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Just diagnosed with left temporal lobe nocturnal seizures and sleep apnea
Tue, 04/23/2019 - 05:17Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hi everyone
I'm LaylaRose. I'm a writer and I live with my husband and cat. I'm 49.
This is obviously my first post as I have recently been diagnosed with left temporal lobe nocturnal seizures as well as sleep apnea. I initially had inappropriate sinus tachycardia and an excessively dry mouth for six months but nobody knew why. When I was finally hospitalised with very high BP and shakiness I had a whole slew of tests - they found the seizures as well as high fasting glucose (a symptom of apnea). Have since also been diagnosed with alkalosis, the body's over-reaction to an excess of carbon dioxide (which happens when you stop breathing at night!). I have two questions:
1. Is my excessive shakiness due to alkalosis or can seizures also cause one to shake pretty much all day every day? My neurologist says no, but the seizure meds definitely help with this awful symptom.
2. I have tried both Tegretol and Epitec, but both make me too nauseous to comply with the regime (it literally wakes me up every night so I can't sleep and I'm already severely sleep deprived and on a CPAP machine). I am going to try Keppra today. Has anyone had a similar experience? Has Keppra been okay re: nausea?
Comments
Hi LaylaRose,I've been on
Submitted by penpal59 on Sat, 2019-05-04 - 04:02
Hi LaylaRose,I've been on several different medications and have taken Keppra for approximately 13 years. It doesn't make me nauseous but sometimes I get excessively angry and this is a common side effect of this medication. I don't think the type of seizures you are experiencing would cause the type of prolonged shakiness you are having. I'd say alkalosis is the cause but I'm not a Doctor. Do you think you could be suffering with panic attacks? That would cause some shakiness. As you are severely sleep deprived you are at a higher risk of having more seizures and this may be making you panic. Just a thought. I hope this helps youAll the best
I'm not a doctor but you seem
Submitted by birdman on Tue, 2019-04-23 - 20:31
I'm not a doctor but you seem to be on to a good idea with the possibility that changes in blood gasses could cause changes in brain activity which could cause one to shake. But maybe the shakiness is a symptom of anxiety and the meds help lower the anxiety. I have never been made nauseous by any of the anti-seizure drugs. Instead most have increased my anxiety. Everyone is different. That is why it is so important for every patient to keep track of their own seizures, medications, and side effects. Over time I've learned a lot from all my trials.