Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

new diagnosis of JME and confused any help appreciated?

Thu, 07/14/2005 - 16:22

I was diagnosed pending a EEG and a chat with a neurologist with JME.  I have been having very jerky involuntary movements since i was 7 or 8 which was first noticed when i was having my hair put up for school in front of the morning news. I would hit the floor like a sack of potatoes and go very tense. the doctors have for years put it down to growth spurts, too many hormones from adolescence and low blood pressure but a few days ago i saw another doctor about this and told me it was JME. My problem really is that i dont know much if anything about it, how i can prevent it happening and what to expect. Does this type of thing normally go worse? I was admitted in to hospital from a nightclub after a very violent seizure but nothing more was said about it on dishcharge - this was 1 year ago. I dont know wether its related but my mood is very variable some days im fine and some days EVERYTHING will just irritate me and i have no patience, could just be hormones i suppose but its never happened to me before the past 4 - 5 months. Also is it normal to just be lying in bed and your arms jerk? If someone could give me some answers that would be great thanks alot peeps. x

Comments

RE: new diagnosis of JME and confused any help appreciated?

Submitted by Willsmom on Thu, 2005-07-14 - 09:00
How old are you? How many years has this been going on? Alcohol and sleep deprivation can make the seizures worse. It's interesting that you have been able to go without AED's to control the seizures.Has your neurologist suggested drug treatment?The Jerking in the morning sounds like JME.

RE: RE: new diagnosis of JME and confused any help appreciated?

Submitted by worldzapart on Thu, 2005-07-14 - 13:09
Im now 18 years old, 19m in august. I dont drink hardly any alcohol but i have two children and my husband works away so sleep deprivation is an issue. I have many other symptoms apart form jerking for example i some times have a feeling like everything is in slow motion and nothing is quite right with things registering in my brain which is very odd and does happen more when im tired. Also i have found that recently my jerking and the minor seizures i do have are getting more frequent since the birth of my baby which i went through a pretty major trauma my dr thinks could have made it worse. I havent seen my neurologist yet but my doctor has said i will almost certainly need treatment as my seizures are happening once or twice a week. I have already been told i cant drive how long will that last for?

RE: RE: RE: new diagnosis of JME and confused any help appreciat

Submitted by kgarroutte on Thu, 2005-07-14 - 16:22

I too have JME, just diagnosed.   Since I was 15 I was told they were petit mal seizures, but that was incorrect.  I live in CA and had to go 3 months with no seizures (controlled by meds) in order to be able to drive.  My myoclonic seizures (I have tonic clonics also) only happen in the am, and are incredibly related to my sleep, and quality of.  My tonic clonics are usually after having a few myoclonic jerks.  I am asking my doctor to switch my meds, the one I was on didn't treat myoclonics.  I know that Depakote does, as well as Lamictral, Topamax and Zenodrin.  As far as I know, from what I have read, you don't grow out of JME, as with some other types of epilepsy.  I have also read that Tegretol will increase myoclonic jerks, wish someone had told me that, I have been on that med for 10+ years.  I had more seizures after childbirth, even dropping my newborn.  Listen to your md and take your meds, regulation is the key to control.  Good Luck.

Kim

I too have JME, just diagnosed.   Since I was 15 I was told they were petit mal seizures, but that was incorrect.  I live in CA and had to go 3 months with no seizures (controlled by meds) in order to be able to drive.  My myoclonic seizures (I have tonic clonics also) only happen in the am, and are incredibly related to my sleep, and quality of.  My tonic clonics are usually after having a few myoclonic jerks.  I am asking my doctor to switch my meds, the one I was on didn't treat myoclonics.  I know that Depakote does, as well as Lamictral, Topamax and Zenodrin.  As far as I know, from what I have read, you don't grow out of JME, as with some other types of epilepsy.  I have also read that Tegretol will increase myoclonic jerks, wish someone had told me that, I have been on that med for 10+ years.  I had more seizures after childbirth, even dropping my newborn.  Listen to your md and take your meds, regulation is the key to control.  Good Luck.

Kim

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.