ADHD, Hypoglycemia, Seizures, Lead Poisoning

[buttercup]

I think there is a connection. I have ADHD, epilepsy, and hypoglycemia. I can't believe it. Wow. Forever, I just thought it was just a strange combination of things, but I think they might be related.

I have been doing some websearching and have repeatedly been finding links to all of these things.

*On the advice of a new ADHD dr., I went to the Amen Clinic website and took the "subtypes" test. It looks likely that I have temporal lobe issues.

From The Amen Clinic re: Temporal Lobe Seizures

Temporal Lobe System

In my clinical experience, temporal lobe symptoms are much more common in psychiatry than most people think. These include periods of panic or fear for no specific reason, periods of spaciness or confusion, dark thoughts (such as suicidal or homicidal thoughts), significant social withdrawal, frequent periods of deja vu, irritability, rages, and visual changes (such as frequently seeing shadows out of the corner of the eye). Temporal lobe dysfunction may be inherited or it may be caused by some sort of brain trauma.

Temporal lobe symptoms are often responsive to anti-seizure medication, such as Depakote, Neurontin or Tegretol. Temporal lobe symptoms are often made worse by serotonergic medications such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, etc.

Notice that the preferred medications for this include "anti-seizure medications"?

*I have forever been having petite mal seizures that I have tried to ignore b/c they are not grand mal or anything serious. I had an EEG in high school and they said they were petite mal seizures. I haven't wanted to highlight this fact to doctors and risk getting my drivers license revoked since they don't happen when I'm driving. They only happen when I step from inside to outside. They are quick (only last a second or two), but they make my eyes flutter, and my head and hands jerk.

So, I went to the Mayo Clinic and looked up seizures and epilepsy:

Teachers also may comment about a child's inability to pay attention."

It says that seizures can be brought on by hypoglycemia, sudden flashes of light, and lack of sleep among other things. I have had horrible sleep for the last couple of nights...fell asleep with the TV (which was flashing all night long). I have had lifelong, wretched insomnia. I have also been having seizures for the last couple of days. They talk about "temporal seizures" too. And since seizures are a problem with irregular electrical surges, I can see how ADHD could be related, since it seems to be related to electrical issues.


So, I decided to look up “Epilepsy Supplements” and see if there’s anything recommended (since you should SEE the side effects of the anti-seizure meds!!!! OMG!)

Technically not a disease, epilepsy is a disorder that results from excessive electrical activity in the brain and nervous system. Normally, brain cells transmit electrical impulses in a highly regulated manner. People with epilepsy, however, experience periods when many brain cells fire all at once.

and

In people with epilepsy, low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) and low levels of certain nutrients (such as magnesium or B vitamins) can induce seizures. In addition, a lack of sleep, drinking too much alcohol, stress, or an illness may trigger a seizure even in people who do not have epilepsy.

Notice that the supplements same as those recommended for epilepsy are the same ones recommended for ADHD.

These websites say to avoid certain “triggers.”
Herb2000.com
Remedy Find
The Better Health Channel

* Lack of sleep
* Missed medication
* Alcohol
* Certain drugs (prescription and recreational)
* Flickering lights or patterns
* Stress
* Menstruation
* Illness (especially with diarrhoea or vomiting)
* Overheating
* Low blood sugar
* Certain smells, colours or sounds.

It's noteable because it supports:

*My "walking outside into sunlight" issue--which could be having a strobe ("flickering") effect on me.

*If anyone remembers this, I posted a thread here called something like "ADHD and PMS are a bad combo." (I had issues of depression and rage and seizures.)

*It is consistent with my erratic sleep over the last couple of nights and my insomnia.

*I also have severe hypoglycemia. My blood tested at 52. Normal is around 80+. My dr. could NOT believe it.

This website (Neuran) also linked epilepsy with lead poisoning as a possible cause.

The causes of seizures are relatively unknown. It is thought many things can trigger the delicate electrical system in the brain that cause seizures, including exposure to an allergen, fever, trauma (especially head injury), hypoglycemia, genetic conditions, lead poisoning, and metabolic or nutritional imbalances.

And the symptoms of lead poisoning according to these websites
Dr. Joseph F. Smith Library (Whoever he is! Hopefully not the founder of the LDS church. )
UC Davis
Medline Plus
include:

Fatigue
Depression
Sleeplessness
Tiredness
Lowered I.Q.
Learning disabilities
Hyperactivity
Convulsions
Agitation
Irritability
Uncooperative
Confusion

All of which I consistently have. Hmm… Lead poisoning rung a bell because I saw several books about it listed on a different ADHD site. Plus, I found this article about a lead poisoning lawsuit that listed ADHD as one of the problems that it caused.
www.newjerseylaw.com/leadpoisoningpressrelease.htm

These websites also make that link:
okvoices.org/lead.html
www.oica.org/LeadPoison.html
www.healing-arts.org/children/ADHD/lead.htm


I may make an appt. with my General Practitioner to have him test me for lead poisoning.

