bromo
Member
Reged: 05/03/03
Posts: 133
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I've suddenly had two cronic-tonic (grand mal) siezures and was told you can die from them. how? Btw they completely drug unrelated
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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To actually die (or even get brain damage) from a seizure is rare.
But when it does happen, it's typically from asphyxiation. When you don't breathe for a prolonged period of time, brain tissue dies. You can get a stroke too or inhale your own vomit. But aside from that, when you are convulsing uncontrollably, you could be driving or doing something dangerous, and that could kill you.
Have they identified a cause for your seizure disorder? There are many ways to treat it. Sorry to hear you have to even deal with it, though. May I ask what preventive meds you're on? Depakote?
-yawkaw
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sasi
Member
Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 113
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I don't know anything about siezures but I just wanted to say that I am sorry that this has happened to you and I hope that you get good treatment and that they don't happen again.
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Mapleseep
Newbie
Reged: 03/15/04
Posts: 34
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Generally speaking, seizures don't kill you, just secondary trauma suffered as a result of the seizure (as yawkaw mentioned above). Dilantin is usually a terrific choice of medication to prevent Tonic-Clonic(grand mal) seizures. But certainly your physcian knows best what to do for you. Good luck to you.
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turcica
seeker
Reged: 12/21/03
Posts: 312
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Most seizures can be controlled by meds, but in some instances, they go into a condition called "status epilepticus" which is recurrent seizures without total recovery between them.This usually lasts for 30 minutes or more. This particular condition happens in people with known seizure disorder. In this instance people have died, as mentioned before, due to hypoxia. Many seizures, whether acute or chronic, can be effectively controlled by medications and periodic checks to be certain the drug levels are in a theraputic range. However, interestingly enough, someone without a history of seizures can have one (acute) due to a variety of reasons. If you want additional information, please pm me. turcica
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turcica
The only failure is not knowing how to be happy
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bromo
Member
Reged: 05/03/03
Posts: 133
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I was on dilantin but it's pretty rough. makes me very sleepy and has unpleasant cardiovascular effects. I had them over two months ago and physicians think they were an isolated case, it stinks not driving. I remember someone telling me that there relative had a grand mal and suffered some sort of encephalitic anurisim(sp?) becuase of it. I personally think that it was the other way around, the anurisim caused subsuquent convulsions. Thanks for the info, I was worried for a moment. It's scary to be walking and suddenly wake up w/ medical personal around you. And it's painful too, all my muscles hurt and I bite my tongue pretty badly.
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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I had one seizure in 2002. I biggie though. Like you, I was just doing my work and next thing I know, I'm on the floor and there's people looking at me and paramedics touching me. I hit my head and it hurt. I still remember the confusion in the ambulance. I couldn't answer the easiest questions. I don't remember telling them my phone number but apparently, I did. I was put on Depakote which was horrible, then tried other meds. I had a few EEGS done and the digital one said that I was "prone" to seizures and needed medication. I now take Carbitrol. I looked it up and it's a relative of Tegretol. It has worked very well. Not too much sleepiness involved, it has slowed my "twitching" I do daily, and I didn't gain 30 lbs. either. If you don't like your meds, tell the doc and try something else. Mine was attributed to Wellbutrin, but even though I'm off of it, I'm still prone to them and required to take meds. I only had to be driven around for a week or so. It really sucked. I feel for you! It's a scary thing!
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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bromo
Member
Reged: 05/03/03
Posts: 133
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I had those tests done and they detirmined I wasn't prone so that's why they detrimined it to (probably) be an isolated event. I remember the confusion too. Not fun. Why only a week aren't you supposed to wait 6 months? Or did being immedietly put on medication negate that? thanks for the empathy,I really appreciate it.  , Oh and I just saw the dieing form a stroke thing, now I'm not so relieved
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Sweetz
Diamond Mind
Reged: 05/11/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Texas!
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Yeah, I found a neuro that could see me in 2 days and began Depakote immediately. I dumped the neuro cuz he wasn't very attentive to my needs and eventually got off Depakote on my own, since I had various mg. and types of it at home. I did my own taper. I don't know if I was prone before the seizure, or it happened afterward. Right now, the difference doesn't really matter. I DO know my twitching started AFTER my seizure.
Yes, I hate the confusion. And, I hate that people at work saw me convulsing in my little cubicle. AT least one lady knew what was going on and knew what to do immediately. Eveyrone else had their thumbs up their arse.
Good luck to you!
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"If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice."
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tone
Veteran
Reged: 06/29/03
Posts: 554
Loc: Chicago
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tramadol can be dangerious for people prone to seizures. tramadol may also be convulsive for people who cant metabolize it well. please use care if starting tramadol. i personally had had absolutely no problems with it, except when i combined it with the CYP2D6 inhibitor Cimetidine (Tagamet).
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