Hi I am new here, I am so glad I found a site like this, maybe someone will finally tell me something useful. My husband has a seizure disorder, he had a brain injury at age nine and was diagnosed for having migranes and was put on dilantin, but throughout his life he has had several seizures big ones, the kind with convulsions, falling, and when he awakens he acts crazy, everytime they have lasted pretty long and I have called an ambulance, but they always just pump him back up with dilantin and send him home. but this isnt the problem that is just the proof there is a problem. I have done so much research on this, and I think he has partial seizure disorder but not sure, he has signs of mental illness but in my researching I read that the two easily get confused all the time. that parital seizure disorder causes similar effects of mental disorders. My husband has concious times where he goes like blank but still awake, he has tremors in the face, stares and gets a mean like face, almost a scary face. Breathes heavily. If I look at him to see what I am seeing more, he gets so mad and seems to snap out of it and then snaps at me, there have been times where he has gotten violent and scares me, then calms down apologizes and acts like nothing happened. He talks to people that arent there and he has said things like the devil is trying to tell him things, and he yells at the air to leave him alone. Sometimes he acts like he hears voices and sees things that arent there, and he realizes sometimes I see him and he says "what? I am thinking of something thats all" and says "stop looking at me" I ask what are you thinking and then he gets mad. This has been happening for years, I have insisted he go to a neurologist again he hasnt been to one in years. When a big seizure is on its way I almost know 2 weeks in advance because he will get out of control mood swings and act almost stupid on everything, but I try not to think he is stupid because he isnt I know there is something happening in his head, he is on dilantin and goes to a walk in clinic when he runs out, they just give 6 more months and dont make him get his blood level checked. It disgusts me and I have always thought I should say something but I am afraid of him getting mad at me. Well it gets worse a few years ago we got caught up in legal problem some stupid road rage argument that resulted in wreckless driving and mean cop that decided to charge him with ridiculous charges over him throwing a soda out the window at the guy that started the fight in traffic, its a long story but in short it turned into a whole shpeal that lasted 2 years in court, he ended up taking the plea deal they offered got on probation and after doing it right for a few months one day he flipped out and wouldnt report, he went to jail for 2 weeks, then got out back on probation and then a month later, same thing he refused to go saying they are going to put me in jail again I wont go etc. Now he is in jail again awaiting a hearing and the state is trying to give him a sentence of 3 years. I have desperatly tried to tell his lawyer that he isnt a criminal he has a problem, we now found out from the jail's nurse that they took his blood and he was on the wrong dosage of dilantin for the past two years, taking 400mg a day when he is supposed to be taking 300mg a day. She told him he could of killed himself on this wrong medicine level and didnt he notice behavioral changes, paranoia etc. that should of told him to get to a doctor, he said ya but he didnt notice enough he just thought something was wrong. I dont know what to do, I dont even know why I am writing this, I am so alone, we dont have a neurologist and I dont know what to do but show the judge the info I have on partial seizures, seizures, and dilantin in court. Does anyone on this site know more or have this condition does any of this sound familiar, what can I do besides get him to a doctor when he gets out, I want him safe and responsible again. We have a daughter, is she safe in his care? He doesnt drive, but he used to. Is driving a threat to his life? I just need someone to care, everyone I talk to knows nothing about it and thinks he is just a lazy jerk in trouble with the law, and the court just views him as a guilty criminal, on top of this worse of all, he thinks he is totally normal and thinks I am the one thats crazy, he thinks he is fine most of the time, yet he doesnt remember certain things he should another problem. help help please.

Oh guardianangel (((hugs for you))) What a difficult time you're having -- what a difficult your husband is having. Epilepsy sucks!! And all of what you're saying does sound familiar to me.

Your husband needs - needs badly - to get to a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy. The jail's nurse was a real God's send for taking the Dilantin blood level but he needs a neuro to check a lot of things and maybe prescribe a new medication.

You know I'm not a neuro or an expert but I sure think that a lot of the weird things your husband has been doing have been part are the result of seizures and maybe a good medication could end those.... maybe it could even save lives.

I sure hope you live near a university hospital can can get an appointment there -- the best neuros in the world are at those places. Good luck -- we'll be thinking about you and waiting to hear from you again, Keep talking.

Hi Guardianangel
Here's sending you many (((hugs))). What you are describing sounds like your husband may be having either tonic clonic, (grand mal) sz. or possibly complex partial sz. There are often times when epilepsy can lead to a mental disorder for some people, a lot of it depends on the area of the brain that's causing the sz. If it's the frontal lobe or the right temporal lobe a person is much more emotional and has more of a temper. I have right temporal lobe epilepsy and have had it for 36 yrs. I took dilantin and many other seizure meds (AED's) but nothing worked so I had brains surgery done to help reduce my sz. and I became a totally different person. My temper wasn't so hot and I became more happy with a sense of humor.
My best advice to you and your husband is to take him to an Epilepsy Center which are usually at a University hospital and have him see an Epileptologist-Dr. specializing in Epilepsy. I've seen many different neuros. over the yrs. but I found an Epileptologist is way ahead of any neuro and can treat a person with epilepsy with the least amount of med. As far as your husband driving each state is different I know in NY state a person has to be seizure free for one yr. and have a Drs. written statement approving that it's safe to drive. You might want to check with Motor Vechicle Dept. to get the law in your area.
Check out these websites for more info.

http://emedicine.com/neuro/index.shtml#seizures

www.epilepsy.com

Here's wishing you and your family only the best and May God Bless All of You!

Sue

(((Oh my guardianangel))), That SOUNDS like he might have tonic clonic seizures (some might say grand mal seizures) and or complex partial seizures. I also get mad after a seizure, a nurse told me. I was at the hosp so they could watch me (a test). I figure since I hate my E not letting me drive & etc. I just get mad if ppl try to help me do something during a seizure. I called for her to help me to restroom & then got mad & wanted her to let me do it myself. I also get mad at members of my family when they tell me I just had a seizure. Perhaps he says it's the devil (but it is due to a physical abnormality in the brain) because he doesn't want it to be epilepsy & has heard it said that epilepsy is due to the devil, so wants to blame that (cancer is due to a physical abnormality too). If he says "I do not need to go to the Dr." tell him how if the Dr says it is something he has then that could change his legal standing. That might help. I just thought of something so reentered...a neighbor legally does not work & is often ?? but it is because he has bipolar & would hit his boss sometimes. Dilantin didn't work for me but it does for others, he should see an epileptologist to try different things, I'd say.

Good Luck Hun

Hello Guardian Angel:



It does sound your husband may have some seizures and
I strongly recommend that he sees a Neurologist that
specializes in Seizure Disorders / Epilepsy or an Epileptologist
(A Neurologist that is an Epilepsy / Seizure Disorder Expert).

If he does not know of one, he/you can find one here:

FIND A DOCTOR - by the Epilepsy Foundation

Thanks to American Epilepsy Society for providing this
list of Neurologist & Epileptologists.

And another way of finding one is via this MAP:

Level 3/4 Epilepsy Centers - by National Association of Epilepsy Centers

This Epilepsy Centers have the best specialist(s) on site
typically, and Cleveland Clinics also have one of the best
Epilepsy care and they have branches all over the United
States as well and you can find your location via their
website as well - and they have Level 4 Centers too.

Cleveland Clinic Main Page

Hope these information above helps the both of
you out a lot!