I've had temporal lobe epilepsy all my life, which causes me to have simple partial seizures and complex partial seizures which can, and have, become generalized seizures. When I began my perimenopausal nightmare, although my use of natural progesterone cream alleviated nearly all of my perimenopausal symptoms (except night sweats and occasional insomnia), my epileptic seizures began to change. My seizures became more frequent and intense, lasting for days and days on end; they were particularly out of control on those days I was not taking my progesterone cream (I take the cream from days 12 through 26 of my cycle). Although I had previously chosen to get off the anti-epileptic drug merry go round years before, my seizures had grown so out of control I could not stand, walk, talk or drive and therefore had to return to a neurologist and to taking anti-epileptic drugs again (no real choice there!). The anti-epileptic drug I've been on the past year or so has caused debilitating depression; the drug is Keppra XR.

I would like to know whether or not there are any women here who also have epilepsy and who also experienced a change in their seizure disorder when they entered perimenopause and, if so, I would like them to share their experience and advice with me.

Thanks.

No epileptic power surgers in here? I can't believe it!

I gotta figure out if my severe, chronic insomnia is because my neurologist switched me from Keppra too Keppra XR to control my epilepsy/seizures, or if this is my !@#! perimenopause causing the really bad insomnia. Or the combination of the two!

Please, epileptic power surgers, I need you to share your experiences and wisdom with me! It's 3 am and I've got to teach 2 American Government classes in the morning to a couple of 3 hour classes each to a bunch of rambunctious college students and I dunno if I can do it when I'm so sleep deprived!

When will this end?

How do you endure?

How do you know if it's your seizure meds or your !@#! perimenopause?!?!

-Sleepless in Cleveland, Ohio

I can't really help you much but I know someone who started having epileptic seizures when perimenopause started. Peri/menopause can exacerbate pre-existing conditions so I'm not surprised that your seizures have become worse. Progesterone cream can help reduce seizure activity in the brain ---but I see you've already tried that. Insomnia is a major symptoms of peri-menopause and many women suffer with this --- I'm sorry I can't be of more help to you...

Have you tried looking at the recommendations pages here? This board has a wealth of info - it's not just a message forum -

http://www.power-surge.com/recommend.htm


Feel better soon...having that many seizures can't be fun



(((hugs)))

Thank you, evening primrose and God bless you.

sicily - i would suggest you bump up this thread again - i too cannot believe that there are no ps sister with info for you - perhaps your post was not seen by them. Try retitling it - using an icon - capital letters anything to get attention. i wish you only the best.

many hugs - pookish

There is a wealth of information on the influence of hormones on seizure activity out on the net. The wide swings are very definitely a part of "kindling" seizure activity. I would advise you to Google Andrew Herzog at Beth Israel Deaconness (Harvard) and read everything you can find..
There is also a connection between Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Insulin Resistance/PCOS.

Thanks pookish. I'm a little technology challenged.

How do I "bump up this thread"??

I will TRY to figure this out . . .

Thanks.

I just meant to start the topic again as if it were a new topic

I have noticed that when someone is really desperate for help the topic is stated with emphasis equal to what the person is feeling.

It's really whatever you are comfortable with. I myself tend to be a bit dramatic and don't mind begging for help if I am really freaked out about something. Therefore I might title the thread something like NEED COMMUNITY PLEASE HELP AM EPILEPTIC AND PERIMENOPAUSAL!!!!!!

but as I said that's me, do whatever makes you most comfortable.

hope you find the help you need, will be thinking of you

pookish

Just hit the reply button and type "bump" then hit send. This will bump the thread right to the top of the viewing list.............

bump