is it a seizure because of stress?
 

Hello everyone, it's nice to found this forum. I have read some of the postings & I get quite a lot new information about epilepsy, but I still need your opinion about my situation

my story begin in 9 may 2012. I have my first attack, I lost consciousness for 3 minutes , I just think I’m stress or too tired. The second attack happens in 23 may 2012. I went to a neuro, she tells me to have a blood test, EEG & EKG, those results came back normal.

in June, I have a few small attacks, which I just feel dizzy & I can not recognize letters/words that I saw.

and then I have another attack in July. I went to another neuro, he tells me to have MRI (with contrast), MRA & EEG. My MRI (with contrast) and MRA came back normal, but my EEG came back with “slowing in delta waves” My neuro still refer me to a cardiologist. I have EKG, Echocardiogram & 24 hour holter monitor, everything came back normal. So, my neuro said that I have epilepsy. Since than, I’m on Keppra 500 twice a day. In august and September I still have another small attack. In November, January 2013, march 2013, I still have big seizures.

in June and July 2013 I have a different kind of attack, suddenly I just feel dizzy, my body turns cold, I have rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath & tunnel vision, but I’m not lose my consciousness.

I went to a psychiatrist, she tells me that my seizure came because of psychogenic causes. She gave me antidepressant and told me to relax, meditation, sports etc.
the reason I went to psychiatrist is because my first seizure (in may 2012) happens when I wait for my girlfriend in a hospital, she’s attempting a suicide. My relationship with her is very difficult, at last when I’m trying to break up with her, she’s trying to kill herself. But, at last, my relationship with her is over

I have 3 kinds of attack
1. Suddenly I just feel dizzy & I can not recognize letters/words that I saw, I feel like I want to throw up and then I lose my consciousness, my body stiff, after I wake up, I have headache & feel sleepy, I call it big attack
2. I just feel dizzy & I that I saw, I’m not lose my consciousness, I call it small attack
3. feel dizzy, can not recognize letters/words, my body turns cold, I have rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath & tunnel vision, but I’m not lose my consciousness

Is there anyone have same problem with me. I’m just confused, my neuro said it’s epilepsy. my psychiatrist told me it some kind of panic attack, because I have a very difficult relationship which leads me to stress and my medicine is not helping me at all
Any opinion guys??

sorry, the second type of my seizure should be:
2. I just feel dizzy & I cannot recognize any letter/words that I saw, I’m not lose my consciousness, I call it small attack

Nice to meet you!!
 

Hi nickolaus,

Welcome to the forum! I have a feeling your rapid heartbeat is trigger simple partial (aura) sz. where you can't recognize letters this happens often with me. I will look at something but it doesn't look familiar. If I may ask do you ever get a nervous feeling in your stomach, smell weird odours like something burning, or gases, along with seeing colors in your eyes? If you do this is a simple partial sz. Often heart problems can lead to epilepsy do to the blood flow to the brain.
Darlene was correct start seeing an Epileptologist at an Epilepsy center and get off the antidepresssents because that will just increase sz. if you are on any meds for them. If you go to an Epilepsy Center you will see an Epileptologist and a neuropsychatrist who will do testing on you and can tell what area of your brain is possibly triggering sz. along with what side of your brain you are using for memory and speech. Start taking vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day to help calm your nerves this also will help reduce your sz. possibly. I know it's done wonders reducing my sz.
Stress and lack of sleep are the 2 main things that will trigger a sz. for a person. I have found that listening to music and writing help me a lot if I'm under stress. Cut back on the carbs and starch foods along with caffeine because carbs and starch foods turn into sugars which fire up the neurons in the brain and can lead to sz. for some people. The one big thing to stay away from is nutra sweet (aspartame) like diet soda that is wicked and will cause more electrical activity in the brain. Keep track of your sz. write them down on a calendar describing what the sz. was like, along with the time that the sz. happened. By doing this the neuro or Epileptologist you see may see a pattern in your sz. I always have sz. at least 2 days out of the month around the 25th if not before. Get away from the psychiatrist and see a neuropsychatrist instead you will get a lot more help and they won't be pushing drugs on you. Also keep track of the weather because sometimes a person will have a sz. if a low pressure in the weather is coming in. I often get headaches and my Epileptologist told me that a low pressure makes the air heavier which in turn affects a persons hormones triggering a sz. I've had epilepsy for 41 yrs. and had 2 brain surgeries for it to reduce my sz. so I've been through a lot but I'm not giving up I still am looking for ways to help stop epilepsy all together. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue