Anyone have and want to talk about status epilepticus?

Posted by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250, Nov 14, 2019

I have noticed that this term, Status epilepticus, has been mentioned in the Epilepsy discussions. As I was unfamiliar with this term I thought I would get some information.

Here is a link from WebMD https://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/status-epilepticus#1-2

From reading this I can tell that this is a more serious type of epilepsy.

Anyone have this? Want to discuss it?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group.

Hi Teresa,
Last December I had my first status epilepticus experience, unfortunately. My doctor recommended my husband to take me immediately to the ER of the hospital. A high dosage of Keppra was given to me to take me out of this status. But I know that medications do not work for all of us, unfortunately, like @sheela shared. In this case an induced comma is necessary.
Though we speak much about tonic clonic seizures, I have learned that they are not the most common seizures, but they can be pretty dangerous and can bring us some harm.
Chris (@santosha)

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@1710dave

Has anyone had any issues like mine.First seizure I was 62 years old.Grand mal lasted 30 minutes that was in 2014 only had a couple over the next 6 years then 2020 I had 4 grand mals and 2021 8 grand mals and they always last at least 20 minutes neurologist told me I should be dead I am on keppra 500mg twice a day.Here are the strange things I cannot take any vitamin pills it gives me what the doctor calls mini seizures and (he told me they are nothing to worry about ) that last a couple minutes and I am in a fog and do not know where I am in those few minutes and the minis last three or four days and have up to five a day and as the days go I get less and less then it stops.Now it just started a couple weeks ago i feel like I am blacked out but i can talk and do not know anyone but no seizure and I come around in about 5 minutes it has happened twice we were out eating and it hit me and my wife helped me up and walked me to the car but I do not remember any of it.I believe mercury from my teeth caused all my issues and no doctor will help me.I have been going to doctors for the last 15 years with health issues and none of them can come up with a cause for my issues and they refuse to talk with me about mercury poisoning and there are a lot of people out there with neurological issues from amalgam mercury poisoning and they gave me 5mg valium for the issues I have with the keppra

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Hi @1710dave
Last year I had all my amalgam tooth filling substituted because of the mercury poisoning it causes, which can be a trigger to seizures. This filling substitution should be done with much care and needs to follow a specific protocol to be done safely.
See here a link about it:


Chris (@santosha)

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Hello, I never heard of Status Epileptics until I was diagnosed with it 3 years ago. I awoke in the ICU after having been put into an induced coma since the seizure would not stop with medical help and I was getting worse quickly. SE seizures are dangerous because they do not stop own their own and the longer your in the seizure the chances of a good outcome are nil. I'm very lucky my partner happened to be with me just at those times I went into the seizures. Status Epilepticus is an emergency and its very important to get help ASAP because every second is very important. Ive never spoken to anyone with SE but think it would be nice to.

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@1710dave
A mini seizure is called an Absence seizure which is a generalized seizure meaning the seizure starts in both sides of the brain at the same time. Consciousness is lost during generalized seizures.
Although occasionally total consciousness may not be lost during these seizures. If you are aware of your surroundings and can communicate and understand people around you it’s probably a Focal seizure that starts in one area of the brain and the person remains alert and is called a focal onset aware seizure. These seizures used to be called simple particles. Auras are Focal aware seizures. 20 minutes is a long time for seizures to last. It’s recommended if a seizure lasts
longer than 5 minutes medical intervention should be sought since it is considered to be a condition known as Status Epilepticus and is a medical emergency.
I don’t know much about amalgam fillings but some say mercury isn’t dangerous after it hardens. Poison control claims there isn’t enough mercury to cause problems. I’ve heard your feelings can cause epilepsy and other problems but I’m not sure who is correct.
Have you asked your doctor about increasing your Keppra or adding another medication for better control?
Take care,
Jake

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Has anyone had any issues like mine.First seizure I was 62 years old.Grand mal lasted 30 minutes that was in 2014 only had a couple over the next 6 years then 2020 I had 4 grand mals and 2021 8 grand mals and they always last at least 20 minutes neurologist told me I should be dead I am on keppra 500mg twice a day.Here are the strange things I cannot take any vitamin pills it gives me what the doctor calls mini seizures and (he told me they are nothing to worry about ) that last a couple minutes and I am in a fog and do not know where I am in those few minutes and the minis last three or four days and have up to five a day and as the days go I get less and less then it stops.Now it just started a couple weeks ago i feel like I am blacked out but i can talk and do not know anyone but no seizure and I come around in about 5 minutes it has happened twice we were out eating and it hit me and my wife helped me up and walked me to the car but I do not remember any of it.I believe mercury from my teeth caused all my issues and no doctor will help me.I have been going to doctors for the last 15 years with health issues and none of them can come up with a cause for my issues and they refuse to talk with me about mercury poisoning and there are a lot of people out there with neurological issues from amalgam mercury poisoning and they gave me 5mg valium for the issues I have with the keppra

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Status epilepticus itself is evil! I used to have it for 15 minutes. I walked up and down stairs all the time at home. My mother used to use rectal valium suppositories to "get me out of it". When I moved from home I had an episode at my apartment. I walked down two flights of stairs one night (all seizures are nocturnal) and was found in the back yard. When the police saw my medication they said I was on drugs My neighbor shouted "she is not on drugs". I should have sued the police for their ignorance.

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@jakedduck1

@hopeful33250
For whatever reason, my seizures stopped in 2011. I have no idea why. Just very grateful they did after 44 years, except when I forgot my medicine Aug 22nd. I take Carbatrol and Phenobarbital. Doctors seldom prescribe Phenobarbital but I think it's a very effective drug. I told a man's fiancee in Africa to ask his doctor about it. He's on it now and has been seizure-free for about 6 months. Am I in trouble for suggesting that? It came out in 1912, it's been studied over 100 years and there are side effects especially for children but wait till these new drugs have been studied that long. I'd love to be around at the end of the century to see how popular some of these newer drugs will be used. They already suspect that Benzodiazepines may cause Alzheimer's.
Jake

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Benzodiazepines are evil, horrible. Old neuro put my daughter on them and now weaning will take years on top of the damage it has already done. You have to wonder if they avoid pheno because it’s old and no money to be made by big pharma. Just saying 😉

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@jakedduck1

Yes it’s very serious. My parents were called to the hospital numerous times to bid me farewell but being stubborn as I am I lived. I have been in induced comas for probably 3 years (cumulatively.) The longer seizures go on without stopping the less likely they will stop on there own which is why they put you in a coma, to stop the seizures. Besides Convulsive Status which people with Tonic Clonic seizures have there is Non Convulsive Status Epilepticus that sometimes happen in those with Absence and Focal seizures and emergency treatment isn’t as urgent. An acquaintance of mine went into Status and died in less than an hour which is a very long time to seize. Seizures use immense amounts of energy.
Jake

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My son was 22 before he ever had any seizures at all .....and out of the blue started having episodes of back-to-back seizures sometimes 6 at a time 10 minutes long without any completely awake time in between.
it doesn't stop until we get him medicine, If he takes it hes fine but if he misses much is maybe 5 doses he goes into a fit of these serious severe grand mall seizures, every single time. Every single blood vessel in his face Every single blood vessel in his face and chest pops, He has high amounts of acid in his blood from being released from his muscles hes almost literally bit his tongue off twice hes a big boy he was a football player.
All of his test results of came back normal so I started doing research on my own - I thought that this is what he had ......but the doctor says it's something to do with his brain being over stimulated. Still no answers and him just worried.... I hope your doing well just that share

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@chynex

Yes, I think so, Phenobarbital is a very effective drugs. Can he stop taking it since he has been free from seizures for the past few months now? Or is it something he will continue taking through out his life time?...

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@chynex
Best to ask his doctor but stopping any seizure medication shouldn’t be done unless someone has a normal EEG, MRI, normal Neurological exam and be seizure free at least (I’d say) a minimum of 5 years but some doctors believe 2-4 years is reasonable. Chances for being seizure free without medication diminishes the more seizures he’s had and if he’s had more than one type of seizure or has taken more then one type of seizure medication. If I recall correctly he was having seizures weekly. So the important question now is how long has he been having seizures? Another important thing to consider is once a person discontinues medication there is a risk if the seizures come back they may be more difficult to control. Although unusual sometimes they can’t be controlled again. Other times it may take years to become seizure free again.
Since no one can predict a seizure he may want to keep in mind if he drives and depending on the laws there, he might lose his drivers license. Perhaps be in an accident, this list is endless.
Definitely don’t stop at this point.
Take care,
Jake

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@lisalucier

@jakedduck1 may have some thoughts on continuing to take phenobarbital with being seizure-free for several months, but I'd also really encourage you to speak to his doctor and/or pharmacist about what the plan will be for this medication,@chynex.

Good to hear his seizures are now more under control.

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Alright. Thanks.

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