Simple Partial Seizures
 

I have had what I believe to be simple partial seizures my entire life. I have never taken medication because the seizures are so few and far between that I felt the med side effects weren't worth it. However, I recently started taking birth control and since I have been a mess. I started having seizures, multiple seizures sometimes in one day, and have been just completely out of it since. Smells are off, daily activities and environments are uncomfortable feeling. I'm just not myself and can't feel comfortable about anything because everything is just "off". I stopped taking the birth control but I'm still not feeling right. I assume it takes a few days at least for the medicine to completely leave my system. Also, I had the EEG monitor this weekend.. the one you wear for 72 hours? I go back to have that read on Thursday. I'm just really scared that taking the BC has done something permanent. I'm sure that's not possible but it's been over a week now. Has anyone had anything like this happen? Or even experience with simple partial seizures? I would love to talk to someone else that has gone through this. Thanks!

Hi evanhoo,

Welcome to the forum! I've had simple partial (aura) sz. along with absence and complex partial sz. for over 40 yrs. If I may ask when you have a simple partial sz. do you see colors flashing back and forth in your eyes, get a nervous feeling in your stomach, or smell odd odors. This often happens to me before I go into a absence or complex partial sz. From now on the moment you start to feel any simple partial sz. tighten up all the muscles in your body and make your hands into tight fists by doing this you can sometimes stop the sz.

It has been known that sometimes birth control can mess up any sz. meds and cause a person to have more sz. Depending on how long you have had this problem it could cause more neurology problems like seizures (sz.) but I'm not sure. My advice to you is to speak with your pharmacist and ask if the birth control is interacting with you sz. med this has happened to me in the past.

My adivice to you is to start taking vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day cut back on the carbs and starch foods along with caffeine and stay away from anything with nutra sweet in it because NutraSweet can cause more electrical activity in the brain and trigger sz. I found this out when I used to drink diet soda and I had sz. after sz.
Also keep a calendar and write down the time and description when you have any sz. by doing this the neurologist may see a pattern in your sz. also write down when you start and stop your monthly cycle or if you have been sick with a cold or virus. I also have noticed that I have more sz. when a low pressure in the weather is coming my way the air becomes heavier which in turn effects the hormones and triggers sz. If you aren't happy with the Dr. you are seeing I would advise you to see an Epileptologist at an Epilepsy Center. These Drs. specialize in epilepsy, know how to treat it better, and are better educated in this area compared to any neuros I've seen in the past 42yrs. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue