Seizures - experiences
Discussion
For about 5 years now, I've been getting regular episodes a couple of times a week that last no longer than 10 seconds or so, where my vision goes very slightly fuzzy in my left eye, I feel slightly light-headed, then I get a tingling and slight weakness down my right arm. Bizarrely, the only other symptom is that if I'm talking to somebody at the time, I lose the ability to think of words, but other than that I remain fully functional (and 99% of the time, the only person who notices anything is me).
I went to my GP about this, who was pretty crap to be honest and wrote it off as a benign neurological condition. After I moved house a couple of years ago, I went to my new GP with the symptoms, and had a referral to a neurologist.
After a number of tests, including an MRI, to rule out anything sinister, the diagnosis that the neurologist has made is Simple Partial Seizures.
That was a couple of months ago, and I was put on a course of Keppra/Levetiracetam - firstly 250mg twice daily and it's now been stepped up to 750mg twice daily. So far, it's had absolutely zero effect on either the severity or frequency of the episodes, so I wondered whether anyone else had experienced similar, and how long it takes for something like Keppra to become effective?
It's a bit of a pain at the moment. As it's a notifiable condition, the DVLA have revoked my driving licence (despite the fact that even if one of these episodes occurred behind the wheel, I can't think of a situation where it would cause additional risk). In addition to that, the Keppra is causing all manner of weird side effects, such as mood swings and bouts of anxiety.
I went to my GP about this, who was pretty crap to be honest and wrote it off as a benign neurological condition. After I moved house a couple of years ago, I went to my new GP with the symptoms, and had a referral to a neurologist.
After a number of tests, including an MRI, to rule out anything sinister, the diagnosis that the neurologist has made is Simple Partial Seizures.
That was a couple of months ago, and I was put on a course of Keppra/Levetiracetam - firstly 250mg twice daily and it's now been stepped up to 750mg twice daily. So far, it's had absolutely zero effect on either the severity or frequency of the episodes, so I wondered whether anyone else had experienced similar, and how long it takes for something like Keppra to become effective?
It's a bit of a pain at the moment. As it's a notifiable condition, the DVLA have revoked my driving licence (despite the fact that even if one of these episodes occurred behind the wheel, I can't think of a situation where it would cause additional risk). In addition to that, the Keppra is causing all manner of weird side effects, such as mood swings and bouts of anxiety.
I was diagnosed epileptic about 13 years ago, after three early morning fits. Absolutely no chance I would have been driving on any occasion. I was stopped from driving for 18 months, 15 months fit free.
The DVLA are very cautious about this. (Rightfully so)
The reality was, it was probably my diabetes and not epilepsy, which looks more likely now I can continually see my blood sugar's....
Best of luck
Mike
The DVLA are very cautious about this. (Rightfully so)
The reality was, it was probably my diabetes and not epilepsy, which looks more likely now I can continually see my blood sugar's....
Best of luck
Mike
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