Epilepsy & Seizures Support Group

I recognise some of those symptoms - the being lost for words for instance. That may have something to do with the epilepsy but I'm just wondering whether the symptoms generally could be side effects of the medication. What medication are you on - it's worth looking it up and researching it a little?

I am 200mg of Lamictal 2 times a day. I started out with small dosages but I had to keep going higher. The bad thing is that I still have breakthough seizures and ontop of it my boss is asking if I think I should be working because I have to pass out meds and take care of 14 people. I am scared that I am not going to find a job that will take me scince I have this.

My memory is shocking after a seizure.I can't even remember the seizure but vaguely remember what I was doing.
As for my short-term memory loss!!I repeat things Iv'e already asked people and repeat things Iv'e already done.Thankfully I have an understanding family(well some of them).
You are not alone!!

i also have had a lot of the symptoms that you have. it could be with your meds or the part of the brain the epilespy in affecting. i dont even notice it somedays.

Some are side effects of medications and body spasms from mini seizures partials.

I currently take the lamictal myself and have the same problems. I would guess that the memory and inability to find the words is a side effect of the meds. I would double check on your muscle jerking and make sure that it is a side effect to the meds and not a seizure but I do have the twitches especially at night when my muscles are relaxing. As far as remembering the seizure I wouldn't worry to much about that. It is not uncommon at all that you don't remember what happens during the seizure. I have had left temporal lobe surgery because I use to have 20 seizures a day on a good day. There were times that I would lose days on end so if you are losing a couple of seconds don't panic but make sure you make a note so that you can tell your doctor.

As far as you dosage I wouldn't panic. Alot of it depends on how your body metabolizes the med therefore your dosage will vary. I have been taking 300 mg twice a day now since my surgery and it seems to be working as long as I keep my stress down.

When it comes to work, your employer is required to provide you with accommodations to help you better perform your job because epilepsy falls under the disability act. I have had to pull it into play in a couple of my jobs before I was put on full disability.

I hope that has helped you.

I have to say thank you to everyone.. i will be seeing my Doctor tomorrow and I feel like I am more empowered than i ever was. I now know that I am not alone and that it is normal for muscle spasms and forgetfullness... I also thank you for the advise about the job... does it work in all jobs though? I have to be able to rememer how and what meds to give to everyone and that was part of the job commitment. I signed on with the job knowing that I had to do this and that if I could not perform my commitment that it was grounds for dismissal?

Have you been properly tested for temperal lobe epilepsy?Mine took several tests till one happened during it so they could actually prove it. Sounds very similar. I have lost years, most of our only childs growing years which is hard for me. Head injury. But meds can help and they know so much more now days. If you are able to get a job, write notes as to where things are in a notebook with the alphabet along the side. And find out if you should even be driving if you have this problem for your sake and others. It only takes a split second and could you forgive yourself if a child ran across in front of you in that time? Why I handed mine back. And yes, I do miss it very much.

I am not sure how to have a temperal lobe test to know if that is what I have. I do know that I never had this until I was transporting an Altzimers patient to the hospital for testing and he went on a tangent and as grabbed a hold of me and as I was trying to unhook the wheelchair he grabbed me and started to beat me up to the point that I actually had shoe prints on my left temple and bruises all over my body.Not long after that I started to have spells that I did not remember things, times, places and my life as I knew it. I hate losing my life as I used to be. I feel like one thing that happened while taking care of someone else caused me to lose what life I had and now I can not even do the job that I was hired to do close to 20 years ago.Goes to show that you never know what life is going to hand you and to be greatfull for every day as it comes to you.

Well I went to my Doctor appointment today and I had another EEG and an MRI and a MRA done. I was told that I am once again having seizures and they raised my Lamictal to 250 2x a day. I also have started to have migraines before the seizure happens. I was alos told that the reason that I have been having the (muscke Burps) is me having mini seizures... Then I was told that I was not to work or drive anymore and they called the SSD for me and I have an interview for the dissability for the 26th. I guess that is ok since I do not want to see anyone hurt due to me having a seizure. I will keep letting you know what they are finding as it goes. Is it normal for the Doctors to say that I need to apply for SSD over two years of having this?