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seizures after so long

by Karen
(swindon, england)

I was diagnosed with epilepsy back in 1997 when I was 24, after I had had a grand mal seizure on New Years Eve and another four months later. On both occasions I remember they were near the start of my period and the day had been stressful and I had not eaten yet (both around 6.30pm). I was put on Tegretol tablets 800mg per day. Before the grand mal seizures I had experienced left arm twitching for at least a year and in-line with my periods starting after a stressful time in my life. The twitches continued after medication but the grand mal seizures stopped. FF to 2001 when I my meds were reduced as I planned pregnancy. I have had 2 children and during the pregnancy all symptoms of twitching disappeared only to return after breast feeding stopped. My medication levels were never increased and I learned to live with the twitching but then 2 months ago I had a grand mal seizure at work. I have a coil so I am not sure of my cycle but I am 43. My Tegretol has been increased to 1000mr per day, but I have since had another grand mal seizure and many other symptoms, burning feeling in cheeks, heart pounding (particularly at night) pins and needles sensations in left hand and fingers, something like electrical wave through my cheeks and numbness in mouth and tongue, unable to recall words and general feeling of anxiety. I am still going through blood test and waiting to see a neurologist again, but when I saw some of the comments here, could I be peri-menopausal, is this why this is happening to me now? Your comments would really help.

Comments for seizures after so long

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May 13, 2015
 seizures after so long
by: Wray

Hi Karen It's such a pity your doctors didn't put two and two together when you were 24 and diagnose you with catamenial Epilepsy and given you progesterone. Back in 1948 Dr Dalton was giving her patients progesterone injections and curing them of catamenial epilepsy. She also wrote a chapter on pregnancy, see here. 20 years later you're still on the meds, and yet another tell tale sign was a lack of symptoms during Pregnancy. You are right about Peri-menopause, it does begin during the 40's, sometimes earlier. You'll see from the epilepsy page that oestrogen does aggravate it, and of course with dropping progesterone levels, it's not surprising you are getting a return of symptoms on the reduced meds. If you do decide to use the progesterone, you should start on a very high amount, at least 400mg/day, anything less and it could cause a seizure. This is explained on the Oestrogen Dominance page. Please also look at our page on How to use Progesterone Cream. But before you do start it, please have a Vitamin D test done. Unless you are supplementing with it, yours is bound to be very low for two reasons, one you live in the UK where there's little sun to make it. And two, all epilepsy meds cause levels to drop. As a lack of vitamin D is also involved in epilepsy, and a lack reduces the benefits of progesterone, it's essential to get levels high. Not only that but vitamin D is a critical nutrient for a foetus and new born child, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. These are excellent videos to watch too, see here and here. Even as far back as 1947 10,000-20,000iu/day doses were suggested, see here. Whereas now the RDA is no more than 600mg/day! Vitamin D is essential to prevent early puberty, see here. Take care Wray
May 14, 2015
 Catamenial Epilepsy
by: R.

Hi Karen

I'm so sorry to hear that you are suffering from grand mal's, along with so many of your other symptoms. I wanted to share some of what I have discovered in helping my daughter with her petite mal and grand mal seizures. She deals with catamenial seizures (during menstruation, during ovulation, right before menstruation), along with a host of other reasons having petite mal seizures. The natural progesterone therapy as suggested here along with other Dr.s like Ray Peat, Dr. Lee, Dr. Herzog, and now thankfully many others has been a huge part of my daughter's turn around in health. Please keep researching this -
We have also found that along with the Progesterone Therapy to help in managing estrogen dominance and the excitatory nature of estrogen (both internal and external - like in plastics, etc.), diet change is crucial! You may want to begin researching the gut-brain connection. Due to our diets, our digestive system is affected in negative ways, which for many people can lead to or trigger/aggravate problems such as arthritis, allergies, and even seizures.
Dr. Peter Osborne, Dogtor J (yes, I wrote that correctly!), and Dr. Tom OBryan cover the connection between diet and seizures extensively.
I am sharing this with you, because my daughter has dealt with much of what you describe for 15 years, and we are finally seeing a reversal in symptoms and seizure activity along with migraines and a whole host of other problems diminish drastically!
I pray that you can find the information that you need and you have success in your healing journey.

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