What can people tell me about seizures? And the medications?

[Ruby Reason]

[libodem]

1. Before I became an actual RN

I worked as a therapy technician at our state school. Many of our kids had seizure disorders that they were born with. I've heard seizures come from scar tissue from brain insults. The electrical activity goes up to the area of the damage and has to jump it to go across. That can start an electrical storm of activity which results in the tonic/clonic movements you see in a convulsion. Most seizures last a few seconds. It seems longer because they are so violent. Status seizures are one one top of the other and require medical intervention. The nurse would give IM valium with good results for most.

The meds are usually some kind of a downer type drug to supress the electrical storm from getting started. A common drug is Depakote. I don't know if Phenobarbatol still used. Clonapin is kind of in the valium family.

I'm seeing a trend in using seizure drugs for behavior control. There may be a link between violent acting out and undiagnosed seizure like fits of anger.

[Ruby Reason]

2. Thanks

My husband has seizures now. Once they start his don't really seem to stop (like the Status seizures you described). Is there any at home emergency medicine I could give him sort of like epipen is used for allergic reactions. He is on a regular med to control them, but once something goes wrong it is a 911 call for us since he doesn't ever get awake enough to then take his medicine orally. It's pretty scarey.

[The empressof all]

3. Are his seizures due to a head injury?

Living with seizures in the family is rough at time. I've done it for over 36 years. I've gone though long phases of feeling on edge just waiting for the next one to come. Luckily my husband has been seizure free for almost 20 years. When he was having seizures he would have the type that you described. It sure would have been nice to be able to give him something before the aid car got there. But as far as I know all you can do is call 911 quickly and remove any thing around him that he can get hurt by.

[Ruby Reason]

4. They aren't sure what causes his seizures.

He has had several head traumas over the years that I've known him, including a fist fight, a heavy glass light cover suddenly coming unsecured from the ceiling, and falling down the stairs. He has a family history of Turettes (spelling?) which I guess has shown some relationship. But they don't know and just labeled it "latent epilepsy".

20 years is great! I hope that continues for you. Maybe we'll be that lucky now too. But I know every time he jerks in his sleep I startle awake to check him over. I appreciate your support.

[The empressof all]

5. I'm sure he's had Cat and Pet scans by now

It really is imperative to getting an accurate diagnosis to get all the testing. There are so many new options available now to treating uncontrolled seizures like implants and laser surgery. If you have the ability to get to an Epilepsy Center in a hospital for diagnostics I would more than recommend it.

The epilepsy foundation has great info and can help you locate treatment and support.

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/

And boy do I know that living in fear bit..I get nervous with him driving and there are times that those normal twitches at night jar me awake. I remember those sleepless nights and the anxiety of waiting for the aid car to come.

Please feel free to PM me.... I'd be more than happy to lend a listening ear and share "war" stories....

[Ruby Reason]

6. He's basically been through everything

MRI (2), EEG, Cat scan, neurologist, etc. Thanks at the moment we've about done out what insurance will cover, so any type of surgery is a long way off. Still at least so far the medication seems to be working. Twice it has hit in the summer right around the 4th of July so I'll be keeping an extra eye out then, even if it has just been coincidence.

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely take a look at that.

His driving makes me nervous too. And we have travel meds incase he gets stuck somewhere. We made up our own little first aid info card for his wallet, etc. Still it is often hard to relax.

Thanks for staying open for chatting. A listening ear is sometimes the most important thing. I'm willing to listen too. It helps to know we are not alone.

[w8liftinglady]

7. I'm a nurse who started having seizures...

ater gastric surgery.
more than likely a vitamin deficiency stimulated it.I was on seizure meds of varying kinds for 4 years before they finally did a left temporal lobectomy.I have been "almost" seizure-free on meds.Ask anything.I have lots of info