No one in my family has epilepsy but I do

[Katharina]

But I was told that my form of epilepsy is genetic. Does anyone know about this? Has it happened to anyone before? I found I had it a year ago at 28.

Thanks,
Katie

[Angelique Michelle Garza]

Epilepsy is not only genetic. Some people can have seizures even if there's not trace of others having it in your family tree. This happened in my case. But my aunt did have epilepsy too.I'm a little different though, I'm only 17 and still have a chance to outgrow mine, I'm not to sure how it is with people that are older though.

[I&R Group]

The Epilepsy Resource Center would also like to provide you with the following information on genetics:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/causes/genetics.cfm

The Epilepsy Resource Center thanks you for sharing with the community and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Cordially,

Gigi Jones

Information Specialist

Epilepsy Foundation's

Epilepsy Resource Center

 

 

You may also want to check out the Foundation's latest community outreach programs:

Take Charge:  http://www.takechargeteens.org/

Go EYC: http://www.goeyc.org/

School Nurse Online Training: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=120

Epilepsy and Seizure Response Training for Law Enforcement: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/firstresponders/index.cfm

 

 

[Shaken Bake]

Due to this post/thread, I would like to bring before the forum holding an Adult Onset Epilepsy Mixer!!!!!  ...just no strobe lights, disco balls or tie dyed shirts, all those d*mn things make me wanna go all Grand Mal and seize out. 

 

Diagnosed@32 yrs. old w/adult onset, and no previous family history. 

[Emily Anne Wilson]

you canhave a genetic testing done. i had one done since im the only person in my family that we know of that has it. We found out that itwasnt caused by my parents and isnt in our genes. its just my own special lil thing .!!! as my mom calls it! at least we found out that my mom and my dad's genes ccoming together didnt cause it! i was scared that was gonna happen and im glad it didnt! but you can have a test done.

[I&R Group]

The Epilepsy Resource Center thanks you for sharing with the community and we look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Cordially,

Gigi Jones

Information Specialist

Epilepsy Foundation's

Epilepsy Resource Center

 

Please tell your family and friends about our latest community outreach programs:

Take Charge:  http://www.takechargeteens.org/

Go EYC: http://www.goeyc.org/

School Nurse Online Training: http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=120

Epilepsy and Seizure Response Training for Law Enforcement: http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/firstresponders/index.cfm

 

[Melissa E Fader]

Thanks for asking this question. No one in my family but me has Epilepsy. And I didnt know I had it till my first year in college. I had a major Grand Mal at Walmart in front of friends! I then realized that I had Epilepsy all my life but my family and I just didn't understand it and blamed it on my asthma. I have it for unlknown reasons but after much research I think it was from a vitamin deficiency since birth. I'm allergic to a lot of foods, etc. I am thirty now and want to start having kids but I'm scared they will inherit Epilepsy from me. I don't want them to blame me or hate their lives b/c they have this thing. But I want a child and I'm going to risk it. I read that sometimes it's not genetic but it gives them a lower threshold to have a seizure during their life. So, I'm trusting the books and listening to what others say. 
Thanks for the question b/c I want to hear responses to it also,
Have a great day,
Melissa
If anybody has pregnancy advice and child birth experience with Epilepsy I'd love to hear it.

[Jamie Johnson]

mine is also genetic, no one in my immediate family has it except me but through genealogy research I was able to find out that my Great-Grandma, my 1st cousin 1x removed, and my maternal 1st cousin all have or had E. Through further reasearch I was able to determine that the Gene that carries the disorder was from my mothers side.

[deb bouthiette]

my mother had it grew out of her seizuers only had them after she had a child but had 7 only did'ent have one with my sister her last child. last seizuer. then came me i started having absence seizuer's myy first Grand Mal. was wheni was 7 i'm now 40 and also have myoclonic (jerks) drops. now i have a grandaughter that may have it.

[Katharina]

It really is crazy how many people have this - and how common it is for it "just to show up"  - I recently had another grand mal - and a pretty awful one too.  Of course when I came to I had no clue who I was, where I was, or who was with me - is it odd that I remember these feelings.... like I remember looking around and not understanding a thing!

Anyway, after I saw my doctor and I'm trying to find a cause, I asked about a medication I was, about this or that - she said, "Listen, Katie.  I like when I have patients like you - #1, for the most part yours are under control - and second, for most that have a "cause" other than hereditary, it means there's something awful."  So, I guess I'll stop looking for a cause - and consider myself to be one of the lucky ones - one of the VERY lucky ones! 

Lastly, she said that if we checked every person in my family, she's 100% certain that someone would have it - and just not know it.  I have a 24 hour EEG coming up in two weeks.....  so, we'll find out more information after that. 

Thanks to everyone's reply!

[Peter Morrison]

I hope that works for you better than it did me.  When I had it done, it showed nothing and then two days later I had a grand mal.

[Katharina]

Ugh!!  That sucks, Peter!!!  I'm sorry to hear that!  I have a 15K run on the 5th (just 2 days later) So I'm a little worried about that - can I run while I have the things on my head? Work out at all?  I guess this is something I should ask my doctor. 

Peter Morrison said:

I hope that works for you better than it did me.  When I had it done, it showed nothing and then two days later I had a grand mal.

[Katharina]

Ha! no doubt... I hate it all.  So, lights don't have any sort of effect on me at all.....  but, I pretty much can't stand clubs w/ the stupid light effects - so, to get my way (don't tell my friends) I tell them I might start "shaking" - and I need to leave.  Awful, I know. 

 

Yes, and also - no drinking and everyone has to be in bed by 9:00..... wow, we're a bunch of party animals!

Due to this post/thread, I would like to bring before the forum holding an Adult Onset Epilepsy Mixer!!!!!  ...just no strobe lights, disco balls or tie dyed shirts, all those d*mn things make me wanna go all Grand Mal and seize out. 

 

Diagnosed@32 yrs. old w/adult onset, and no previous family history.