Hi ~ I have TLE with complex partials that started when I was 46 years old.
Well, they started several/many months before that but no one, even a doctor, would believe me.
Nov. 1, 1990, I went to sound to sleep and quickly had a massive tonic clonic ... I was diagnosed with epilepsy.

After that I continued having the CPs - a nice warning aura maybe 30 seconds before probably saved ...... long story But I did amost always have a memory of what happened during the event.

I took all the meds and almost all combos of the meds - the CP seizures continued. The only change was I lost my precious aura and went unconcious during the seizures.

July 2005 finally it was learned that a small grade 2 oliogodendroglioma tumor in my left temporal lobe was what had started this for me ... Feb 2006 it was removed.
May 2007 seizures returned so I had more surgery and I have not had another sz since then.

Hi,
I've had TLE for 37 yrs. I started having absence (petit mal) sz. when I was 10 yrs. old and then the complex partial sz. began. I have never been able to drive in my life but I won't let Epilepsy stop me from working full time teaching kids in Special Education who have both physical and learning disabilities. I had 2 brain surgeries to help reduce my sz. and I've found taking vitamin B12 once a day along with my sz. meds has been a big help stopping a lot of the sz. Also right before I have a complex partial sz. I get an aura sz. also known as a simple partial sz. when this happens I get a nervous feeling in my stomach for a few seconds and see colors flashing back and forth in my eyes. The moment this begins I tighten up all the muscles in my body and make my hands into tight fists by doing this it stops the aura sz. from going into a complex partial sz. You might want to give it a try and see if it helps. Here's wishing everyone here well and May God Bless All of You!

Sue

I've been diagnosed since my 2002 major episode that probably would be called a complex full out my mind. sorry it is late and I have not read the terms of TLE fully, but after 2002 I jumped on the meds and stabilized and didn't have any issues for awhile. However, the meds prevented me (28 at the time) of going out and having a social life or so I thought. It was hard for me at that age after being social, drinking, and other activities to stop them all together.

After my second full blown hospital trip, I got serious fast. No booz or other "things" and have stayed on the meds. Obviously I miss a few things, but I've learned to love N/A beer made by the dutch!

In short, I think people on this list read your words and feel like they can help. Obviously you are on the other side of the country probably and we can't see you up close to know if you are/are not tricking yourself as I had tricked myself. I totally thought I was in control, even after my first full blown episode that made me think aliens and/or religious blah blah was going to occur. Regardless, I'm living a full life and all it took was saying yes to the meds and no to the other stuff.

I thought I would chime in and imply I've had TLE
which is mitochondrial since birth - and I have had
several neurologists whom have disclosed that my
case has nearly fit almost ALL of the classifications
of the Gerschwin's classification, sans a few.

Hypergraphia does seem to have an influential issue
with those with TLE, but the good news is, Neuroscience
today is now taking another look at the Gerschwin's
theory again; at another perspective ---> that there
very well might be a TLE personality, but not necessarily
"one size fits all" nor "do all people have all traits".