Bad news
Well I was at Costco today mainly to buy water and a pie because I saw a post that John,
@johnnishop was talking about on the Neuropathy section. I haven’t been thinking of anything else except getting a pie at Costco but they only sell pies from September to December. The lady said they ended up throwing them all out. I told her she should’ve giving me a call. But that’s not the point of my story
I was doing fine for about 10 minutes then the back of my neck started hurting really bad and I felt weak I didn’t think I could make it back out to my car. On my way home I had double vision which I occasionally have. I stopped at my neurologist office which was a mistake and I saw him and he believes that I had a focal aware seizure in Costco. Although I suppose that is possible I don’t really believe that’s what happened. After 13,000+ seizures I pretty much know when I have a seizure not Tonic-Clonic seizures but focal seizures pretty much for sure, Especially Focal Aware seizures. He wouldn’t let me drive home. Now I’m wondering if he’s going to yank my drivers license again. I just paid $3100 to get my car fixed and I’m certainly not gonna let it just sit again and deteriorate. He can’t prove I had a seizure and I can’t prove that I didn’t and of course the motor vehicle department is going to believe him over me. So now I have to find a rheumatologist and see if there’s arthritis in my neck and if it could’ve possibly caused the issue at Costco. The symptoms that I had at Costco could have certainly been a seizure manifestation.
I was going to ask him for an EEG to see if there was any focal activity but that would only give him more ammunition to prove his case.
I imagine he will yank my license again but whatever happens will happen, no need to stress about it.
Jake
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.
@isittll
I’m not obsessed about it I’m just concerned about what caused it. I believe that’s reasonable. A rheumatologist isn’t going to be able to answer all my questions but he may be able to rule out one or two. Even if I knew exactly what it was I may not be able to do anything about it the future but even so I’d like to know. Who knows perhaps it was something that could be treated. Maybe it was something that could’ve been prevented. Fortunately I’m not the kind of person who believes every word that comes out of a medical person’s mouth, if I were I’d have been dead long before now. Just the fact that someone is a doctor doesn’t make them right and I have proven that numerous times in and out of court. You’re right sometimes things do change but not always for the better and I want to know why. I’m much better today. I haven’t fallen and my balance is much better, I still sway some when I walk but that’s my normal. I’m a very big believer that a person has to deal with whatever bumps come along in the road of life. If something happens it happens you have to deal with it but I don’t believe in ignoring things in the hope things will always get better.
Thanks for writing take care,
Jake
You’re A Peach Mxy! I’m so very happy I found my way here.
Sorry to hear that! Keep us posted!
Hi, Jake, You may have already considered this, but could the dizziness be a side effect from your medication? My son had dizziness as a side effect of some of his early meds.
Pam
@pamelastewart5
Hi Pam,
I thought about my medication being toxic but since I’ve been on them for so long I never had side effects other than drowsiness I didn’t considered side effects a possibility although anything is possible. Thankfully no more dizziness or episodes.
Jake
@jakedduck1
I'm glad to hear that you have had no more episodes!
I’ve had epilepsy for over 49 years and I’ve been fortune not of had a lot of them. I had a seizure after 23 years of no seizures. You’d think my doc would have been concerned-no. I can’t drive for 3 months (self induced). My husband helps, or drives if I need to get around. I’ve also found it’s ok to ask someone. Don’t know if it’s good or bad, but my meds get mailed to me. Do you know of anything that can affect our anti convulsant levels? Other meds, weight gain or loss, food…Thanks!
Hope you are feeling well.
Dear Jake,
I am so sorry to hear about what happened to you. Driving is not an issue for my son (he can't), but I think I can imagine how hard it would be to have that taken away.
Pam S.
Hi @tjbuch61, Good Morning
For security reasons (thinking of me and others) I have stopped driving. I have had epilepsy for 36 years without knowing it and thankfully I have just caused a small accident during a mild complex partial seizure (I have temporal lobe epilepsy), hurting no one. I thankfully live in a neighborhood where I can do much on foot. When I need to go to a place by car, I take an Uber. I do not drive anymore in any circumstance as I still do have some seizures. My doctor once said to be completely secure, one has to be 2 years free of seizures to drive again with security.
As to your question, I know that some other medications can interfere with the anticonvulsant meds we take, this is something that needs to be checked with your doctor. Seizures can have many triggers such as stress, fear, women's period, little sleep, and flashing lights, food containing gluten, among many others. It depends on your type of epilepsy. Through a daily journal, I have discovered my greatest triggers that lead me to have a seizure, avoiding them as much as I can. The Epilepsy Foundation has great material on it. Have a look!
Have a nice Sunday!
Santosha
Hi Santosha
I had epilepsy as a child and then when my mother died I was 23 The shock brought the seizures back. I had a fairly violent upbringing so I never had the confidence to get my licence anyway. I always suffered from depression but then in 2016 some clever researcher discovered that Keppra interfered with the potassium in your brain and so I was put on a potassium supplement and I haven't looked back . I suffered from depression for 54 years but now feel great - I'm 65 and wish this had been discoved back when I was in my twenties!