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Catamenial epilepsy

by Baz
(Sydney, Australia)

Hi Wray, I am so glad to have found your website as I am a 40 year old women who has nocturnal seizures for the past 15years, and I have always known there is a distinct catamenial pattern to my seizures. Sometimes seizure/s between day 10-14, but mostly two or 3 days before menses.My cycle is usually quite regular, between 28-30 days. Never at any other time of month do I have seizure activity, and it doesn't happen every month, usually every 2-3 months.I think this is because of annovulatory cycles every 2nd or 3rd month. I have never been able to find a practioner who would try to treat my seizures from a hormonal perspective. I have been researching this for years, bioidentical progesterone, as I knew that my seizures are only ever hormonal. I have found a compounding chemist in Sydney that makes bioidentical progesterone and have tried it for the last 6 months. I havn't found total relief of seizure activity yet, but I found this website and realised I was told to take way too little a dose. 20mg bi- daily. I have started taking as you suggest, 100mg morn and 100mg night. I think I may need more. The thing that I need to know is that, if my seizures are caused by anovulation, and if I take the progesterone throughout the whole month, or start to take in that danger time between day 10-14, will I cause anovulation, and therefore not produce progesterone in the luteal phase naturally and still leave myself open to catamenial seizures?. Being that my seizures are mostlyday 25-28, or day 10-14, I am inclined to take the progesterone the whole month. Am I using the right amount? And the right treatment pattern? I have read your page on epilepsy and found great information, I would just like some more advice on a strategy that you think may work for me please. I am not worried about fertility, contraception, or anything but seizure control!! Please help me!

Comments for Catamenial epilepsy

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Oct 06, 2015
 Catamenial epilepsy
by: Wray

Hi Baz Well I was going to ask you to read our page on epilepsy, but see you have! So many don't bother to look around the site so thank you for doing so. If you're not worried about fertility etc then use the progesterone daily. Progesterone does work as a contraceptive, but your main concern at the moment is to get rid of the epilepsy. I'd stick with the amount you are using, unless you find it's not enough. It's most interesting you also have symptoms between days 10-14, which in most doctors eyes would discount the catamenial diagnosis. And yet it's also caused by an imbalance of hormones. There are many women who have written in suffering from asthma and migraine attacks, epilepsy too just before ovulation when oestrogen is surging. I would suggest increasing the fat content in your diet by following a ketogenic diet. This does cure epilepsy if a high enough ratio of fat to protein/carbs is eaten. These are a few websites with info here, here, here, here and here. Let us know how you get on. Take care Wray
Oct 07, 2015
 Catamenial epilepsy
by: Baz

Hi Wray, Thankyou so much for your quick reply. I have been intently reading the information on the ketogenic diet you sent me links to. I was aware of this diet but there is alot I didn't know. I have been taking 6 spoons of coconut oil daily, but I will follow the diet strictly and see how it goes. I just wanted to mention that I have just received my first order of Natpro. I have been using for about a week. I am testing to see if your product works better for me than the one I was previously taking, and from what I have read about the superiority of this product in helping women with progesterone deficiency related problems, I think I'm on the right track. I have been reading all the related epilepsy issues and comments and others as well for a while on the forums, and all the other success stories make me very optimistic!
I noticed that you recommend much higher doses for alot of people. Do you think I should try upping the dose in that danger period, day 25-28 just to make sure I have some extra protection. I realise it is all trial and error with finding the right dose. But I am so optimistic this will help me as I have a distict catamenial pattern to my seizure activity. Mostly at the progesterone drop pre menstrually and occasionally at the oestrogen surge mid cycle. Is there any side effects for too much progesterone? Thankyou so much. Regards,Baz.
Oct 07, 2015
 Catamenial epilepsy
by: Baz

Hi Wray, Thankyou so much for your quick reply. I have been intently reading the information on the ketogenic diet you sent me links to. I was aware of this diet but there is alot I didn't know. I have been taking 6 spoons of coconut oil daily, but I will follow the diet strictly and see how it goes. I just wanted to mention that I have just received my first order of Natpro. I have been using for about a week. I am testing to see if your product works better for me than the one I was previously taking, and from what I have read about the superiority of this product in helping women with progesterone deficiency related problems, I think I'm on the right track. I have been reading all the related epilepsy issues and comments and others as well for a while on the forums, and all the other success stories make me very optimistic!
I noticed that you recommend much higher doses for alot of people. Do you think I should try upping the dose in that danger period, day 25-28 just to make sure I have some extra protection. I realise it is all trial and error with finding the right dose. But I am so optimistic this will help me as I have a distict catamenial pattern to my seizure activity. Mostly at the progesterone drop pre menstrually and occasionally at the oestrogen surge mid cycle. Is there any side effects for too much progesterone? Thankyou so much. Regards,Baz.
Oct 08, 2015
 Catamenial epilepsy
by: Wray

Hi Baz Pleased you have heard of the keto diet, as it comes as quite a shock to many people……increase fat content…huh?….are you mad! When we've had 50 plus years of low fat diets thrust down our throats, ever since Ancel Keys published his 7 nation study in the 50's. I suggest you see how you get on with the 200mg/day, it can get quite costly using a lot of cream. If you do feel your symptoms coming back in the danger period, then by all means up the amount. And keep an eye on the mid-cycle surge too. There are no adverse side effects with too much progesterone, but of course many women do suffer from Oestrogen Dominance. You might like to read through the page we have on Progesterone Misconceptions. Take care Wray
Nov 22, 2015
 Unusual pain sensation
by: Anonymous

Hi Wray,
I just wanted to ask you about a strange symptom I'm experiencing at the moment, and am wondering if you know if it may be related to my progesterone usage. I am experiencing gynaecological pain,and it feels almost like contractions happening. It comes as a strong spasming and painful sensation about every 15 or 20 mins and then dies off straight away, although I am feeling quite swollen and sensitive in the area continuosly, quite like the feeling with menstruation. It has been happening for two days now continuosly, all through the night in my sleep. There is zero chance I am pregnant. I have no bleeding at all either. I can also say it is not a gastro- intestinal pain and no symptoms of it being so. I am taking progest everyday continuosly morn and night. 100mg in the morn and 200mg at bedtime. I need the extra at night as my seizures are nocturnal. I havn't had a period for about three months since I have been on this dose, but was under the impression that this was quite normal as your cycle takes awhile to assert itself again. Could you please give me some advice as to what this could be?
Kind Regards,
Baz
Nov 15, 2016
 For Baz
by: Carla

Hi Baz, I just read your description of your epilepsy and you're the first woman I've actually heard of that has the same epilepsy patterns as me - nocturnal, and always around my period, sometimes monthly or every other month. The seizures weren't always like this, I had grand mals to start (diagnosed when I was 16) but then they found a mark in my temporal lobe, and with medication they calmed down. Now that I've had children though they seemed to have fallen in this nocturnal/around my period pattern. I was wondering if the progesterone has still been helping, and if you've tried the keto diet with any success? Thanks!
Dec 21, 2018
 Nocternal/ Catamenial patern seizures
by: Anonymous

10 years of de javue/ nausea, seizures then 9 years chasing catamenial seizures through diet, progesterone, removing ovaries and medication. All culminating to this......
Liver toxicity, thus making sense my inability to manage healthy B and D vitamins and proper hormone levels. Still without my ovaries I still had consistent monthly seizures!!?? A gene test would show improper liver detoxification and high levels of certain metals.

Well after a million MDs and natural doctors I have found what works for me....... GLUTATHIONE (make sure it is LIPOSOMAL) it is our body's most potent antioxidant and reduces as you age and of course as toxins rise (makes sense we need more now than ever). I also use a clay or more specifically mine is volcanic, it is called Zeolite. All natural products that do not need a doctor's prescription to try. Make sure it is the best quality ever! Thank you to my MD doctor who believes in these therapies and helped me to be seizure free. Please try it! and God Bless you!
May 19, 2020
 Zeolite and l-glutathione
by: Jodie

Hello, I found this thread a week ago. I'm starting on the zeolite powder and the l-glutathione for my catamenial seizures. I'm desperate! Medication has only made them worse, I've tried messing with my hormones which made this worse also.

I would love to get in contact with you and find out what brands you used, at what concentrations, what time of day, empty stomach, etc

Thank you.

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