seizures and Fibro

Hi there...there was a post last week about someone having seizures and all her tests coming back normal.  I have been on this forum for several years and it was the first time I had ever heard of fibro causing seizures.  There have been some members who got them from medications they were taking but not from fibro.  I have never heard of this and I have had fibro for 20+ years.  I certainly am not  saying it isn't possible...fibro is an insidoius disease with all kinds of strange symptoms.  I just never heard of it before.  It must have been frightening for you and I'm so sorry this happened.  Maybe someone else with more knowledge on the subject will chime in...

Donna

Nsbenette- I would like to know what meds you are on? I have suffered 4 seizures all medicated related. So many of our fibro drugs cause seizures. A lot of times is because of the dose being high or drug interaction. That was my case. I had my first seizures on tramadol. The dose I was taking was high and I was taking an antidepressant that can easily cause seizures. Those two mixed was not a good combination my Dr. Said. I had my worse seizure on welbutrin. My brain swelled and caused long lasting cognitive problems. Yes, stress can cause seizures, but usually if you are considered seizure prone already. After 2 seizures you are considered to have epilepsy. I hope it was drug related for you because they usually won't return. Like now, I am off my seizure meds because they were drug related. Seizures meds are hard on your body. Did anything happen to your licence? A lot of times you have to prove to the DMV that you are clear to drive. Please look at your meds and make sure there wasn't something they didn't see. ER didn't diagnosed me right. It was my neurologist did. They just sent me home after all my test were negative too!

Epilepsy.com does now have a short article about PNES being linked to Fibro. I personally was not told the 2 were linked even though I had the 2 diagnoses. I discovered the link on my own. What has helped me was treatment with routine xanax. Also, I have definite "aura" sensations and can limit my activites or get home or call for help during this time prior to the PNES. I have also ER backup Ativan if the event is prolonged or becomes tachycardic or my BP is too high too long. They are pretty scary as you are relatively aware that something is going on during the event though you seem clouded. I was diagnosed with Photo Stim at UC Epilepsy Unit in Ohio....single most terrifying event in my life due to you have some awareness that your body is out of control and mind and you don't know what is going on ...I did not know if I was dying or losing my mind and you can't stop the seizure. I could feel extreme palpitations and racing heart and severe uncontrolled movements, but could not make them stop. I ended up with head jerking, seeing psychodelic colors only and then I heard this murderous screaming...which was ME...I did not know it was me! I was restarted on xanax and this helps to control the stress/anxiety that leads to the seizure. I had tried antidepressants, BP meds(made it much worse), lyrica and neurontin with no success...xanax has helped tremendously. People are afraid of benzos but if your body/brain needs them it can restore your quality of life...it has allowed me to leave the house again independently! There is a thought that Fibro has something to do with decreased GABA in the brain - benzos help bring that level up of GABA but they are NOT for everyone. You must really have a team of good MD's to help you with the use of them!

The first thing I wondered, too, was if you were on Ultram. I never had a seizure when I was on it, because I took it according to directions, but my ex-son-in-law used to take Ultram for a different type of pain and he abused it and had seizures. I had a very healthy respect for that medication. I don't take it anymore.

I hope you find out something soon.

I have seizure about once a year. Two things seem to contribute to them. Around my period and stress and low blood sugar. My blood sugar drops drastically at this time as I produce to much insulin. I find it very hard to keep my blood sugar up during my period. Staying on a low carb high protein diet helps. My IBS however feels better when I eat carbs, I am fiber intolerant. So that basically leaves me eating protein. Any way if you are a hypoglycemic FM patient low blood sugar could be the seizure problem.