Hi,
I'm brand new, and wrote the following on my profile page, but since it IS why I'm here, I guess it belongs there, too.
My story:
I was in my last college class before obtaining my degree in web development when I started having problems with focus and concentration. As an A student, this was especially frustrating, but I was pulling C's and was determined to get through it. Then, halfway through my last class, I experienced a grand mal seizure. I had never experienced a seizure before and epilepsy does not run in my family . Try as they might, two years later, I have been having 2-4 "big ones" and several petit mals a month and they still haven't figured out what is causing the seizures. In the last year or so, I have been experiencing the symptoms of perimenopause and I have a sneaking suspicion that it was somehow the onset of that that is causing my seizures, especially given that my grand mals always occur during my period (which is hard to track - 28 days one month, 23 days the next, 31, or skip...) and at the time I am or would be ovulating. My first grand mal actually occurred at the time I would have been ovulating. Tried Dilantin and it caused a lot of side effects, but did not slow down my seizures. I am now on Lamictal, which has helped with mood, but I am still seizing. My doc blows me off when I bring up the correlation between my cycle and the seizures. I don't know what to do, but I won't give in on what I recognize to be true. I thoroughly believe my seizures began at the onset of perimenopause and that is why I have them, now. I know my temporal lobe is affected by the types of petit mals I have, my short-term memory issues, and my sudden issue with seeing and hearing things that are not there -- thankfully, I do realize these things aren't "real" when they are happening. I am not on HRT, but do wonder if some HRT might help me out -- not thinking of a long-term basis, but something has to give. I need the relief. I want to finish my degree and pursue my career. As it is, I experience vocabulary issues and even the job I have (freelance writing) is suffering. I am here to learn from others and to offer support when and where I can.

Hi Karla,

Welcome to the forum! I have been seeing an Epileptologist for yrs. instead of a neuro and they have helped me a lot. I have right temporal lobe epilepsy where I have absence, complex partial and simple partial (aura) sz. I know that when I went through my change my sz. decreased. I would skip a month of my cycle then it would start up then I would skip 2 months until it was over. This in turn affected my hormones and calmed them down because the estrogen level dropped and it's estrogen that will cause more excitement in a womans body and trigger a sz. My Epileptologist told me that women who have temporal lobe epilepsy often go through their change earlier in life and this can lead to either a decrease or increase of sz.
I had to have a wada test done to pinpoint the exact cause of my sz. which was trauma before my birth which caused to many brain cells to go to the right temporal lobe causing scar tissue on my brain.
My advice to you is to start taking vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day this will calm your nerves down and help decrease the sz. also if you like almonds or nuts start eating a few of them each day because they have progesterone in them which will also calm the nerves down. This is what I did and it worked great.
I'm glad to hear that you are a writer I've been writing poems and short stories since I was a kid. I find writing along with listening to music helps calm the nerves.
Try using scents like lavender or vanilla with lotions or candles this will also help you. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue

Karla,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Sue has given you some great information to go by.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I have recently started having seizures too! I had my first one last month and just had a second two nights ago. NO history of seizures and I am starting menopause. I am 45 so I am going through menopause slightly early also. I seem to have had my 2 seizures when I am supposed to be having my period and am late. This cannot be a coincidence! I just started taking Keppra XR yesterday. I am supposed to be taking 1000mg a day (2 500mg pills a day - my doctors office cannot tell me whether that is 2 pills at bedtime or one in the morning and one at night). I hope these help - it is very scary for myself and my family. So far I am only taking 500mg. Trying to get my body used to the medication. I am insanely tired today. Hope that goes away. I am hoping to see a doctor who can tell me if this is just hormonal and whether I need hormone replacement therapy. The doctors look at my like I'm a freak having my first seizure at 45. My MRI was normal, but my EEG was not.

Hello,

I am a 45 year old woman who has just had my first seizure last month and had another one this month. I have started to go through menopause (confirmed with blood tests). I feel like this cannot be a coincidence. I have started taking Keppra XR. I am only taking 500 mg at the moment. The doctor prescribed 1000mg (2 pills a day), but I am having a rough time with it making me extremely tired and not able to focus, so I am easing into it gradually. I feel like this is all tied to my hormones going crazy. I have been late with my period for the last 2 months and have been under a lot of stress. My neurologist kind of sucks - who exactly should I see for this? I'm looking for a neuroendocrinologist but I am finding one hard to find. It's nice to hear of another person starting to have seizures later in life. They are very scary for myself and my husband and children

xc

I had my first seizure at age 46 while still having regular menstrual cycle but believe it is perimenopause related since never had any before. Have you found another dr. and have they agreed that this can be due to perimenopause? Thanks for your help!

I started symptoms of the menopause - severe hot flushes etc and within 2 months had started having seizures for the first time in my life at the age of 57.

Mary,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will find a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene

My seizure-like symptoms (limb jerking, slurred speech, lack of coordination, brain fog, etc.) began post-menopause. I'm presently age 55, went through menopause at age 49, and actual limb jerking, etc. began around age 53. However, the rapid blood pressure extremes (100 points in either direction - spikes and falls) since age 44. It's been a very long, expensive, and difficult road, only to find myself back to square one.

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, where you have find a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene