Hello Mama,

My Peri-menopause started at 42 for me. Epilepsy does trigger menopause early in sme women. :) But, I have had seizure Control from meds, since I was 38 (now 59). I have experienced breakthru seizures, after the change of life started, due to missed meds, so I know the seizures are still active. :( How long has it been since your daughter had a seizure? Is she still on meds? If not, do You realize, they may just be in Remission?

Love Candi

Her meds have been reduced for a trial period of 6 months to see how it goes. But she has been seziure free about a year now.

Yes I have thought about remission but she has never gone this long without a seziure.

Thanks for your reply dancer51

Dear Mama,
ABSOLUTELY, this can happen. It happened to me. These seizures (tied to the menstrual cycle) are called catamenial seizures and they are a studied phenomenon. I went to seven different neurologists over a period of 10 years and they all kept prescribing me useless medicines. When I finally hit my last neuro, he listened to me talk, and handed me a short stack of research papers on this very phenomenon. When I came back a week later and told him my seizures were far too debilitating to consider pregnancy, he put me on birth control meds. Within 8 months my periods stopped, and so did my seizures. (I am taking a small dose of anti-seizure meds just to be sure.)

Look up catamenial seizures and find a neuro who knows something about them. My Dr. says says when I finish menopause, I can stop all meds. (I'm in my late 40's now, and experiencing perimenopause.)

Good luck,
Dimmie

I am a 47 year old woman who has Epilepsy, MS, Demintia and the list goes on. I am going through the change. About two years ago I notice that when I did have a period, my seizures and my MS went in to full swing. My OBGYN gave me a hormone patch called Villvele Dot and to protect me from cancer ( Survior of Cancer) she inserted a IUD. Just having my period stoped has help a lot. Check this out and see. my seziures have decrease. The only reason why they have not stop completely is due to the stress in my life.

Dimmie-thanks for the info. I have not heard of this but will surley look it up.

Harmony-stress does indeed play a role in seziure frequency. Your so young to have demintia. Its interesting to note your MS is also affected by your periods. Looks like our periods effect a lot more then I realized.

Glad I found this group. It is very enlighting and informative.

Hey everyone,

If you or your loved one needs relief from Symptoms of peri-meno or menopause, I took Soy Isovlafone. This is now being sold as an ingredient in One-A-Day Vitamins for Women. It didn't always control the symptoms, but, I believe they made them shorter in duration. More bearable, less frequent. :) My Mom suggested Black Cohosh. I tried it & it didn't agree w/ my meds. My stomach felt like Knives running thru it. So, discuss Nutrient/additives compatibility w/ your pharmacist &/or DR. I did some 'homework' on Soy Isoflavone. It is a main ingredient found in rice. The Asian women never experience Symptoms becuz, they eat rice rich in Soy every day, from the time they are old enough to eat. :)

Mama, WebMD.com & the epilepsyfoundation.org, both have excellent articles about Catamenial seizures. I know Lots about them, too. Cuz of personal experience w/ Sister & daughter. Sis had hers controlled, after 50 yrs of 'no control', w/ Modified Atkins Diet, (used to treat her diabetes, also) progesterone & vit D3, for depression. My daughter found control just last yr, after 10 yrs of 'trial & error' medications. She is on Topamax & Lyrica.

I hope the reduction of meds suceeds. Aim for 6 weeks. :) Then, 6 mths. And keep her Journal up to date. :) This is truly important. Especially when DRS are messing w/ meds/doses. :(

Love Candi