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Posted 3/8/2007 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have just gotten out of the hospital after a two day video eeg.  They are telling me that i have non-epileptic seizures and that i need to talk to my psychiatrist and work with him.  i am very frustrated and very angry that this is what it is.  i feel so useless and its my fault that i have these seizures.  i feel as if my husband is thinking that im nuts or that i just want sympathy.  i was diagnosed with Post Traumatic stress syndrome 17 yrs ago when my husband committed suicide.  Now they are saying that the sexual abuse i suffered as a child and my first husbands suicide could be triggering these seizures.  has anyone else been told that in fact it was traumatic experiences from years ago causing this? they told me its my bodies way of not wanting to deal or admit to what happened to me in my past.  I was in therapy a very long time for all my past experiences and i truly believe that i dealt with it all and that i finally owned what happened in my life and moved on from it all.  now im not so sure. i am doubting myself and my own mind. please help.  im new to the site and just dont know where else to turn.  feel like im losing everything that i worked so hard to obtain and maintain. im losing my life and im watching it happen. any help is appreciated. 

 

Dottie

Posted 3/8/2007 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dottie,Even if the siezures are from post tramatic stress, that does not at all make you crazy. You sound like you have had many painful experieces throughout your life. You also sound like you are incredibly brave. I was also sexually abused as a child, and yes I've dealt with it, but truthfully, does it ever really go away? Does any traumatizing event ever get completely dealt with? I have read and heard that stress can trigger siezures in non epileptics. I've recently learned hat stress can make an epileptic have more frequent seizures.Do not doubt yourself or your mind. In times like that try to reach out and talk to someone. But most important believe in yourself. You are strong and brave. I am here if you need to talk ANYTIME OK? I will keep you in my prayers. Shauni

Posted 3/8/2007 11:58 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for responding Shauni. This is a good site. I also wanted to know if there are medications to help with non-epileptic seizures. I have heard that Depakote may help and also possibly Adivan. If anyone who has NES has ANYTHING that has helped curb their seizures please write and let me know. Thank you very much.

Dorothy

Posted 3/9/2007 3:10 AM (GMT 0)

Dottie,

I do know when I was diagnosed with seizures last summer at Vanderbilt University Hospital which is a teaching hospital, several of the physicians asked me if there had ever been any sexual abuse or any other kind of abuse.  Fortunately, this had not happened to me.  I am telling you this to let you know that it sounds like your doctor may be on the right track since my doctors say that abuse causes seizures. 

I did have some seizures as a child which were brought on by my parents divorce.  Not in the way you think.  I started having them when  my alcoholic mother came back into my life. My Dad had a girlfriend who was like a mother to me and all of a sudden one day she was out of my life because my parents decided to remarry.  I never got to see her again.  I as 12 and couldn't tell anyone how I felt.

I had another seizure in 1983 when my little brother died in a car wreck and had not had any until this past summer.

Again I am sharing this with you to let you know that trauma can bring on seizures.  I am certainly no expert but I wanted to share my experiences with you.  Right now I am feeling a little crazy because of some recent seizures I have had.

It sounds like you have been through a lot in your life and I can feel your pain.

Carla

Posted 3/9/2007 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Carla. At least i know im not alone. These all started when i started going thru some very upsetting and very stressful events in my life recently and i seemed to have gone right back to when my husband committed suicide. I guess certain events in your life stay with you forever and the only thing you can do is deal with them and realize that no matter what they are a part of you. I am getting in touch with my psychiatrist and finding a therapist. Will keep you posted as to what happens and if different medications help. Right now i am on lamictal 400 mg per day/ lexapro 20 mgs per day and neurontin, 1800 mgs per day. Hopefully the right combo of meds and therapy will make this at least manageable if not eliminate it all together.
prayers and angels are with you
dottie
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