Epilepsy For support and discussion about Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders.


advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-21-2009, 10:50 PM #1
Phidippus Phidippus is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
15 yr Member
Phidippus Phidippus is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
15 yr Member
Default How will my thinking be affected?

This past year I started developing some very strange headaches and have had two seizures. During the headaches I will experience strange thoughts and changes in affect. I have had EEG on 3 separate occasions and nothing has been found. My neuropsychiatrist suspects tle/fle and so far, both of my seizures this past year have been very FLE in nature - limbs flailing about and everything.

So far I've gotten psycho on most of the anticonvulsants they've given me - Lamictal, Trileptal, Lyrica, Benzodiazapines, Topemax...Should I even be on an anticonvulsant if I've only had two seizures?

My concern is that I have TLE and that somehow my thinking is affected. Does anyone here have temporal lobe epilepsy and what are the differences in your thinking on and off medication?
Phidippus is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 11-03-2009, 08:03 AM #2
RhiannonsMoon's Avatar
RhiannonsMoon RhiannonsMoon is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 111
15 yr Member
RhiannonsMoon RhiannonsMoon is offline
Member
RhiannonsMoon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 111
15 yr Member
Default

Hi Phidippus,

I have TLE and I have more physical symptoms than psychiatric. However at onset stage when I was really bad, I did get quite annoyed with people because I thought I was speaking quite normally, and behaving normally, when in fact I was staggering round like a drunk on pay day, and slurring my speech.

Then I would pass out, especially when at the computer. My head would bang into the monitor, desk, wall then floor, and I'd wake up there some time later. After that I would sleep for up to 12 hours (and called lazy by my ex husband, another reason he's an ex).

I don't go off the medication now because I just get too unwell and have too many sz's, it's just not worth it. I used to miss doses at the beginning and I would have quite strange things happening. I couldn't even take multi-vitamins without having problems.

I still have sz, though they're not as bad as they were when they came back (head injury as a child sz, then 2 more episodes and full onset in my 40's).

Once you get the right medication (that can take quite a while to work out), things will settle and you'll be glad that you are on the medication.

Hope all goes well, keep us posted,

Rhiannon

Last edited by RhiannonsMoon; 11-03-2009 at 08:08 AM. Reason: left something out
RhiannonsMoon is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-03-2009, 08:11 PM #3
Porkette Porkette is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 1,200
15 yr Member
Porkette Porkette is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 1,200
15 yr Member
Default

Hi Phidippus,
Welcome to the forum! I've had TLE for 37 yrs. and just like you I started out by having bad migraine headaches. This in turn lead to absence, and complex partial sz. for me for many yrs. Then about 2 yrs. ago I started to have clonic sz. where I would fall, hit the floor and thrash around. This past August my neuro put me on Keppra and I haven't had a single clonic sz. since then. Often times people who have epilepsy will have an e.e.g. and it will show nothing and that's because the brain damage or scar tissue is to deep in the brain for the e.e.g. to pick up. Your thinking may be affected by the AED's (sz. meds) or it could very well be that the hippocampus of your brain has gotten hard and begun to shrink this in turn will cause short term memory problems. Also if you use a cell phone this will surely shrink the hippocampus and cause many problems for anyone with neurology problems of any kind. I've been told to stay away from cell phones no matter what. If the sz. are coming from the right TL this is an area that shows a lot of emotions and this could also be another reason why you have the problems with memory and thinking. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue
Porkette is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-03-2009, 11:01 PM #4
waves's Avatar
waves waves is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,329
15 yr Member
waves waves is offline
Legendary
waves's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,329
15 yr Member
Default Hi Phidippus

With only two seizures behind you, and "going psycho" when on medication, your question regarding whether to medicate AT THIS POINT is certainly a valid one.

A few considerations:

people who do not have epilepsy can have one or more seizures, and in general do not require medication. However, if you have epileptic seizures, they can be expected to recur, and medication is generally recommended, but not mandatory.

Consider the possibility that you could be having seizures you are unaware of. For instance, suppose you had an absence seizure while driving you blank out for 15 seconds - nothing might happen on a straight road with no lights and no traffic... on the other hand 15 seconds is long enough to drive through an intersection on red and... kersplat. trying more meds would be preferable.

Have you had an MRI? This could help the docs locate any possible lesions or scar tissue that could be causing seizures... and depending on the location, it could help explain your symptoms and get a little closer to what is going on.

Triggers: Can you remember any common elements to your circumstances when you had the seizures, or when you get the headaches? Specific type of lighting/location? food you ate? after physical activity?

the "strange headaches with strange thoughts and changes in affect" could themselves be simple partial seizures. no two simple partials are alike. On the other hand, they could be migraines or other types of headache, which can come with quite a few side dishes, including emotional changes and fatigue. transient changes in cognition occur in some cases.

could you describe your headaches more?
- do you get emotional first - during - after? (or tired)
- how long does the pain last, and would you rate it as mild, moderate, severe?
- does the pain get worse when you move around, or change the orientation of your head?
- does the pain have a throbbing characteristic?
- are they unilateral, bilateral (or describe what part of your head is affected)
- are they accompanied by any changes in your limbs (again one side or both?) - examples numbness, tingling, weakness, limpness.
- changes in vision? (describe)
- droopy eyelid and or tearing?
- speech difficulties? (describe)
- do you get nauseous?
- can you give an example as to how your thinking is "strange" during these episodes?

I do not have epilepsy but i have taken various anticonvulsants... i have had migraines since adolescence and bipolar disorder. I had to do a bit of a merrygoround of AEDs for the Bipolar and now take Depakote which, in the higher doses, helps prevent the migraines but not completely. I notice it is not among the meds you tried. I have had different kinds of migraines including a really wild one where i almost passed out. I also have photosensitive reactions. I have read a lot on migraines, so i might be able to give you some feedback there.

I have had bad reactions with some meds - not so much AEDs, nonetheless i can sympathise. But there are a fair few options out there.

The place to start though is really to try and narrow down as much as possible what is happening to you, as that will also determine which medications might be most helpful. All AEDs are not created equal, and neither are seizures.

One final thing on EEGs - did you have a simple one, one during sleep, one with flashing lights? the flashing lights one might turn up something since, if the headaches you are having are in fact migraines, you are most likely somewhat photosensitive and with any "luck" have a seizure on EEG if you did that type.

i know, i asked more than i answered. but i think there are many possibilities and i feel that further investigation is needed for you to make a safe and informed choice.



~ waves ~ wishing you well.

Last edited by waves; 11-03-2009 at 11:19 PM.
waves is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
How do you feel about your affected limbs? SandyRI Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD and CRPS) 11 06-07-2009 08:40 PM
Autonomic PN - How Has it Affected You? BEGLET Peripheral Neuropathy 5 05-20-2009 09:54 AM
How are you affected? Pricklynic Peripheral Neuropathy 2 05-02-2008 03:29 PM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:23 PM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.