce my body to over-respond, low blood volume and/or too much salt (not sure), over-sensitivity to adrenaline (almost had a seizure at the dentist and now know to ask for the numbing agent without epinephrine!), etc.

Mark, I wanted to add that there are times, like after I cheated and had pie at Tgiving or too much salt (long story, but doc told me to), my brain was SUPER-startleable (ha, not a word), such that I felt like my brain was ready to explode and light or noise or significant movement would make my heart race and my head start to spin. Sleeping upright helps during those times, fwiw.

In short, I'm interested in learning more about physiological reasons for seizures!
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"Thanks for this!" says:
Mark56 (04-23-2011)