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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / March 2004Oh my God
Ok what everyone has said was really scary. Um, i will definatly get a referal to a neurologist now. If not from my psychatrist tommorrow then i will go see my GP and get the referal. Will i be able to resume driving with further treatment? what would that involve another anti-seizure medication? I might be starting Neruontin for Anxiety along with Depakote. Take care all and thanks heaps to everyone responding to my posts i greatly appreciate it. take care chris. Depending on the Country or State, most people can 'legally' drive if they are seizure free for 6? months or 12, depending on area. Your Local Epilepsy Chapter could tell you, by phone, what it is for your area. (Pablo might know. He lives in Australia too. He posts here when he's around. ) If you look at those sites I posted earlier, both Neurontin and Depakote are Anti-ep Medications. They could be used for other conditions too, but I think they're mostly AEDs, so your Doctor has already started to treat your seizure condition for you. Good Luck. You might find a mix that works within a short period of time. Some of us take longer, some get lucky with a mix that works in short order. G.R. > Ok what everyone has said was really scary. Um, i will definatly get a > referal to a neurologist now. If not from my psychatrist tommorrow then i [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > take care > chris. Howdy Chris! I have links on my epilepsy page for: Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria Epilepsy NSW Epilepsy Queensland Inc Victorian Epilepsy Centre  SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > Depending on the Country or State, most people can 'legally' drive if they > are seizure free for 6? months or 12, depending on area. Your Local [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > take care > > chris. Hi Chris, In some countries / states, you need to be free of seizures for a year before getting back your license. Some it's six months and some it's two years. My personal opinion is that if you have a history of seizures, even though you may not have had a seizure for two years, that doesn't mean you won't be having one tomorrow whilst driving along at 100 kilometers per hour in heavy traffic. And even if you ALWAYS get an aura before a seizure, that doesn't mean you won't have a seizure with no warning whatsoever....that's what happened to me. I feel that ANYONE who has a history of seizure activity should never drive again, although that's just my opinion for what it's worth. I know personally, I will never drive again, though maybe the type of experience I've had is what it takes to make someone realise the gravity of this issue. I guess this is a subject which is very controversial and there are two definite sides to it. Unfortunately I can see both sides. Anyone else have more on this? Darryl. -- To reply, change daryl to darryl in address. "It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye" Quote: My Mum > Ok what everyone has said was really scary. Um, i will definatly get a > referal to a neurologist now. If not from my psychatrist tommorrow then i [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > chris. During a time when I had seizures regardless of my medication my neurologist reported it to the DMV, which is supposed to be standard procedure here in California, although I don't hear about this process very much. Anyway, during the 45 minute long interview they asked if I had ever had a seizure while driving, if I had any kind of warning, if my meds controlled my seizures, if I had a brain injury, If I lost consciousness during seizures.....The answers to these questions determined my ability to drive. They said I would have an interview every year to determine if my meds controlled the seizures. I never had another interview. In the meantime the seizures were controlled with a change in meds. I felt odd after the interview because it made me think harder about seizures in general. How could they assume that my seizures would never change? Would they investigate me *after* I had an accident.........none of it made sense. When going on a long trip I used to have my husband drive. Recently I had to take a trip alone(120miles) to my doctor and it was a most terrifying drive! I feel much safer with a companion. I cast my vote for driving with a companion. Cheryl > Hi Chris, > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > > > chris. x-- 100 Proof News - http://www.100ProofNews.com x-- 3,500+ Binary NewsGroups, and over 90,000 other groups x-- Access to over 1 Terabyte per Day - $8.95/Month x-- UNLIMITED DOWNLOAD > In some countries / states, you need to be free of seizures for a year > before getting back your license. Some it's six months and some it's two [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Darryl. I take what you have said on this VERY seriously. About five months ago, I started having "episodes" of many different types, often many times a day. While I remained conscious with these, and with most felt I could control a car either continuously through some types, or long enough with others to get off the road safely, I stopped driving. Two neurologists tell me they do not think this is epilepsy (no EEG results, no unconscious events, no MRI oddities), and offer the possibility of movement-disorder (I go soon to check this out...). Though I'm currently in MUCH better shape than earlier (down to about one