Epilepsy

[eae07grad]

I am a 37-year old female, and almost 6 weeks ago, I started experiencing this flashing "blurb" of light in the corner of my left eye. It happens throughout the day, and it's like 3 flashes of light each time it happens. Some days are better than others, but it happens sometimes every 5 minutes, to roughly every 20-30 minutes. I can even see it when I close my eyes, unless I am sleeping. Nevertheless, it has not stopped since it began 6 weeks ago, it continues all day long, and it's about to drive me nuts, not to mention it is starting to scare me.

After the first two weeks of this happening, I went to see my doctor. We talked about my past history of migraines which hadn't been a real issue for the last year, although I do experience what he calls cluster headaches, and I talked about all of the stress going on in my personal life. So my doctor basically told me that I needed to make some decisions to change the things stressing me out in my life and to monitor my blood pressure which was relatively high that day. My blood pressure stays pretty normal unless I am nervous or stressed.

Bare with me here if you would - anyhow, the next day, I return to work, I am sitting on some steps, and I suddenly feel this overwhelming feeling like my body is being pulled to the left and I can't control it, followed by nausea and dizziness Fortunately, there were coworkers around who had me lay down on the floor and raise my legs up until this feeling subsided. I had never experienced this in my entire life. The pull to the left was so strong and I remember this overwhelming feeling of fear during this time, but I was quite aware of everything going on around me, I just couldn't control what my body was doing.

I called my doctor after the symptoms subsided, and he told me to come in the next day. He told me that based on the previous symptoms of the cluster headaches, the flashing lights in my left eye, and now this episode of being pulled to the left, that he believed I may have what is called Partial Complex Seizures and then he referred me to a neurologist that he knows to be further examined. The problem is that I have no health insurance, and have still been unable to see the neurologist. So in the meantime, my doctor prescribed Topamax to me and started me on very gradual dosings up to 125 mg per day.

I still have the flashing light in my eye, it has not lessened any, and I have had two more episodes of being pulled to the left which my doctor still believes are seizures. But no more cluster headaches. I have been researching seizures, and I am wondering if they are really Simple Partial Seizures because I always remember everything that goes on before, during, and after each episode. I just don't know what to do, and I am wondering if I have been incorrectly diagnosed, but I don't blame the internist. He is only helping me the best he can without me having health insurance and by him graciously only charging me $57 per office visit. The Topamax is getting too expensive for me to continue taking, and my employer has put me on a leave of absence from work because I do a lot of driving. This is very depressing and frustrating to say the least.

Has anyone else experienced this flashing light with epilepsy/seizures/simple or partial complex seizures? Any feedback would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you for your time!!!

[PAMMY12]

I know how you feel. Yellow flashing in my left eye. Floating up in the air. Bigger than the room. My dear I could go on and on. I have been with my Dr. for 14 years. Been to many Hospitals. Mine is a long story. Many pills. One of which...is Topamax. It is for my migraine, and seizures.
Complex Partial Seizures, General Seizures, Petite Seizures. Always tell your Doc everything... but talk to someone here, they really know how you feel.
This is my first post.
Thank you.
Pam

[Roseann]

Hi there, I too get flashing lights, in both my eyes, I seem to be going into a tunnel. My neuroligist diagnosed me with complex partial seizures. Yes it is very scary. Since I was diagnosed with epilepsy, I've had many different types of seizures, I call it going away for a minute then I come back, I usually will remember the incident after a bit. I am on medication which took almost 2 years to get right. I get them from the manufacturer at no charge cuz I have no insurance, I lost my job cuz I was not eligible for FMLA or job protection. You should see a neurologist, try to make a payment arrangement it is very important to be correctly diagnosed so you can get on the right meds, it can help to ease your mind. I've done a lot of research on my condition it is very frustrating and scares the hell out of me, but I am getting better bit by bit, my seizures are pretty much under control at this time, so see the brain doctor and keep the faith that you can live a pretty normal life with epilepsy-as long as you take your meds and avoid stress, I know its a joke cuz thats how I feel, but that and my migraines are triggers for my type of seizures and I have to hope that I can find a job thats not stressful, that means leaving the world of management, but I trust that God wants me somewhere else. So take care And God bless-Roseann