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Can Hunger Trigger Seizures

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Posted 10/17/2009 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
Since my appt with the Rheumatologist this week, I've been thinking about what he's told me. He mentioned that the "spells" I have could be seizures. I've been told this time and time again, but when I have an EEG study, it's been normal. Why? Because I never have a freakin' seizure during the test!! BUT, there have been two times where I did have a spell and the seizures were shown on the EEG, so at least I know I'm not crazy. I've been able to find out what my triggers are: hunger pain (happens daily), lack of sleep, extreme stress, and strenuous activity. The spells are strange, here's what I go through during an episode on an almost daily basis:

(Keep in mind this is all on the left side of my body only)
-Temple pain, usually throbbing
-Eye pain, usually throbbing (connected with left temple pain)
-Eye Fatigue, feels tired and gets small
-Whites of eyes turn yellow or pink
-Arm pain, shooting or stabing usually
-Leg pain, shooting or stabbling, sometimes throbbing
(Basically my entire left side has pain)
-Slurred Speech
-Unable to think properly, can't get words out
-Extreme dizziness, head bobs around
-I am able to hear and understand everything
-Sometimes it feels as if someone has picked up my left side and dropped it down, if that make any sense. I feel the left side of my body lift up and then back down and it happens very quickly and only once.

I have tested my blood sugar to see if that is what is causing the spells, since they happen when I get hungry, but my levels are between 77 and 90, not at a level for a typical hypoglycemic episode. I must eat between 2 to 3 hours to keep from having a spell, but I travel in my job and not always able to eat that consistently. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
Posted 10/21/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
This happens on a daily basis, I am not sure if this is something that should be looked at further since I've had so many tests done, but I'm going to make an appt with a new Neuro soon.
Posted 10/21/2009 11:23 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like a good idea. And look for an epilotologist, while you're searching. You can ask people on the board here if they know of any good ones where you live. Or you can go to my website where I have a list of recommended neurologists and epileptologists, listed by state. I haven't been to them personally, but they've been recommended by members of the epilepsy.com forum -- people who have had personal experience with the docs. Get thee to a new doc...now!



phylisfeinerjohnson

Post Edited By Moderator (Pink Grandma) : 11/17/2009 11:32:04 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 10/21/2009 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Will do, I've seen 4 neurologists already, three in San Antonio and one in St. Louis and all of them have no idea what is happening to me. It's frustrating, but I'm hanging in there. They happen on a daily basis and have increased in frequency over the last year. They started off at just one a month, to two/three per month, then once a week, then twice a week, leading to now, which is day and sometimes two or three times a day. It's also been suggested in the Fibro forum that they could be TIAs. So I'm going to ask about that as well. Thanks for the lead on an epilotologist, haven't seen one of those yet!
Posted 10/22/2009 11:53 AM (GMT 0)
You're welcome. Good luck. I know you can find the right doc, if you persist and ask enough people who have what you have. Don't forget...post on this board and if that doesn't work, go to my website and look up Comprehensive list of GOOD Neurologists…Epileptologists…Neurosurgeons…and Pediatric Doctors. They're listed state by state in alphabetical order.

phylisfeinerjohnson

Post Edited By Moderator (Pink Grandma) : 11/17/2009 11:35:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 10/23/2009 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
A neurologist told me years ago that a rapid drop in blood sugar can trigger seizures even if you don't drop into what's considered the hypoglycemic level. If you are sensitive, it doesn't always matter how low you go, it's how fast you get there.

I've found that with advance preparation, I can have a small snack every few hours no matter where I am. I keep small bags of walnuts and/or almonds with me in case nothing else is available. I've excused myself from meetings to sneak out for a quick snack, I've popped a few almonds into my mouth during a meeting, I've discretely eaten in places with "No food" policies, whatever it takes.
Posted 10/23/2009 10:56 AM (GMT 0)
And does that actually keep you from having a seizure? Or perhaps you're in denial? I'd still go to a good epilotologist to have myself checked out if I were you. But it's your choice.



phylisfeinerjohnson

Post Edited By Moderator (Pink Grandma) : 11/17/2009 11:35:58 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 10/25/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Eating something after a spell does help me to feel better, sometimes almost immediately. But usually by the time I've already gotten something to eat, it's already passed. I know for sure that I'm usually really tired after a spell and I know sometimes I wake up as if I'd not slept at all, but I don't ever remember waking up.
Posted 10/28/2009 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Cocktail,

Just wanted to know have U heard of Psuedoseizures or Non-epelictic NES seizures. That's what I was diagnosed with in 2004, I had a EEG and I had seizures when they had the stuff all hooked up to my head. Here's the crazy part they told me these seizures where brung on by stress, something that happend in my childhood and more, but in short form the told me to go see a PDR. When I have these attacks I have some sytems that U have. It's not just 1 side of my body it's my whole body, yes my legs are stiff when it's over I can barely walk, I have slurred speech I can hear people talking but I can't respond. So some of what your saying I can understand, but only on the left side U need to see a Dr fast.

Hope everything gets better!!



NES Non-epelectic seizures or(psuedoseizures)
same thing,depression, anxiety
Posted 10/28/2009 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I am scared tonight. I think I just had a seizure, more than I've thought in the past year. I am still not sure if my spells are seizures, but I'm beginning to think they may be. I know my spells have been increasing in frequency and tonight I got a really nauseating feeling, felt like something was churning in my stomach (if you've ever been pregnant, it's the feeling you get when the baby is kicking), then the bad left sided head pain, and bam, my left eye stayed wide open and my right eye went shut and I couldn't control it. My husband said my eyes went really really glossy before it happened and started to roll a little during the spell, with my left arm twitching. My left leg twitched too. I could hear everything around me and I was able to understand but I couldn't communicate well at all. Now does that sound like a seizure??
Posted 11/18/2009 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
COuld it be mini-strokes? Alot of times they happen on only one side of the body.
Posted 11/20/2009 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
I always keep valium handy for episodes.
I used to down a few shots of vodka just to try and slow the brain down. The doc said he'd rather I use valium.
At work, no alcohol, I would just have to go to my car in the parking lot and seat belt myself in and try to hyperventilate. I had so many of those and they were all petrifying.
Now, I can usually tell early in the morning if I’m headed down the path to an episode. I pop a valium and everything is much better.
I call them episodes but they are seizures.
Taking steroids for my ulcerative colitis really jacks the brain. Combine that with loss of sleep and a morning cup of java…Zow!
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