Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfunction?

[epath13]

My neurologist decided to diagnose me with complicated migraine (because EEG didn't indicate epilepsy), which is most likely related to temporal lobe issues (I had temporal lobe birth trauma but who knows, maybe it's genetic...) Symptoms are very let's say...interesting, but at times annoying... I'm on Topamax now (on and off, low doze) it works for some symptoms. I've noticed some folks here were diagnosed with bipolar and other disorders. I'm wondering if any of you guys or your doctors looked into possibility of having some sort of temporal lobe dysfunction?

I can describe a few symptoms, which, according to the doctor, are related to the issues:
- aura (like migraine aura)
- feeling like you're wearing a cloud on your head, not sure how to describe...sort of like your mind is in a fog
- sensitivity to light and sound
- inaccurate judgement of a size of certain objects (in my case it was like this - I thought that text on my computer was very(when I was typing something, let's say, in OneNote) small, so I made it bigger, after taking Topamax I was shocked how big the letters were; I remember looking at my feet one day and thinking why are they so small ) I don't think it happens all the time, I think it happens during aftermath after initial episode.
- inaccurate judgement of distance (I was driving in the evening and I saw a traffic light in front of me but had no clue how far it was, so I started stopping... it was pretty far )
- then all kinds of ...paranormal like experiences
- vertigo (out of nowhere)
- hear music or voices in my ears
- unexpected outburst of anger, I just feel sort of angry, agitated...with Topomax I actually really have to watch when and how much I take so I wouldn't make it worse. I usually try to distract myself or use the energy of that anger (let's say, in singing), I might hit a wall a couple of times or yell at some "idiots" (this behavior I try to eliminate but it is a work in progress ) ...but honestly I don't think it's that bad
- problems with vision in dark (like when I have to drive at night traffic lights and any other lights confuse me)

that's all I can remember right now

I'm not sure if anyone can relate to this but anyway...

 

[Occasional_Demon]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

I personally am fairly certain that I don't have any temporal lobe issues, but I do know some Aspies who have epilepsy in combination with ASD. Actually, I think the ASD + epilepsy combination is not that uncommon, although I'll have to dig up a link to confirm.

Anyways, sounds like those migraines are pretty warped. Whenever I hear about migraine symptoms, I feel fortunate that I don't get them because some of them sound very bizarre. I do get cluster headaches, which are a different thing. They're painful, but I don't get any disturbances in my emotions or senses.

 

[epath13]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

I personally am fairly certain that I don't have any temporal lobe issues, but I do know some Aspies who have epilepsy in combination with ASD. Actually, I think the ASD + epilepsy combination is not that uncommon, although I'll have to dig up a link to confirm.

Anyways, sounds like those migraines are pretty warped. Whenever I hear about migraine symptoms, I feel fortunate that I don't get them because some of them sound very bizarre. I do get cluster headaches, which are a different thing. They're painful, but I don't get any disturbances in my emotions or senses.

Yeah, I had cluster head aches when I was younger. And for long time I had non stop head aches. I think maybe migraines manifested themselves that way at that time... maybe. And epilepsy and Autism seem to be a common combo. Here (in Illinois at least, can't say anything about other states), if a child is diagnosed with Autism many neurologists look for signs of epilepsy.

and complex migraines symptoms or symptoms caused by some sort of temporal lobe issues can be really weird, it's true. But I'm glad it's not as bad in my case. I've read about some people diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder and others while in fact they have temporal lobe epilepsy...

 

[Occasional_Demon]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

I can see how TLE can be mistaken for scz, because TLE can cause someone to experience hallucinations. Not sure how TLE can be mistaken for bipolar though...I didn't think TLE caused mood swings of long enough duration to justify a BP dx, nor that it actually does cause mood swings in the first place.

 

[epath13]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

I can see how TLE can be mistaken for scz, because TLE can cause someone to experience hallucinations. Not sure how TLE can be mistaken for bipolar though...I didn't think TLE caused mood swings of long enough duration to justify a BP dx, nor that it actually does cause mood swings in the first place.

I don't know much about bipolar, I was interested in it for a bit a few years ago (I thought my mother in law might have had it), and as about mood swings... TLE generally effects personality and I guess your mood might change somehow after a seizure... I know that when I had my episodes aftermath could last for days, I didn't have major mood swings or anything just felt a little bit off, foggy. My neuro said that even for migraine it lasted way to long but I said that there're tons of people who had the same thing, in some cases that state can lasts for several weeks. So in the end no one knows what's going on there, the only thing that people tend to agree upon is that it has to do with temporal lobe sometimes when I go to a doctor it feels like some sort of a game because no one seems to know what's the hell is going on the only problem is the game is not free... going to see my neuro tomorrow (just a routine check up)... thinking, should I ask him again for pills to make my brain work faster or not? I'm just trying to have some fun

 

[Occasional_Demon]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

Well, for a BP dx [currently], a hypomanic or manic episode has to last at least three days, and a depressive episode at least 2 weeks. BP doesn't have much to do with a person's "personality" - from my personal experience, it's more about dramatic mood shifts.

I can understand why people would feel a bit "foggy" and "off" after an episode, but those experiences are probably not the same as a bipolar mood shift.

Don't know if you can get any pills to make your brain work "faster", unless you were talking about getting stims. I don't know if you need an ADHD dx for those drugs - some places you do, some places you don't.

 

[Paroxysm]

Re: Anyone has Temporal Lobe epilepsy, complicated migraines, temporal lobe dysfuncti

I ran across this while googling in my own research. I have it and PDD-NOS. Most docs also incorrectly treat with aed's. Which stupify me horribly and I don't want to be slowed down as well, it horrifies me I DO want more focus (damn add I didn't HAVE before they medicated me in 2nd grade for add - I had pdd-nos not add of course) I know that I get all sorts of different types and kinds of headaches of differing frequencies and types, and I am really bad with stress, to the point of being a complete wuss.....

I would ask your neuro btw to seriously look into a supplement called AD-FX it is a ginseng-ginkgo biloba combo that has clinical study behind it and is proven to treat add/adhd (I would like it myself) though it should work off label REAL well for headaches, trust me on that one.

Speaking of neuros, I'm still trying to get to one....