Thanks for reading this.

Long story short. I saw a Neurologist 2 years ago. He performed an EEG and said there were a couple of spikes and suggested a follow up in 6 months which I did not do as we moved interstate
I was diagnosed with absence seizures and put on Tegretol. The seizures only happen now when I am really tired on exercising too much at the gym and overheating.

I have had one eyelid that for as long as I can remember has spasms. I actually took a video of it yesterday on my mobile phone to see what actually happens. The eyelid doesn't close, it just droops ever so slightly and then returns to normal. It is a really slow, definite movement but is over in a second.
These spasm's have increased to a ridiculous amount in the last 3 weeks. It seems to occur every 2 minutes.

In addition I have developed spasms in fingers on both hands. It started about 3 months ago in one finger on one hand and has now progressed to 4 fingers between both hands. If I am using my mobile, my finger will twitch and open up screens I had no intention of opening. I have dropped things also.

If it makes sense, at times I can watch my fingers and my brain feels the twitch but I cannot see my fingers move. Other times I certainly see movement.

My electrolytes are all good, I even take a supplement drink at the gym. I have been on a weight loss journey for over 12 months and have lost over 10 kilos and come off blood pressure meds. I am 41.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.

Hi joiselee,

Welcome to the forum! Just like you I have had absence and complex partial sz. for 41 yrs. and often I will get a muscle spasm around my mouth right before I start to have a complex partial sz.
Stress and lack of sleep are the 2 main things that can trigger sz. for a person. If you are working out to the point where you are tired this along with the heat you feel may be triggering the sz. you are having. I know if I'm really tired or if I'm showering and the water is to hot it will trigger a sz. for me.
If I may ask do you use your cell phone often? The reason why I'm asking is because I recently found out I am cell phone sensitive meaning that if I'm around people using cell phones it will trigger a sz. for me do to the frequency of the cell phone. I found this out when I had my e.e.g. done and they turned on their cell phones during the test I was in another room so I had no idea that they were doing this and each time the cell phones were fired up it caused a sz. for me. Keep track of that and see if this is what's causing to much electrical activity in your brain and causing all the muscle spasms. I wish you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thank you so much for the quick reply Sue.
I don't use my mobile a lot for phone calls, mainly internet.
Funnily enough the spasms in my eye & fingers are less when I exercise
I had a week off the gym due to tonsilitis & the spasms were that bad I thought I was going insane.

I have not been sleeping well, on top of that I care for my hubby & we have twins who are nearly 4. I know stress & lack of sleep can increase my seizures but since the doc increased my Tegretol, they have been decreased significantly.

It's these spasms in my fingers that are really upsetting me because it's a new symptom.
The waiting list to see a neuro is about a year.

Thanks again Sue. I truly appreciate your input.

Hi joiselee,

I'm glad to be of some help to you. I can't believe you have to wait a yr. to see a neurologist. You might want to ask your family Dr. to refer you to see a Epileptologist (Dr. specializing in epilepsy) I had a lot more help from an Epileptologist than all the neuros I saw over the yrs. You can usually find an Epileptologist at a big hospital or a University hospital. These Drs. know how to treat both epilepsy and other neurology disorders. They work with a team of Drs. like neuro surgeons, neurologist, and neuropsychatrist. These Drs. will do detailed tests on a person and find the cause of the epilepsy, keep them on the least amount of sz. med and take my word they are updated on any new treatments for epilepsy.

If you have noticed that you haven't been sleeping well or if your husband notices you snore a lot you may have a sleep disorder and this may be what is causing all of the problem. My Dr. thought I had sleep apnea so I had a sleep study done and thank goodness I didn't have a sleep disorder but they saw I was having sz. in my sleep but I never realized this.

I took tegretol yrs. ago and my hands shook a lot I spoke with my neuro and pharmacist at the time and they told me it was a side effect from the drug. Could this be the problem? Remember to never eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on tegretol because the enzymes in the fruit will mess up the tegretol and it can trigger sz. like crazy. If I may ask do you drink diet soda or use nutra sweet or any artificial sweetner? I found out that nutra sweet can trigger sz. for me like crazy and if you are using any of this that could be the problem also. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue