Thanks and, Sue, you are the only one I remember from BrainTalk that I see on this site. That place was so comforting and helpful to me when I needed it most. I miss it.

Going for a sleep-deprived EEG this Monday, though I doubt it will give any answers. I think the thing that is most alarming to me is that I seem to hurt myself during the seizures/trances/trips, whatever they are: when I lost 8 hours in an airport, I fell and smashed up my face pretty badly and when I was out of it in my own apartment for 4 hours I fell and broke a rib. I was unaware of either event and have no idea of how either happened. Is this typical? I would have thought the instant pain would wake someone out of the seizure.

Hi Heather,
From my past expericences with E. what you are describing isn't typical and I ask myself if maybe something more is going on like the beginning of alzhemiers. I hope I'm wrong but my grandmother and great grandfather both had alzheimers and some of the symptoms you have mentioned make me wonder.
Just to let you know the old forum is up and running just type in Neurology web forum and when you see a posting titled braintalkcommunity click it on and you can go to the E page or any other pages you want to check out.
Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Hiya Porkette,

Just about your reply, I have the amnesia, and it can last anywhere form a few min to a couple of hours. My doc assured me that it wasnt alzheimers, as that was my first worry. He insists it is part of the epilepsy. I don't have any other alzheimers type symptoms either...should I get a second opinion on that?

Thanks

I have had RTA retrograde Total Amnesia since 2005. The last year and a half I have been having memory losses. They now suggest it is TEA. Am interested to hearing from others with this.

I was diagnosed with epilepsy about 10 years ago (the result of an RTA in 1995), but only had 3 minor episodes over a period of 3 years, and then nothing until this year. I've woken up a few times and not remembered what I did the previous day. They've said it's TEA, and I suppose it must be, although what I experience doesn't seem to match the pattern I read about. The main problem is that it frightens other people, and most doctors have probably never come across it in the flesh before.
I've on Lamotrogine for my epilepsy and they've just increased the dose and so far so good. What I would suggest is that you find out all you can about it and educate those close to you so that they don't cart you off to hospital, where the staff probably won't know what TEA is and insist you mean TIA!

AIMac,

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. 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

Wow, old thread! I don't have the diagnosis that those above are talking about, but I experienced a kind of "emotional amnesia" after my status epilepticus episode, a series of seizures that lasted for, I don't know, about an hour and resolved in the ER after a bunch of drugs were pumped into me. It's my understanding that severe seizure episodes like that can cause brain damage, and that I'd suffered some. When I came home from the hospital four days later-and this was just after christmas, so should've been a lot of emotion involved, seeing all the unwapped Xmas presents I'd bought for my children, etc-I didn't have any emotional response to my neighborhood, house, family members, or anything. It was like I was visiting it for the second time. Remembered it, but no emotional attachment to anything.

Over time, I think I re-build emotional attachment though maybe it came back. I don't know. I had some more grand mal seizures after that, while on depakote, but nothing status, and I did not experience loss of emotion or anything (just typical exhaustion and headache afterwards).