Hello everybody,

I'm thankful to have a forum where I can search for answers and share.

This past September (2009), I was diagnosed by my psychiatrist with temporal lobe epilepsy. I believe the tip off was that I do experience auras of de ja vu that involve beautiful shapes and colors. He prescribed Tegretol until my neurologist got a little P.O'd at the psychiatrist and told me to discontinue the drug. Over the summer and fall the neurologist did many tests including, MRI, emg eer ver, ambulatory eeg, sleep study and blood tests. Needless to say I was exhausted and wanted the results immediatly no more tests!! But the usual they all came back 100% and I feel as though my problems remain elusive and untreated.

"Forced thoughts" <---What does this mean exactly? I have thoughts that are intrusive and cloud and fill my mind until my own thinking is passive. I feel I cannot express true feelings of myself and ocassionally lie or simply act completely counter to my intuitive sense of self. There is almost a paranoid fear that "pushes" my actions and exhausts my mental state.

All my emotions are muted by the loud pain and singular negative emotion that comes on the left side of my head. Even trying to be positive seems like a put on.

My sleep is completely messed up and has been since the mid 90's, I never wake up feeling refreshed or clear.

As for hypergraphia, I always drew during both manic states and confused tired states, but I'm not sure if this is normal creative expression or a symptom of TLE.

The biggest obstacle to getting proper treatment seems to be insurance to see a neuropsychiatrist for more than a consultation.

If you have any comments please submit them! Thanks!

Honestly its hard to know why a neurologist is always so thinking
they are being attacked if someone other than they give a medication
for a seizure type diagnoses. I feel for you, because the thing is if the tegretol worked then you would have been a lot better. So I would be
tempted to just drop the neurologist.

But that is just my honest opinion, so many neurologist wont treat
the patient.


Welcome to the site, I'm Donna and I have dealt with folks with epilepsy
and other issues.

Donna

not all sz show up on EEGs. that said, you apparently have dx mental health issues, have you had a thorough endocrine workup? you might try a DAN! md if you can find one that will take adults. they appear to have a more wholistic attitude. and, yes, did the tegretol help? The auras may be migraine related and not, strictly speaking, sz related. good luck

Hi Morganomics, and welcome to Neurotalk! We're so glad you found us!

There are some really great people here, as I'm sure you will soon find out.

I'm including links for the Epilepsy forum and the Rare Disorder forum to help get you started:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum11.html

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum2.html

I wish you all the best.

-Hello

I've been very frustrated and confused lately. I've been sleeping at least 14hrs and when I am awake I'm confused and feel terrible.
I feel so angry that I can't get in to University of Chicago UIC or Rush to see a psychiatrist/neuropsych/ or a neurologist. If one doesn't have health insurance they need not apply.
-I feel simply seeing a therapist and psychiatrist won't be enough to overcome my problems.
- I feel skeptical of my TLE diagnosis and I am angry at the way my psychiatrist cannot help out with getting on a med regimen.
- I've been asleep or in a confused state for 14 years, yet family have become used to it and just view it as my personality!
-this problem be it TLE or depression anxiety or whatever has totally absorbed my person and stolen years from my life. I am so angry!
All I want is to see the proper physician, get a proper diagnosis, aggressively work through this problem and move on with my life.


I'm a bit frustrated at the moment, but I really want help, I want to feel like having a life is a possibility!

Today it seems spring has returned to the midwest and I am glad for that.
If one is to cope with a chronic issue good weather certainly helps.

I've seen some success on seeing a neuropsychiatrist at the university of chicago, at the present I feel as though things cannot move quick enough. If it was up to me I would see the neuropsych at least once a week so the doc could work things out a bit quicker.

My thinking at the moment isn't so hot, I have this strange pressure on the left side of my head and it seems like words, thoughts, and feelings are all twisted and I have a very hard time with sleep and maintaining consciousness. The ocd thoughts have returned as have my restless legs and arms at night, it just seems all too much lately. I wish there was a rehab center where I could regain my mental health and well-being.

Simply I want the intensity and incoherence to stop I want to be my own person and make well informed decisions. Just to get into a safe motivated place.