Gransnet forums

Health

Epilepsy

(43 Posts)
Gr8dame Tue 05-Apr-22 18:52:30

My grandson aged 17 suffered from a rare kind of epilepsy which started when he was 10 and continued until he was 16 when he grew out of it. He never had full blown seizures The only way you could tell he was having an episode was by his hands flapping. If he was walking when he had an attack his body went on moving. He was prescribed Epilim which cut down on his attacks until he grew out of them.
He will be 18 later this year and is so unruly that he is causing complete chaos in the home and is not working in school. He is rude and disrespectful his teachers. He won’t take any criticism, is constantly lying and accuses his parents and siblings of stealing his belongings. He refuses to eat the meals his mother prepares and orders in takeaways (he has a weekend job which provides him with income).
I may be clutching at straws here so thought I’d ask if any other grans have had similar experience and can pass on some advice. I don’t live near to my family so can only be a listening ear for my daughter when I speak to her.

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 06-Apr-22 18:26:24

bonbons01

It's not a matter of words DiscoDancer1975. Incidentally, how do you know whether epilepsy has or does cause me and/or my family distress? It is very unlikely, unless it is medication responsible, that the OP's behaviour has anything whatsoever to do with the fact he has epilepsy.

I don’t know what causes you distress. I was referring to the OP, who is clearly concerned, which is what this thread is about....isn’t it?!

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 06-Apr-22 18:29:37

Ps...the OP doesn’t have epilepsy. Her grandson does.

Gr8dame Wed 06-Apr-22 18:41:49

Thanks Whiff I will get her to check it out.

bonbons01 Wed 06-Apr-22 18:48:39

DiscoDancer1975

Ps...the OP doesn’t have epilepsy. Her grandson does.

I am aware of that DiscoDancer1975, I inadvertently missed out the word grandson. I didn't review my post.

The thread is about the OP's concern about her grandson, of course it is. The OP also provides background details that informs the readers that he has epilepsy. The thread's title is Epilepsy.

Gr8dame Wed 06-Apr-22 18:49:18

It was a sudden change, previously he was a happy child. This has happened since the COVID lockdown.

Barmeyoldbat Wed 06-Apr-22 19:07:42

Bonbons01 I find your comment about petit all and gran mal a total useless bit of information. Some of us have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with epilepsy since 1970 when it was called petit and grand mal, and that is what we still call it. And there is a difference between a large storm and a small, a big difference, just as there is between petit and grand mal.

bonbons01 Wed 06-Apr-22 19:10:58

Gr8dame, I really don't think that your grandson's behaviour has anything to do with the fact that he has epilepsy. You say his seizures are controlled and his medication reduced so it also unlikely that epilepsy medication is responsible. It sounds like your grandson used to have (focal) impaired awareness seizures. He exhibited automatisms during his seizures - the hand flapping and continuing to walk if he was already walking. Has your grandson had an eye resonance (epilepsy specific)) MRI may I ask? Whereas a routine MRI can be helpful sometimes an epilepsy specific MRI is much more sensitive.
It is more likely that lockdown has impacted upon his behaviour or it could be, as other posters have said, that he has just turned into a stroppy teenager.

bonbons01 Wed 06-Apr-22 19:12:32

Barmeyoldbat an epileptic seizure is not a storm, neither large or small.

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 06-Apr-22 19:24:20

Barmeyoldbat

Bonbons01 I find your comment about petit all and gran mal a total useless bit of information. Some of us have had the unfortunate experience of dealing with epilepsy since 1970 when it was called petit and grand mal, and that is what we still call it. And there is a difference between a large storm and a small, a big difference, just as there is between petit and grand mal.

I think this poster is a wind up merchant. She/ he makes no sense at all.

Musicgirl Wed 06-Apr-22 19:34:57

Could it be a side effect of the medication he takes to control the epilepsy? I would imagine that the medication is quite strong. Whatever the cause, a visit to a gp and/or his epilepsy specialist could help.

bonbons01 Wed 06-Apr-22 20:05:09

DiscoDancer, I am not a wind up merchant. You say I make no sense. Why? I think you mean that I make no sense to you.

Barmeyoldbat Wed 06-Apr-22 21:06:06

A seizure can be largely being long or small by being just a few seconds absence. My daughter was under one of the leading consultants in the country and well into the 90’s called them petit mal or grand mal. What’s your qualifications

markrob7484 Sun 17-Apr-22 20:17:49

Message deleted by Gransnet for breaking our forum guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

Chewbacca Sun 17-Apr-22 20:52:30

Reported

Anne701951 Sun 17-Apr-22 23:03:08

My 42 year old son was diagnosed with Epilepsy when he was 15. Its controlled with medication and he hasn't had a seizure in years. However, I worry about him constantly . He lives in another state so it is hard. He keeps in touch with me everyday as he knows I worry. The flapping of the hands sounds like autism. I would see a specialist to find out.

Maywalk Sat 07-May-22 22:11:23

I started with seizures when I was 80 which were classed as Epilepsy. The seizures went on for some time and after having one in the consultants waiting room I was taken straight to hospital and had some sort of device attached to my heart. Unfortunately this DID not work so I was then given a pacemaker. Since being fitted with the pacemaker and being on Levetiracetum ever since I done very well and will be 92 this month.

UserNamesAreOverrated Fri 20-May-22 14:03:42

Germanshepherdsmum

I have had epilepsy since I was 17. After some years of experimenting with different dosages of drugs it was completely controlled and I have had no seizures since I was in my 30s though I must take the medication for life. At no time did I exhibit the type of behaviour that you describe.

Me too, although I started at 13. I can't say I was ever rude to my parents but maybe the younger generation are less respectful in general?

The idea of turning down Mum's good food and ordering a takeaway would have had my dad down on me like a ton of bricks. It's not something I would ever have done. But again - is it an age thing?