Hi,
I'm Sandy an older woman living in Delaware.
Tuesday night I was sitting at the computer and woke up on the floor with a bloody head. Obviously I fell off the stool and don't know anything for about 40 minutes. I did see flashing lights (aura) before ...have had migraines in the past but not recently.
I had just taken a "herbal" blood pressure reduction pill but I've taken them before.

The hospital claims I had a seizure and supposedly I had another in the hospital.
My mind is still pretty confused.
Medicine is 500 mg Keppra 2x a day and it makes me dizzy and my mouth hurts.
I have dr appt Thurs. I have no idea if dr is "any good"..this is all new
I've read some awful side effects about the medicine...not sure where to turn or what next.
I would really value any advice on not gaining weight. I worked so hard to lose the weight I lost (over eaters annoymous). I am a compulsive overeater. If I gain it will be bad for my mental and physical health
another thing I read this medicine is bad for thinning bones and I already have osteoporosis (scary)
I hate to impose on my kids to walk my big dogs. I have a wonderful talkative parrot and it will be like the end of the world if I have to give him up.
Transportation to dr is an issue here in Delaware but I'm looking into what's available.
Will I not be allowed to drive forever???

Thanks in advance
Sandy

Hi Sandy,

Welcome to the forum! From what you have discribed this sounds like you had an aura seizure that led into a absence (petit mal) or complex partial seizure. I have all 3 types of these seiuzres. It could have been the bright colors from the computer screen that triggered your seizure this is known as being photosensitive meaning certain colors will cause a person to have seizures. Before I started to have seizures I started having migraine headaches then about 1 yr. later the seizures started up.
You should go to a university hospital where they have an Epilepsy Center and see an Epileptologist (Dr. specializing in epilepsy). I've gotten the best help seeing an Epileptologist compared to any neurologist I've ever seen and the Epileptologist is more updated on the epilepsy compared to any neurologist I've ever seen.
I tried taking keppra but I found that the drug increased my seizures and I was totally exhausted and never was able to get enough sleep no matter how much rest I got. I finally asked my Epileptologist to do an DNA test on me and they found I was drug resistant to any AED's (anti epileptic drug) so they put me on the best that they could which was diamox which is also a diuretic,mysoline, and vimpat. I have also found that taking vitamin B12 once a day has helped reduce my seizures because the vitamin B12 calms the nerves. If you haven't started keeping a journal get a calendar and write down what time you had a seizure along with a discription of the seizure by doing this your Dr. may see a pattern in your seizures what time of day/night you have any seizures or what days of the month you have more seizures. Also write down when you are sick or if there's a low pressure in the weather because these 2 things along with lack of sleep and stress can trigger seizures for many people. I wish you only the best and May God Bless You!

Sue