You've been Away so long,  I don't remember if you're already using one of
the Time Release Tegretols?
Also (you've likely already done 300x in your mind but)  did you do anything
different or around time the Brain Fogs etc. started up again?    I had some
of those 'years ago'  and only later found out the one of the Acids in
Grapefruit conflicts with Tegretol.   Since I only drank Grapefruit about
once or twice a month, I never related some of the Complex Partials with the
Grapefruit Juice, 6 hours sooner.
  I used to also be more prone when the Air Pressure or Outdoor Temperature
changed sharply.  I only thought of that since the Muggy Air has started up
again,  and I feel a Minor Brain Fog  as that's happening.  Although it's
not a full Aura like before I was controlled.

  Non-trained medical suggestion, if you Have to see the Dr., you could ask
if there are additional pills (e.g. Frisium in Canada)  that could be used
in Addition to the Tegretol but with the Tegretol mgs. *reduced.   I was
able to do above in ~1995/6 rather than further increase my Tegretol CR from
2x400mg per day.  We were able to phase off the Night dose, and replace it
with some of the Frisium (Clobazam).   As I had 2-3 more seizures over next
12-18 months, we added half tablets of Frisium to AM dose, then night, then
AM.  And that was last dose change I needed (for Complex Partials) in 1996.
I had 2 other seizures at that dose -- Dec. 97, June 98, and none since
then.
  I even had a Large accident (alone) similar to what you described, and
rather than going into what could have been a Serious Seizure,  was able to
get myself into the house and 'cleaned up' before any  'Aura Police' showed
up to take me to a Doctor.   (I have a scar now, and needed a bandage for
2-3 days, but never went into a 'Normal CP' like I would have in 1993-7.)
/G.

**G* That's why I wondered if this was the Controlled Release type
('retarded feeling'),  OR if the dose might now be Too High ??  (I don't
know if too high a dose can produce seizures as much as too low a Blood
Level can.)/

**** I usually pull (gently) on one of my ear lobes, or side of my nose and
never thought about that (why I did that) until you wrote above->  maybe I'm
'self medicating'  !    It can't hurt to try it,  likely the Second one
first.  You might get thrown out of the Food Court if you do the First One
there... :-<   But at home should be O.K.   G./

This must be so frustrating for you!!

Sorry to hear that GM"s are back ...is it just the one incident? If so it
could be isolated as the meds help control epilepsy but they never eliminate
the risk of having a GM or Partial....
I am on Tegrtol 800mgs/ day ...control release...
I found that high blood pressure and stress are/were really tough on me and
having gone through a seperation with my ex...I had super high stress that
caused high blood pressure ... = ...2 Grand Mals...
My advice would be try to see if anything in your daily life...changed
prior to your siezure ...
-could be diet,stress,and if you are not taking control release then your
levels could have been off...either too high or too low..
-Hang in there and one GM in 2 yrs isn't that bad "we all hate them"....but
don't worry yourself sick or ....you will be sick... ; )
Cheers for now and come back and post as I find this site very helpful
Jim....

Hi,

Yes, I've tried acupuncture and it seems to work. I had 2 GMs in
autumn 1999 and the doctors put me onto tegretol. Shortly after that I
started acupuncture and I haven't had any more GMs. I had a few
absences for the first 18 months but since then nothing more. Whether
it's the acupuncture or the tegretol, or a combination, I don't know
but a whole load of other things have cleared up in the meantime -
back trouble, really painful periods and low energy levels.

The first neurologist I consulted said he was prepared to believe that
acupuncture could be effective but that there had never been any
clinical trials done to confirm or dismiss it. The next one was very
dismissive but has been rather impressed that my liver seems to be
resisting the effects of taking daily medication.

So, I think it's worth a try. It's worked for people in my family for
other things (asthma, sciatica, allergies, for example) so why not
epilepsy? My acupuncturist said my whole nervous system was 'out of
balance' and has 'realigned' it. It makes sense - if epilepsy is a
condition affecting the nervous system and acupuncture works on the
body's 'energy lines', then it should work, shouldn't it?

I don't know anyone else who's tried it, though, and it's hard to find
any information about epilepsy and acupuncture. Good luck! I hope it
works well for you!

Christine