Does all of this sound like sound reasoning? Or, does it sound like I'm making illlogical leaps here? My Ritalin is starting to wear off, so this may be disjointed ADHD thinking, but it seems like there is a string of connections, even if I can't present it too smoothly. What do you think? Anyone else have these issues?


buttercup

[rosyred45]

Hey Buttercup, been busy I see

There is a rhyme and reason for everything, it's just a matter of putting the puzzle together.

Since I'm not too keen on Doctors and would rather do things myself (it's the same for everythingelse in my life. I don't do salons either, too expensive)you seem to be trying to figure these things out, rather extensively at that.

THere are alot of things that are connected that people don't even think about, case in point the electrical system in the body. I like to try to figure things out on my own as well, so we have so many different books here I could start my own library.

I have heard some where that with the flashes from video games, it entraces kids. My question for you is when you are on the computer, doing whatever, does that effect anything?

Just curious?

[catseye]

My sd had a grand mal seizure (of all grands) when she was a little under 2 years old... My dh had to resuscitate her, while her mom was passed out on the couch... It was very lucky that dh came back home when he did after hunting that morning...

For 2 years after that my sd was on a combination of tegretol (which I have since found out prolonged used can cause something called aplastic anemia which is almost leukemia and treated as if it is cancer), and phenobarbital.... It was horrible, we had to litterally hold the girl down to get the phenobarbital in her...

Anyway I believe alot of my sd's issues are either caused from the original seizure (which an eeg relieved her of anymore seizure meds after the 2 years), or the prolonged use of the seizure meds...

She has been tested for lead poisoning, about 2 years ago, so I know that isnt the problem... At this time I am not too concerned about HOW she got it, more about controlling it at this point, and helping her succeed in life...

You have done an awful lot of research my dear! And I commend you for that! I dont think you are jumping to conclusions that are unfounded... I hope you find the answers you are looking for! Good luck

cat

[buttercup]

Thanks for your support. I have had some awful doctors--either unknowledgeable or condescending.

You're right about the origins, catseye, it's probably not as important, but it might be important if it is still affecting me. How long does lead stay in your body? Does it go away on it's own? I'll have to look into that.

Thanks again,
buttercup

[catseye]

It is true in your situation it is wise to keep researching it, since you still have seizures... For my sd though it just isnt as important since she apparently outgrew the seizure... Also it could be very important for the public to know the true possibility of these connections... There is so much "not known" about adhd, and ignorance is not the way to go!

cat

[buttercup]

Thanks for the support, cats.

I feel like I am playing 'connect the dots' - I have knowledge here and some there...they seem like they could be related somehow, but forming that relationship....well....I guess you just lay out your original hypothesis and try to refine it.

Saw an interesting educational children's tv show a couple of days ago. The teacher was trying to teach the kids to "think." She asked something like "how does an apple rot?" A wonderful, wonderful young girl (probably 8 or 9 years old) said, "I don't know what I'm thinking, but I picture a piece of bread and then I picture the apple. I'm not sure what I'm thinking." Then she kind of gave an embarrassed laugh.

The teacher was SOOO great. She said, "it is OK not to have an answer. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You may not know what that connection is, but don't throw it away. Keep it, because you might learn some information that can make the relationship clear." I thought that was SO great. It gave validation to my thinking process...that sometimes you just have ideas and have to let them marinate, etc.

I realize that all of my ideas aren't award worthy, but sometimes ADHD people are gifted with making unusual leaps and connections. One of my strengths as a child was to accomplish some quirky but seemingly impossible task (like breaking into our house, without tools, when I lost my key. hahaha), or fixing my car, or getting a job without going through the "proper" channels.

[savvymom1]

This is so interesting...my next door neighbor's grand daughter has been having seizures for several months now. Sometimes it's once every other week--then it will increase to several times a day.

The doctors are stumped. All of her tests have come up fine and yet the seizures continue. I do know the grandparents and at least one parent have ADHD. I would like to know more to share with them. They are so distressed about their grand daugher's health.
Keep the info coming!

[rosyred45]

If they have internet acess, direct them here. I'm sure they would appreciate any information given.