major event every other day or so, plus minor things, plus a recent horrendous speech condition), I'm still VERY reluctant to drive without knowing more than I do now. I will not risk it, though the chances may now be very low of having a problem while driving... SignatureDR Howdy DR! Funny thing about "unconsiousness"... I a person's "unconsiousness" is due to complex partials, you aren't aware that you ever WERE unconsious in the first place! SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > I take what you have said on this VERY seriously. About > five months ago, I started having "episodes" of many different [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > now. I will not risk it, though the chances may now be very > low of having a problem while driving... "Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > Howdy DR! > > Funny thing about "unconsiousness"... > > I a person's "unconsiousness" is due to complex partials, you aren't aware > that you ever WERE unconsious in the first place! Major correction there, Dave. When a person has complex partials and doesn't remember some period of time, they were NOT unconscious during the period of time that they don't remember. That period can be described as being a period of "altered" consciousness because of some of the behavior and because it is not remembered, but the person is definitely conscious and no onlooker would think that they were unconscious. Bob > Dave ©¿©¬ > "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > -- > > DR > > Howdy DR! > > Funny thing about "unconsiousness"... [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > think that they were unconscious. > Bob If a person is just 'losing time' or 'unaware' that might be part of a Simple Partial Seizure. Before my 'C.P. seizures' were controlled, they would Generalize (spread), and I became 're-aware' while lying on the floor. All my C.P. Seizures (so far as I recall them), ended in loss of consciousness. G. > > Dave ???? > > "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > > -- > > > DR > > "Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > > > Howdy DR! [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > If a person is just 'losing time' or 'unaware' that might be part of a > Simple Partial Seizure. Ummm. Not really. The word "Complex" is in Complex Partial Seizure to mean that it involves an alteration of consciousness (but not a loss thereof). > Before my 'C.P. seizures' were controlled, are you certain that they were C.P. seizures? Perhaps you were getting an Aura preceding a Generalized seizure? > they would Generalize (spread), > and I became 're-aware' while lying on the floor. All my C.P. Seizures (so > far as I recall them), ended in loss of consciousness. but if they Generalized then all bets are off and they can't be called Partials of any kind. Bob > G. > > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > > > -- > > > > DR > > > > Howdy DR! > > > > Funny thing about "unconsiousness"... [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > Ummm. Not really. The word "Complex" is in Complex Partial Seizure to mean that > it involves an alteration of consciousness (but not a loss thereof). G- one site that describes temporal lobe effect http://www.northeastrehab.com/Articles/seizurefaq.htm#temporal (Mine were first called Temporal Lobe (since the right T.Lobe is where they start), then Complex Partial. I checked Tegretol (which I use) and Frisium to see if it says (first) that it's used primarily for C.P. seizures, but the efa glossary doesn't specify that. The Encephalitis Damage I had, occurred in Rt. T.Lobe 13 years before the szrs. started.) My original seizures were called 'Temporal Lobe seizures, secondarily generalized', since first 3+ years they ended with loss of consciousness (when the seizure Generalized through my brain and tripped rest of the Circuits there). As control got closer (with pills above), the Wandering and loss of awareness (only) described on the First Aid charts were more common, then just the Auras. / > > Before my 'C.P. seizures' were controlled, > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > > > > low of having a problem while driving... > > > > > DR Just to add my two cents worth, I've been having complex partials for 30 years now. I'm assured by my neuros that they ARE C.P's as they've witnessed dozens of them. Over the last 30 years I've had well over 100,000 of them. During my seizures I NEVER lose consciousness, always know what went on during them and roughly how long they lasted. I don't know about an alteration of consciousness, though sometimes my wife tells me I was screaming during it and I don't remember doing that. Personally, I'm not too concerned about classifications of seizure types, etc. My seizures are what they are, I've lived with them for 30 years now and most likely will for the rest of my life. They often don't seem to fit into any "category" that others seem to feel that they should, but hey, why conform? Darryl. -- To reply, change daryl to darryl in address. "It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye" Quote: My Mum > > > > > Howdy DR! > > > > > Funny thing about "unconsiousness"... [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] > > > > > > low of having a problem while driving... > > > > > > DR Howdy Bob! I was not using the medical definition of "unconsious" It's all a matter of point of view. If *I* am not aware of my environment than, IMO I am unconsious. i.e.: not "consious" of my situation or environment. Semantics