I saw the doctor today and he said I have all the classic symptoms, including preceeding aura, of simple partial seizures. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since people with my head injury are at a high statistical risk for this problem. Still it's a blow.

I won't be able to drive until this gets ironed out. That's a bit of a disaster as we live in the sticks and now my kid won't be able to get to a lot of her activities. I feel so bad for her. However, unlike the drunk driver who ruined my life, I'd never dream of putting others at risk.

Has your doc tried any different seizure meds? Different people respond differently to meds.

Also, have you had your hormones checked? Neurotransmitters and hormones are inextricably linked. A minor hormone malfunction may cause a major neurological dysfunction.

Do some googling about bio-identical hormones and brain injury. As I said before, progesterone is a neuro-protective.

Fight to get a doctor to listen to you about your hormone concerns. Do the research and take it to the doctor with you.

I'm sorry! It's so tough to make the call to drive or not. I haven't been able to drive since the end of July. It is so frustrating to feel so limited! You make a good point though about it not being responsible. I would hate to cause someone else the same problems that I am having now. My husband is great about carting me around for the most part. I hope you have friends and family that you can rely on for things.

I think I know the feeling youre talking about hockey. I just have a question when is happens do you see yourself like they say happens in an out of body experience or do you just have no will to respond?

Hey Soccer,

It wasn't like I was floating above looking down at myself. I knew I was sitting at the table, but everyone seemed far away and I just couldn't seem to move or speak. I was aware of what everyone was saying and doing. It was different from the absence seizures I had right after my injury. If somebody left the room when I was having one of those, when I snapped back in it was like they'd vanished suddenly into thin air.

The only positive is that, unlike the absence seizures, I get warning signals (I've had a few more now) that a simple partial one is coming.

Ok this is the exact thing that happens to me all the time. This answers my question I'm not having any absence seizures which is good. But this happens to me many times a day usually at school. So they are seizures when that happens?

Soccer

You definately could be having simple or complex partial seizures. The difference between these two particular kind of seizures are that you know you had a seizure in a simple like Hockey's or probably yours. In a complex you are acting, doing and usually being yourself but just don't know what is happening. About 30 seconds to 2 minutes or longer you return.

And it is like you have to find out what you missed. Its really hard at times to know which kind you have.

I would talk to your neuro about this. I think its safe to ask if you could maybe try one of the medicines that are know for helping headaches and seizures.

Donna

To Everyone

My youngest son Derrick who is 18 and a senior in High School at the present time. Knows exactly what it means to not be able to drive. He has epilepsy,
and wont be able to drive probably ever. Luckily for me he has accepted this.

My husband has had a hard time accepting the fact that he wont be able to drive. He wants to break this rule teach him to drive a riding mower and do things that are dangerous for him. I work through this with him all the time.

But I also know that my son has a level head and will do what is right. We live in a small town. And to get the job he dreams of working with dogs.
That is probably being a groomer of some sort. Its going to take some driving.

And its going to probably be volunteer. SO hopefully his SSI will come through. But you can do anything if you dream long enough.

donna

Thanks donna I just have a few questions on them. What would they do if i was really having the simple? How do they test to see if you have it? Can you still drive if you get them?

Soccer

They would ask you lots of questions, and your family about things going on that they see. I can suggest for one thing you go to the Epilepsy Foundation of America's site and read up on Simple Partial seizures.

Now I would also suggest that you ask for a EEG and its going to be a sleep deprived one. So that they can get the best reading. If there is activity or a seizure during it this is the best. But the most usual thing they see is for a EEG to be normal, or to have a small amount of activity.

Which is the best, but I would ask for one. They will also do a MRI to double
check things. If you have already had one. THis might not be necessary.

Now I wouldn't worry about if you are going to be able to drive yet. They have to get the seizures under control first. And with a early diagnosis and
the fact that they can control seizures with usually the first or second medication. Then you should be able to drive soon. But most states its 6 months after your seizure free.

I have a second son, who is now 23 who spent 6 to 9 months not driving.
Just after he was 18. He was driving when he shouldn't have been. He finally told me about the blacking out spells when he was driving down the road, and ending up in a ditch. Thankfully he didn't hurt anyone. But he had
been having lots of small fender benders that didn't make sense right before then. And as it turned out. After calling the neuro working on the headaches. He put him on depakote ER immediately. Because its known to work on both migraine headaches, and seizures. And it was very much a good thing for Devin.

He is my son that had dropped out of school at 18 and went back at 19 or 20 I can't remember which to finish his senior year. He is also the one that loved
high school soccer but was sick with migraines missing it too.

Donna