Category: Dealing with epilepsy

Dealing with epilepsy

EEGs, MRIs and other stuff like that

Codrin PO

My epilepsy was diagnosed on the basis of a few blood tests and a 15 minutes EEG. This was back in 2000 when imagery in Romania was not really advanced and it was extremely expensive.

Over the years, I had a few more EEGs, a few more blood tests and a CT back in 2009. Finally, in 2011, I afforded to get an MRI (with contrast agent). I was employed for 3 years and had a PhD scholarship.

The MRI revealed almost nothing, except for a small scratch on the left side of my brain. I have no idea in which region precisely as the neurologist didn’t really explained it to me.

Because she didn’t explain and I didn’t understand, I emailed the MRI to various famed epileptologists around the world. Those who answered (about 5% of them) told me the same thing: the quality of the video is too bad to give a precise diagnosis (+ that I should make an appointment with them).

After I moved to Belgium, I had another MRI and another EEG (during sleep and wakefulness) which actually revealed the same thing (the scratch) and a little change in course (EEG) on the left side of the brain.

I’ll get another (full) EEG in November before my doctor’s appointment. I’m looking forward in seeing what that will shows.

But, until then, I’m sharing my first MRI on this blog. You can find the ax T1W+C FFE part of the MRI below.

Dealing with epilepsy

I liked my “seizures at home” period as an adolescent

Codrin PO

As I had my first seizure in 1999 and was officially diagnosed with epilepsy in 2000, I can say that I was in the middle of my adolescence when those things happened.

My mother, sister and myself lived in a 2-bedroom apartment (plus a huge living room) of about 70 sqm (750 square foot). But we all bundled up in one bedroom because that was better. We watched movies every night and had a laugh.  Continue reading “I liked my “seizures at home” period as an adolescent” →

Dealing with epilepsy

Morning headaches

Codrin PO

A couple of days ago, I woke up with an incredibly painful headache. I wouldn’t categorize it as an “ice pick” headache because it lasted about 2 days.

It’s not a migraine, although, after googling around for causes, I was convinced that it was.

I wasn’t hung over either :).

What started as a splitting headache over my forehead (frontal lobes of the brain) slowly moved and grew. By the end of the day, my whole head was pounding, as if my heart was beating inside it. Continue reading “Morning headaches” →

Dealing with epilepsy

Attention deficit, concentration and my epilepsy

Codrin PO

I read today 1 in 5 adults with epilepsy also present ADHD (Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) symptoms. Here’s the link to the article: http://bit.ly/ADHDandEpilepsy. Another article I read a while ago (sorry, but I don’t have a link) stated that attention deficit in people with epilepsy is an adverse effect of many anticonvulsants.

I guess this briefly explains my attention deficit problems, if I choose to believe them.

To explain:

In primary school, I was a straight A (10*) student. I had no problem learning, being attentive or memorizing stuff -> no problem concentrating at school. Continue reading “Attention deficit, concentration and my epilepsy” →

Dealing with epilepsy

My medicine so far

Codrin PO

Since I had my first seizure on January 1st 1999 (at 5am), I’ve been through a number of medicine. Each time the problem was that my body got used to them real quickly and doses increased, medicine changed.

I started of with Phenobarbital in 2000 and reached the maximum dose of 400 mg/day in 2002 in a single dose per day. I had quite a few adverse effects: dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, continuous headaches among others.

In 2004, when I started my Bachelor studies (in another city), I changed my neurologist and, of course, she changed my treatment. I started Carbamazepine and reached 1600 mg/day (in two doses) in 2008. Among the side effects were: dizziness, headaches, trouble sleeping, sudden mood swings, ataxia and I could go on. Continue reading “My medicine so far” →