Am I still epileptic? - Epilepsy Message Board

flemmy · 08-26-2006, 07:54 AM

Hi from a newbie:

I had a grand mal or two back when I was about 18 (a few decades ago) and then an occaisional aura thru my 20's and 30's. I had a nasty-looking EEG after the gran mal and was put on dilantin, but only took it for a few months. I quit smoking hemp and eventually also quit drinking and became a total health freak. Now, I fell less susceptible to seizures/auras, but still wonder how the ol' branial waves are doing. I'm quite irritable, especially with certain noises like barking dogs and fireworks. I'm wondering how common this is among epileptics? How likely is it that I still have epilepsy? I've isolated myself from the world quite a bit and need to reverse this. Maybe I should be on some sort of meds? I love the benzos, but scared of addiction. But I wonder what's worse -not having a life or being on meds?

Thanks for any thoughts!
-m

neurowreck · 08-26-2006, 07:50 PM

Ask your MD for another EEG....and let him/her know about the drug use back then- that alone can cause seizures and abnormal brain waves. But if you've been doing well, either on or off meds, it'd still be good to see what your EEG is like now.

flemmy · 08-27-2006, 07:28 AM

I don't really know how much the hemp contributed to my epilepsy. I smoked for a few years, ending at around age 22. I still had strong auras over the next 2 or 3 decades. I feel like I could still have them, but have more or less withdrawn from life and work and so I don't how epileptic I still am.

I'd love to get another EEG, but alas, no health insurance. Anyone know how much they cost nowadays? I see that you can buy your own EEG machine for under $1000...

Thanks,
-m