siezures with ic?

[Jamey ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamey]

Thursday about 4 am I had a siezure. As far as I know it was my first. There was an episode when I was 14 but no one really knows what happened, I may have been hit by a car. Anyway, I didn't really come around till saturday night. I woke up in the hospital and my honey told me I had a siezure and I had been yanking out iv's and catheters, and they had to tie me down even after giving me a sedative. Apparently they had let him stay because he said he was my husband. Then I told them he wasn't, so he almost had to leave(I felt so bad when he told me this). They did an eeg and bloodwork with what little blood they could suck out of my disappearing veins and determined my potassium was low. They're saying wellbutrin and tramadol lowered my threshold and the potassium def. was able to trigger the siezure. I guess I have two questions for everybody. Has anybody else had siezures with ic? Also does anybody know of anything similar to wellbutrin I can try? I can't take most combo psyche meds, like ssri's. Thanks

[ICNDonna ICN Staff Find all posts View Profile Close ICNDonna]

I'm glad you're doing better now. I know potassium deficiency can be extremely serious; will they be doing blood tests soon to find out if your levels are better? Did they order a supplement?

Sending warm hugs,
Donna

[Jamey ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamey]

They gave me 2 doses of k-durr before sending me home and I'm going to a neurologist tomorrow.On the way home Brad bought like 5 lbs of bananas and is making me eat one everyday. His support has been amazing through this.

[Linda May ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Linda May]

Do you think it was the wellbutrin that caused the seizure? because I take wellbutrin.

[Jamey ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamey]

I've been on both meds for years so I don't think they were the cause. The way it was explained to me they "lowered my threshold". I don't know if I still would have had the siezure without the meds. I see a neuro in the morning and I'll let you know if I find out for sure.

[Jamey ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamey]

I got the results of the mri and dr said it looked good. I don't know if that's reassuring or not. We still don't know for sure what caused the seizure. I'm still really tired and have some tingling but other than that I'm feeling better everyday.
As far as the wellbutrin goes, it can cause seizures. We don't know if it was why I had mine though. I've been on it for over 5 years so I find it hard to believe. The working theory right now is: Ultram "lowered my tolerance" and with a little extra stress wellbutrin triggered it. My potassium was low afterwards but that could be a result of the seizure. There's just no way to know. I would like to ad that I'm on a multi-vit daily, so the potassium being low before doesn't make sense to me. My stepsister also had a seizure on ultram last year but she wasn't exactly taking it "as directed"

[bob04951 ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close bob04951]

Any electrolyte or vitamin deficiency can cause a seizure, especially in those with other health issues. Potassium especially. Just because you take a multi-vit (surprised you can handle those) does not make you safe. If you are not eating properly you can take 10 vitamins and it will not matter. Our bodies want proper nutrition, not pills. Look up potassium rich foods on google or your search site and start with kicking that up a notch with IC tolerant foods (like potatoes). There are actually a lot of them that are bladder friendly, and some ICers can handle it and some can't. Be careful with potassium supplements, keep a little journal so you can track what if anything triggers you.

We did find that all natural dry baby cereal (like the rice, barley, oatmeal powder like flakes) is easy to digest and is loaded with nutrients, you only need a small amount per day and you can make it in a minute. It's not bad with a little honey or sugar and a dash of cream. Bob was anemic, and we started on it, and you don't have to eat it every day, but it gets that good stuff into your system. Sometimes meds you are taking interact with vitamin pills as well, rendering them useless.

Hope you feel better soon, seizures are much more frightening to the person witnessing them, but glad you got to hospital and they found your probelm. Lack of potassium can cause a lot of issues from seizures to panic attacks to all kinds of issues. Take care of yourself, and get as much good stuff into your body as you can. It is tough with the IC, some days you just don't feel like eating anything. Let everyone know how you are doing. Jill, wife of Bob

[Jamey ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jamey]

Had mri done but they blew the only vein they could find so no contrast. my doc said mri was fine and potassium was not low enough to cause it. Brad is still shoving bananas down my throat, though. I don't actually see neuro until friday. I still have tingling in my hands and face, extreme fatigue, and headaches. Now I'm getting more gastro intestinal issues. I'm having trouble remembering things that have happened over the last six months too. I'll let you all know what I find out.