Hi...one more cause which I have experienced is during the exam hall...when I was trying to recollect what I have learnt,Each time i try remembering something, I get a jerk..and evryone in the hall started staring at me...Till now I havent seen any one talking about an issue like this..dont know why its happening to me alone.Really worried....
Divy wrote:
Hi. I am a 24 year old male and have had 4 tonic seizures so far. Sleep deprivation seems to be one of the precipitating causes in my case. However, some other factors that i have correlated with the occurrence of seizures in my case are:
1. I have felt myself more prone to seizures on low activity days (holidays) when I have largely stayed back at home and, in fact, in three of the four cases, I had seizures just after waking up despite having 10-12 hours of sleep.2. When I have pulled some of my muscles or have some sort of strain in the body, I experience myoclonic jerks more often. Hence, I take extra precautions when I go to gym or play some sports after a long interval.3. I am more prone to myoclonic jerks in colder weather conditions rather than in hot conditions.I was prescribed valproate for the treatment, however, it has affected my SGPT count. Consequently, I have gained some weight owing to a fatty liver. Currently, i have discontinued the medications since the frequency of seizures is well under control in my case and as it was having other side effects. Besides, I start getting myoclonic jerks 10-15 minutes before having tonic seizures which leaves me with ample time to take a dose of clobazem and place myself in a safe position. Clobazem was prescribed to me as the SOS medicine and i am currently banking on it whenever i feel jerks or have less or over sleep. It works well in my case.
Hi...one more cause which I have experienced is during the exam hall...when I was trying to recollect what I have learnt,Each time i try remembering something, I get a jerk..and evryone in the hall started staring at me...Till now I havent seen any one talking about an issue like this..dont know why its happening to me alone.Really worried....
It seems stress is the precipitating factor in your case. Recalling something that you have learnt previously puts certain sort of stress on one's brain. You need to urgently consult a good doctor because negligence may cause more prominent fits later on. Usually, people tend to commit this mistake when they experience absence seizures only. Also, on occasions like examinations you can take some medicines as a precautionary measures. I normally take frisium 10 on such occasions when I am susceptible to experience seizures but you should choose the medicine and dosage only after consultation with the doctor.
For that person who think people with JME is retarded and under achiver. I am 28 year old male and I mave JME I have been having this jerks sicne childhood and I started my medicine when I was 22. I have 4 sizures so far. I live normal life I have a Masters degree and I am preparing for my PHD. My achievement in life is so far more than any average person and my IQ levels are quite good. I drive to work do my daily things and I am a party person. So, JME is something I have to live with it but it dosen't affect any part of my life. Everybody have to maintain healthy living same rules apply to everyone. So go look yourself in mirror first and think before you say something.
And for lanni encourage your daughter and don't put her in pressure to do something she dosen't want to do and be her friend coz she will need one as she is young and you will see your child growing as a normal person and achieving everything she desire in her life as she wanted. For your info people like Alexander the Great, Julius caesar, Sir Isaac Newton, Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Dickens, Danny Glover, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, all had JME.
People with JME live normal life and no one in this universe is perfect. So support them and give them right information and do not scare them off.
Its is a terrible and inaccurate post. My 15 year old who was just diagnosed with JME is a gifted child with straight As and no memory problems. I came to this site to see if there was something useful here on how to manage/prevent the morning jerks, and am disturbed by the ignorance of this post
My daughter was also diagnosed with JME and I was told that roughly 1/2 the kids grow out of it. I was told that there was nothing I could do to help her outgrow. She's had the jerks for about a year now and they coincide with her period and lack of sleep. So i try to get her to go to sleep and get at least 7 hours a night - tough with a teen.
My Grandson was diagnosed with JME 4 years ago, he was 17. He graduated from high school and is now in college. he is taking Depakote and Lamictol for his seizures. he is finding it really hard to stay focused when he is studying. . Both of his meds side effects will make you drowsy and then unable to fall asleep, lack of concentration. What drugs where/are you on when you were in college?
I was on Depakote for 10 years (from age 15-25). At first the doctor wanted me to take 750 mg a day, but my body just couldn't handle that much medication. I am very blessed that my JME responds to a smaller dose. For the whole ten years, I stayed on 500 mg a day. I started experiencing side effects that I was not willing to live with so I switched to Topamax. I take 200mg daily. When the doctors tried a higher dose, I was too fatigued and unable to function. I know this is considered a low dose, but it controls my seizures. When I was on Depakote, I avoided all caffeine which might be why I don't remember a problem with insomnia. Finding the right medication can seem like a puzzle, but be encouraged that people with JME can lead completely normal lives. When I switched medications, my doctor didn't want me to drive as a precaution and I was surprised to learn that some of my close friends didn't even realize I had epilepsy. I think for me the first 5 years were the hardest ( and I say this as I have 3 small children, including a newborn, at home and I can't drive because I had a seizure when the baby was born).
Does anybody here with JME receive SSI for a disability because of the JME? I have a daughter that has it. She was diagnosed when she was 14-15 and is now 34. I was just curious about the SSI because she wants to get a job. Thanks for any information.
Hi,
I am 30yrs old. I am having JME since High school. After then i am under medication. Initially after 3 yrs of it i have been given cure certificate. But -- its a bad luck-- I had another sever jerk exactly after 1yrs . I changed the Doctor. The new doctor told me this condition is a lifelong one. I started taking sodium valporate- after 5 yrs of intake--- I found my SGPT high-- I suffered from fatty Liver. I changed the medication. I am taking Levesam--- now i am suffering from Hives (Urticaria)---i again changed the medicine to zonisamide---- i dont know--some where from a site I found that it is also having the same problem of Hives--- I am very confused about the proper medicine to intake.... I consulted wiki-- found ---. Lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate, zonisamide-- r the drugs for JME. So, I want a little suggestion from u guys about a proper drug without side effect......
Also suggest me s Depakote ER. or depakote a good medicine without side effects.................
incorrect info
it is my understanding that it is genetic caused by faulty genes
I'm on SSDI because of the vertebrae damage caused by my seizures and the fact that I have a history of grand mal seizures that were progressively getting worse. I was awarded the SSDI on my first application for several reasons, 1) physical body damage that makes it uncomfortable to sit, stand, and walk for more that 1 hour at a time, 2) severity of the seizures and physical damage that was and can be caused in my case, 3) my doctors restriction that I not lift more than 5 lbs. even again to prevent potential spinal cord damage. If your seizures are controlled with medications and there has not been nor is there a history of physical damage, then it might be an uphill battle to get SSDI. I work with my condition all my life. I had two grand mal seizures on the job, both requiring ambulance rides to the hospital. I was unconscious on these two incidents. Epilepsy is a recognized disability and you cannot be denied a job. Your work will be limited to those jobs where a seizure would not endanger yourself or others. One other item - Medicare - you must be disabled for 24 months before you can get Medicare benefits. Hope this helps.