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09-07-2015, 10:56 AM
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479 posts, read 1,321,244 times
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I had my first seizure (grand mal) three years ago and have been seizure-free until yesterday. Yesterday, I had two seizures a couple hours apart and I don't think they were grand mal. I also think they were brought on by a combination of alcohol, strobe lights, and lack of sleep the night before. I read that epilepsy is defined as more than one unprovoked grand mal seizure. Is it likely that I have epilepsy? What are some things, like meds or diet, that I can do to help? I want to be able to live an independent life and be able to drive and live alone, and I'm a bit scared because I read somewhere that having a second seizure is essentially a death sentence.
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09-07-2015, 01:18 PM
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2,222 posts, read 10,267,655 times
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Call your doctor and make an appointment as soon as possible. Don't mess with this. You need to find the cause.
I don't believe having a second seizure is a death sentence. But you need answers.
Did you have tests 3 years ago with the grand mal? What was said.
Are you a heavy drinker? Stopped any meds recently? Had any head injuries? So many possibilities.
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09-07-2015, 01:23 PM
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479 posts, read 1,321,244 times
Reputation: 510
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beth56
Call your doctor and make an appointment as soon as possible. Don't mess with this. You need to find the cause.
I don't believe having a second seizure is a death sentence. But you need answers.
Did you have tests 3 years ago with the grand mal? What was said.
Are you a heavy drinker? Stopped any meds recently? Had any head injuries? So many possibilities.
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I was rear ended almost a year ago and had whiplash that seemed to go away after about 3 months. I also did some drinking the night before my most recent seizure and had trouble falling asleep. The tests 3 years ago concluded that it was probably a one time thing. I think that seizure was unprovoked, but the one I had recently was provoked by alcohol or sleep deprivation. Is it possible to have multiple seizures and not have epilepsy because they are provoked? |
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09-07-2015, 01:45 PM
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Location: Mostly in my head
19,856 posts, read 62,661,134 times
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Epilepsy is today called a seizure disorder. I had a seizure about 30 yrs ago for unknown reasons, standing in a bank line, lasted maybe a millisecond, and my friend did not notice. Never had another. If I had had 3, I would be seeing a neurologist ASAP. Medication is very effective now.
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09-07-2015, 03:13 PM
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2,222 posts, read 10,267,655 times
Reputation: 3315
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You said you were around strobe lights. There is something called Photosensitive epilepsy. Perhaps this had something to do with your episodes. Google it for more info.
However, I would not try to determine what happened by looking on the Internet or asking on forums. See your doctor, explain what happened, ask him or her about Photosensitive epilepsy and let the doctor determine what you need. Don't put your health at risk.
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09-07-2015, 05:05 PM
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Location: In a house
13,251 posts, read 40,939,958 times
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Strobe lights can trigger a seizure if you have epilepsy. It doesn't have to be "photosensitive" epilepsy. My dad has had epilepsy all his life but he's medicated for it and as far as I know has only had two seizures since I was born. He does not have "photosensitive" epilepsy, but has to be careful around strobes at certain frequencies. Other frequencies only makes him somewhat irritable, but don't trigger a seizure. He has the grand mal type seizures.
There are all types of variations of epilepsy, not all of them involve grand mal seizures. There was a girl in school who had it, but she would just suddenly stop whatever she was doing and "stare into space" for a few seconds. If she was holding something, she'd either clench it very tightly, or she'd drop it completely. She usually had no memory of the episode, and would feel a little tired after it, but otherwise she was fine.
With my dad, he drops to the ground, his entire body convulses, every muscle is tight, and when it's over a few seconds later he's physically and mentally exhausted and has a raging headache. I only witnessed that once, and as a young teenager watching her dad go through this I can tell you it's positively mortifying.
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09-08-2015, 08:59 AM
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Location: NoVa
18,434 posts, read 32,491,703 times
Reputation: 19763
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I would be seen by a dr. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 11 years old and am now 41. The names have changed on the types of seizures but I believe I have a mixture of types.
At any rate, if you DO actually have a seizure disorder, there is treatment out there. I have not had a seizure since 2008,thank goodness.
Stress, not enough sleep, strobe lights, alcohol....all of that can cause a seizure, especially in a person with seizure disorder.
A second seizure is not a death sentence but you do need to be treated and get to the bottom of things. I would suggest you also not be driving right now either....
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09-08-2015, 11:58 AM
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479 posts, read 1,321,244 times
Reputation: 510
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pikantari
I would be seen by a dr. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 11 years old and am now 41. The names have changed on the types of seizures but I believe I have a mixture of types.
At any rate, if you DO actually have a seizure disorder, there is treatment out there. I have not had a seizure since 2008,thank goodness.
Stress, not enough sleep, strobe lights, alcohol....all of that can cause a seizure, especially in a person with seizure disorder.
A second seizure is not a death sentence but you do need to be treated and get to the bottom of things. I would suggest you also not be driving right now either....
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I'm seeing a specialist next week. I think lack of sleep, alcohol, and maybe even a strobe light may have caused my most recent one. Maybe "death sentence" was too strong of a word, but does a second seizure automatically mean epilepsy? |
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09-09-2015, 08:53 AM
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Location: NoVa
18,434 posts, read 32,491,703 times
Reputation: 19763
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sidburn
I'm seeing a specialist next week. I think lack of sleep, alcohol, and maybe even a strobe light may have caused my most recent one. Maybe "death sentence" was too strong of a word, but does a second seizure automatically mean epilepsy?
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I cannot give you an answer to that question, but as a person with Epilepsy for 30 years, it isn't the end of the world at all. Very treatable.
It was difficult for me in the beginning when they were trying to find the right mix of meds for me, of course, and being a young person it was embarrassing.
Back then no one really understood. I would like to think things are different now. Hopefully you will not have anymore and I do not know what your dx is or will be, but like I said, it is not the end of the world.
Try not to stress about it, because that is not good for it or even overall health. 
Best of luck to you!! |
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