Petit Mal Seizures at 23?

[younglady84]

I seem to have all the symptoms of petit mal seizure with the loss of awareness around me and I have no memory of what happened during those periods of time. No one around me can really tell when I have an episode and I have several a day that can last from a few min to an hr or longer. I worried because they even happen when I'm driving but there's no indication that something's wrong. I don't speed and I make all the turns and I adjust to the other drivers and I always make it to where I'm going, I just have no memory of how I got there. If one happens when I'm talking to someone, they don't know because I continue the conversation and sometimes I can recall things that I have forgotten but I'll have no memory of what was said or what I remembered when it's over. I do tasks and if it's during an episode, I won't remember I did it and I'll repeat the task only to find it's been done. Before one of these episodes happens, my vision becomes really blurry and then it fades out. Then I snap out of it and I have no sense of how much time has passed or where I am or how I got there. I read that these seizures are common in children but I'm 23.

I already have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, (taking unithroid .025mcg), chronic fatigue syndrome (taking vicon forte), mild depression (was on Cymbalta but it caused severe anxiety, memory loss, and "out of body" like feelings), and RLS (can't remember what I'm taking for that). I'm also on Rozerm. I've had these episodes for years but I don't remember them being this frequent. I've never had a head injury that I can remember or have ever been told of. So what's going on?

[painful1]

i'm pretty sure seizures can happen at any age. you really need to see your dr and get tests done on brain waves,,etc, to check for epilepsy or a seizure disorder.i'm not a doctor mind you, but thats really dangerous driving while in that situation, plzz see a dr for it and good luck

[Purple98Lady]

I agree with painful1. Be seen!!

Purple98Lady

[Dr. Sinuhe]

Dear Younglady84,

Your symptoms may have dealings with the syndromes you have been diagnosed with - or with the medication you are using (sleeping pills, for instance). However, more serious conditions must be ruled out. A brain MRI may be needed for this purpose. This applies also if the your symptoms indeed are caused by epileptic attacks.

Please understand that I am speaking in general terms, and I cannot specifically comment on your illness because I don't have all the necessary information. Talk to your own doctor about your symptoms, and feel free to ask about the diffrent possibilities - they will be able to explain whether these possibilities apply to you at all or not and if further examinations are warranted.

[younglady84]

Actually, all of my diagnosis have been in the last 8 months. Hypothyroidism in Oct '06, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Jan '07, RLS in Feb '07, mild depression in March '07, and I just started the sleeping pills in May '07 but I've been having these episodes for years. I never thought anything of them until a family friend said her 3 year old grandson has the same symptoms I do and they called it Absence Seizures or Petit Mal Seizures.

It's odd because there is absolutely no history of seizures in my family anywhere, but we do have a strong history of cancer in our family (great-grandfather had lung, grandfather had lung, uncle had thyroid and lymphoma, aunt had ovarian, mom had ovarian and breast, all survivors except great-grandfather). Could that possibly have anything to do with my episodes?

I have to go to the Dr for blood tests on my thyroid monthly so I'll be sure to ask about that possibilty. What will they do and how will they treat it if it is seizures? I live alone and don't really have anyone to really rely on so I'm nervous.