fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #3021 ]

⌈ Secret Post #3021 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

__________________________________________________

06.

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

__________________________________________________

09.

__________________________________________________

10.

__________________________________________________

11.

__________________________________________________

12.

__________________________________________________

13.

__________________________________________________

14.

__________________________________________________

15.

__________________________________________________

16.

__________________________________________________

17.

__________________________________________________

18.

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 04 pages, 093 secrets from Secret Submission Post #432.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 1 2 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OP

I think I am going to have to work up to this. I'd been having paranoia with my seizures for like 2 years before I actually sought qualified medical help. This was only after I had been hospitalized once, and it still took me a year past that point to like go get it handled.

I'm newly diagnosed (dec 2014), even though I've been having seizures for 2 years. Part of this reason was my paranoia interfering with me seeking medical help because then They Would Know. And I really don't want to spook a neurologist into saying, "Whoops, nope, you're just crazy," and yank my anti-epileptics.

Logically, would they do this? Probably not. The seizures have improved drastically since I've been taking meds. The paranoia has been very well behaved, unless there are a lot of precipitating factors that override my meds' efficacy.

Do I have some inkling of justification? Yes. The first time I sought help, the neuro said basically to eat and sleep better, and ran me through a few tests and left me to my own devices. But this was only because I hadn't told him my whole history, bc paranoia.

Wow I am a fucking wreck.

BUT all this aside, I will... try. Try really really hard to make sure to get it mentioned. When I am not quite so paranoid.

If you take any of my advice, cut out the caffeine immediately. Even tea. If you're experiencing paranoia related to ictal activity, chances are that the reason you experience the paranoia is that you are actually having a what can loosely be termed a low-grade seizure. What happens is that stimulants (including caffeine) indirectly increase the amount of glutamate available at synapses, thereby worsening epilepsy symptoms (in many cases).

For patients with MTLE, for example, that low-grade ictal activity can manifest as auras, gastrointestinal distress, sudden sexual arousal... that sort of thing. You haven't mentioned what type of epilepsy you have, but chances are the manifestation of paranoid episodes is your brain telling you that you have an overabundance of excitatory activity happening.

I realize it can be difficult and trying to explain these things to a neurologist, especially when you have very real fears of being taken seriously, but I promise you if you describe your symptoms as you have just described them to me, no neurologist worth her/his salt will tell you you're crazy.

I hope you feel better, OP. I really do. I can't imagine how hard this is to deal with on top of a chronic medical condition.

Best of luck.

OP

Thanks very much for all this info. I'll definitely cut back on the caffeine, and if I can I'll drop it entirely. Given that I've been going through the agitated/restless/insomnia stage I think I can be alert without caffeine.

I'm not sure exactly what type of epilepsy I have either? Other than they've labelled it as catamenial, but since I have a very irregular cycle, it's hard to tell what is aggravating what at what time.

Some time over the next few days I'll call my neuro's office and see what they have to say.

(As for feeling better, I do right now, but that's because I fucked up and self medicated with some alcohol, so now I feel like I'm on a rolling ship, but I am too fucked up to be paranoid. I'm kind of sensitive to CNS depressants, so that was a stupid move.)

Mention it anyway, even though you're paranoid. Suck it up and do it, dude, ASAP. Any good neuro won't yank your meds, trust me (They literally cannot do that to someone with diagnosed epilepsy--assuming you had the EEG? Yeah, no one's going to tell you you're crazy.), and any good neuro will absolutely have the toolkit and familiarity with the drugs/the side effects to be able to suggest alternatives.

If you're worried the neuro you're seeing now is a bit sketch, ask your GP for a referral to a different specialist, and explain why. (Diet and sleep as contributing factors to seizures? Yeah, no.) Your GP should be able to offer some advice on dealing with the meds/side effects as well.

OP

I've had 2 EEGs; both have come back normal, but this may be due to the fact that I pretty much only have seizure activity around certain periods of my menstrual cycle. But hopefully they would still reconsider yanking my meds because they've been so effective so far (leaving aside the paranoia).

I have been thinking about a different neuro, who is a good deal closer and was recommended to me by a friend who also has epilepsy. I'll keep it under consideration if I feel like I'm not getting anywhere with my current set up.

I think I just have to fucking not listen to my paranoia and get a hold of my neuro. So far everyone has been fantastic once I stopped withholding information, so I can only imagine this to be a continuing trend.

AYRT

Yes, your last paragraph is correct, pay attention to/take care of yourself, OP. And very best of luck!

[ SECRET POST #3021 ]

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?

Re: Advice for psychotic episodes?