[color=darkblue]MY PERSONAL WAR WITH SEIZURES[/col
I WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH HAVING A SEIZURE DISORDER ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. AFTER SPENDING TIME IN THE HOSPITAL AND ENDURING NUMEROUS TESTS, MY DOCTOR STILL COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SYNCOPE WHEN LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS THAT I WAS HAVING. SO, AS MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE SOME KIND OR MENTAL ILLNESS KNOW, IT GOT BLAMED ON ANXIETY. HHHMMMM, ANXIETY ATTACKS THAT MAKE ME LOOSE CONSCIOUS, CAUSE ME TO HAVE CONVULSIONS, SCREWS MY MEMORY UP, CAUSES ME TO BE BRUISED FROM CONTINUIOUS FALLING, AND MAKES MY HANDS SHAKE LONG AFTER IT'S OVER. I WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING PSYCHOGENIC SYNCOPE IN THE HOSPITAL. WELL, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE MY PSYCHIATRIST, WHO OF COURSE, SPECIALIZES IN THIS AREA, SAID I WAS NOT HAVING ANXIETY ATTACKS. HE HAS BEEN ME SINCE 1998 WHEN MY DADDY DIED. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL VISITS WITH HIM HE SAW ALL OF THE BRUISES ON MY FACE, ARMS, AND LEGS. HE PUT ME ON DIALANTIN FOR SEIZURES. EVERYTHING GOT BETTER! NOW, I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING MY DIALANTIN LEVELS TO STAY CORRECT EVEN THOUGH I TAKE IT LIKE I AM SUPPOSE TO. IT'S EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW. THIS THURSDAY I HAD A SILENT ONE AT WORK AND I WAS IN LALA LAND. I DIDN'T RESPOND TO ANY STIMULUS FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES AND MY MOUTH STARTED TO PULL. SOUNDS LIKE A TIA OR STROKE. I WAS TOLD TO GO TO THE ER WHEN MY CO-WORKER CALLED MY GENERAL DOCTOR SO THEY COULD GET A CT. THE HOSPITAL DID NOT TAKE ANY X-RAYS, BUT SAID I HAD A SEIZURE BECAUSE MY LEVELS WERE TOO LOW. THREE DAYS BEFORE THAT MY LEVELS WERE TOO HIGH CAUSING ME TO HAVE SEVERE MUSCLE SPASMS! EPILESPY RUNS ON MY MAMA'S SIDE. MY GRANDMOTHER AND 2 UNCLES HAD IT. NOW, I CANNOT DO MY JOB, AS A DENTAL ASSISTANT. MY DEXTERITY IS SCREWED UP. I FILED FOR DISABILITY IN FEBRUARY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE BIPOLAR KICKING IN. I AM JUST 34YRS OLD, SO, SICKNESS DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST AGE! I WELCOME ANYONE TO SHARE HE/HER PROBLEM/SOLUTION TO THIS STORM I AM TRYING TO TAKE SHELTER FROM. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU!
Comments (8)
No age knows knows boundaries with any form of illness. My disorder kicked in when I was 11 and at the time not much was known about bipolar disorder. Stress will set off a chain reaction fast.
If you are possibly bipolar the dilantin can of course be interacting with the effects of that disorder. I have to be careful of what medications I take to ensure there will not be an adverse reaction. I take more than one medication for my bipolar disorder.
It would be great if all was normal and we could live the way others take for granted.
Our brains are wired differently so we must live differently. For me I must have a structured life and without stress. Whatever! LOL. Stress seems to be a part of my daily routine. All I can do is deal with it by taking time out if I must.
I wish you well with your long journey.
Epilepsy, which may be what you are suffering from due to your family history, is not uncommon and should not ruin your professional, mental and personal life. There are plenty of anti-seizure medications beside Dilantin, but a neurologist (and not a psychiatrist)is the specialist you should better refer to.
You will soon be over this! Cheer up!
I put my Friend onto 'Magnesium Capsules',twice a day with food,and 'Omega3' Fish oil,three capsules a day with food....the difference it made in a period of six months has been incredible.......Do a Google search and look for yourself..
And 'Kudos' to you, young Lady for honesty and openness...I wish you all the best........
J.D
the fact that you must take other medicine for bipolar disorder may be a factor in your leveling off process. these chemicals all work in the brain and they don't always work well together. in fact i had one seizure while on antidepressant meds and i don't have a seizure disorder.
if seizures interfere with your ability to do your job you should file for disability.
send me a mail if you would like to speak privately
da bliss