m'lad, semantics... (I'm a great a.s-buster when it comes to semantics!) SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > > Howdy DR! > > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > > -- > > > DR "Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > Howdy Bob! > > I was not using the medical definition of "unconsious" Hi Dave or even a dictionary definition? btw, it's spelled unconscious. (once is a typo. several times is a misspelling). > It's all a matter of point of view. If *I* am not aware of my environment > than, IMO I am unconsious. i.e.: not "consious" of my situation or > environment. During one of my own Complex Partials, for example, I was looking for my cigarettes (because I wanted to smoke one I would imagine) and patting my shirt pocket where I usually carried them and saying: "where are my cigarettes, where are my cigarettes?". They were sitting on the table right where I had left them and I noticed them when my wife pointed them out. Does any of that sound like someone who is "unconscious" by anybody's definition? Afterwards, I had no memory of the incident whatsoever. What I know of it was related to me by my wife. She could assure you that I was not "unconscious". > Semantics m'lad, semantics... (I'm a great a.s-buster when it comes to > semantics!) Better start using some pretty standard word definitions or we won't have any idea what you're talking about. Be careful or I'll get Klaatu after you. :-) Bob > -- > Dave ©¿©¬ [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > > > -- > > > > DR >"Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >or even a dictionary definition? btw, it's spelled unconscious. (once is a >typo. several times is a misspelling). By that definition 'remember' must be the most difficult word to spell in the dictionary (followed by 'analytical'). I digress: >> It's all a matter of point of view. If *I* am not aware of my environment >> than, IMO I am unconsious. i.e.: not "consious" of my situation or [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >are my cigarettes?". They were sitting on the table right where I had left >them and I noticed them when my wife pointed them out. I think it is all down to memory. I have done some mighty wacky things during complex partials, some of them with seemingly distinct intent and precision. Yet I remember none of them. I would like to use the word unaware except there is no doubt that I was interacting with the environment and responding to it, so 'unawareness' is out. I do not remember being arrested and read my rights. Would anything I said *really* have been written down and used in evidence against me? I was definitely conscious and the police were the ones who were obviously unaware that anything was medically askew. I do not remember becoming aggressive and fighting with the doctors when they induced a seizure in the hospital. It is *most* out of character for me, yet they said I was violent. I had been previously assured that I would not do anything out of character during a seizure. On the few times when I have hallucinated during a CPS (or does that come under the term of psychosis?) I obviously remember snatches of it afterwards, or I wouldn't have known it had happened. > Does any of that sound >like someone who is "unconscious" by anybody's definition? Not to me. I would suggest that the state in which we find ourselves during a seizure cannot be described in one simple everyday term. What occurs is a loss of self-awareness, memory and an altered, sometimes irrational interaction with the environment. The general public would probably term it being 'stoned', which brings us back to the person who really enjoyed their seizures and wanted more. But if you can't remember them, why wish for more? To me it is just like someone else has borrowed my body for a while and taken it over for a while. That's not unconscious, that weird. I am switched off during a seizure and someone with far less social sense than me is running my body. SignatureMalcolm Well said Malcolm. I like the way you defined it rather than unconsciousness, but as "loss of self-awareness, memory and an altered, sometimes irrational interaction with the environment." I think if it was a state of unconsciousness if one couldn't remember what went on, then I spend most of my waking hours unconscious.....cos I can't remember diddly squat. Darryl. -- To reply, change daryl to darryl in address. "It's all fun and games till someone loses an eye" Quote: My Mum > >"Dave ????" wrote: > > [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] > -- > Malcolm I can really relate to what Malcolm is saying. During these complex partials I perform actions with apparent "conscious" intent - that's why I find them so frightening - but I don't consider that I am "conscious" at the time, even though I am clearly awake. This state of consciousness doesn't fit the definition of conscious or unconscious. Perhaps we need a new word for it. > I think it is all down to memory. I have done some mighty wacky things > during complex partials, some of them with seemingly distinct intent and [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > seizure and someone with far less social sense than me is running my > body. > I can really relate to what Malcolm is saying. During these complex partials > I perform actions with apparent "conscious" intent - that's why I find them > so frightening - but I don't consider that I am "conscious" at the time, > even though I am clearly awake. This state of consciousness doesn't fit the > definition of conscious or unconscious. Perhaps we need a new word for it. There already is a word for it that is fairly descriptive and that I've seen used in quite a few places. That's "altered" as in an altered state of consciousness. Bob > > I think it is all down to memory. I have done some mighty wacky things > > during complex partials, some of them with seemingly distinct intent and [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > -- > > Malcolm I don't think "altered" is descriptive enough - it makes me think of LSD trips. > > I can really relate to what Malcolm is saying. During these complex partials > > I perform actions with apparent "conscious" intent - that's why I find them [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > > -- > > > Malcolm > I don't think "altered" is descriptive enough - it makes me think of LSD > trips. That's something I know nothing about and I'll leave that one to those of you with experience with that.<g> Bob > > > I can really relate to what Malcolm is saying. During these complex > partials [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] > > > > -- > > > > Malcolm Howdy! "Altered" sounds like a good word to me. LSD only happens to be one of the ways to do it. Epilepsy may be just another means to the same end. SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > > I don't think "altered" is descriptive enough - it makes me think of LSD > > trips. >... 'remember' must be the most difficult word to spell >in the dictionary... What word is most often spelt wrongly? "W-R-O-N-G-L-Y", of course! As for looking up "dictionary" because the spelling is unknown to the researcher.... why not just look at the front cover? :-) SignatureMatSav Howdy Bob! I only said that I could write, I never said that I could spell! SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > > Howdy Bob! > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > or even a dictionary definition? btw, it's spelled unconscious. (once is a > typo. several times is a misspelling). Hi Dave If yu kin reed rite & spel that gud your allrite in my book! :-) Bob "Dave ©¿©¬" wrote: > Howdy Bob! > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > a > > typo. several times is a misspelling). > Hi Dave > > If yu kin reed rite & spel that gud your allrite in my book! :-) > > Bob G'day bob, i wouldn't have thought spelling mattered only the substance of the message and it's impact. pablo > > Hi Dave > > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > and it's impact. > pablo Hi Pablo What you say is true, but do you see any harm in spelling words correctly? I don't think it hurts anything. Bob > > > Hi Dave > > > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Bob g'day bob i try to spell words right where possible but i'm more concerned with delivering my message. i will say though that when i'm delivering training i do take care to ensure my spelling and punctuation is correct. pablo Howdy pablo! Spelling and punctuation ARE correct. Gotta' watch them gramatic errors! SignatureDave ???? "Noli illigitemi carborundum decendus" http://www.howdydave.com > > Bob > g'day bob > i try to spell words right where possible but i'm more concerned with > delivering my message. i will say though that when i'm delivering training i > do take care to ensure my spelling and punctuation is correct. > pablo oi vey pablo > Howdy pablo! > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > do take care to ensure my spelling and punctuation is correct. > > pablo > Ok what everyone has said was really scary. Um, i will definatly get a > referal to a neurologist now. If not from my psychatrist tommorrow then i > will go see my GP and get the referal. Hi again Chris You're making a good decision there! From what you've told us, your psychiatrist seems a puzzling case as he is playing at being a neurologist with his talk of an EEG etc instead of referring you to one. I wonder if you will have trouble with him and if you will need to get the referral from your GP. > Will i be able to resume driving with further treatment? what would that > involve another anti-seizure medication? It will take something different from the Depakote you take now as that is clearly not stopping your seizures. > I might be starting Neruontin for Anxiety along with Depakote. I forgot to ask before, but did the Depakote you're taking have a noticible effect? and has it been helping you at all? I wouldn't start the Neurontin now if I were you. The reason I say that is that the Neurologist might decide to use different drugs and drugs can't just be stopped. It takes a period of time to ramp down on any drug so that seizures aren't caused by the drug-withdrawal effect. Just suddenly stopping a drug can cause seizures! The Neurologist might want to try totally different drugs, so I'd keep the slate as clean as possible for him. (I take Neurontin myself for my condition). > Take care all and thanks heaps to everyone responding to my posts i greatly > appreciate it. > > take care > > chris. Best of luck to you and keep in touch! Bob Don't delay seeing a neuro, and EEG's can come back fine and you still have Epilepsy. Don't hang all your hopes on one med to be the do all end all. In Ohio, it's 6 months seizure free. not sure about other states. MOM > Ok what everyone has said was really scary. Um, i will definatly get a > referal to a neurologist now. If not from my psychatrist tommorrow then i [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > chris.
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