Postpartum seizures with no previous history of Epilesy

[vebs]

I am putting up this question in regard of my wife.

This year on March 22nd she gave birth to our baby girl.

The delivery was done by Epidural Anesthisia (Pain less injection) and Vacuum assisted method.

After 4th day of delivery she had Tonic-clonic seizures in the afternoon at our home during afternoon.
I rushed her to the hospital she was in semi unconscious state. Her eyes were fixed.
She was admitted to the ICU and after 3 days she was discharged from the hospital.  During hospital stay she went through the MRI scan and EEG, all results were negative (nromal).
She was put on the Eption 100 mg thrice a day (one in morning and 2 in the night).
But on 8th of April in the early morning she started n having partial seizures. We again rushed to hospital. In hospital at night she again had a Tonic-clonic seizures attack.
After 2-3 days she was discharged from the hospital. Currently her medication contains Morning doses (1 Eption (100 mg each), Supradyn (multivitamin)), Night dose contains (2 Eption (100 MG each), 4 Desval ER (500 MG each from Ranbaxy)).
Since then she is doing fine.
During pregnancy everything was normal. All test results were OK.
She doesn’t have any Epilepsy history in the past. This is the first time she encountered this.

I would highly appreciate your efforts if you could please answers my below questions.

Are these 2 attacks linked to Post-Partum (post child birth) hormone imbalance?
I would like to know till what duration my wife needs to take this medication?
Will the doses be of same power/strength in the future also?
What are the chances of the reoccurrence of the seizures?

[vebs]

Hi Bhumika,

First of all thanks for your quick reply.

As per my knowledge my wife was not hypertensive.

Do you have any idea that these 2 seizures attacks could be linked to
"EPIDURAL ANESTHISIA" which was administered to my wife for painless delivery.
I have surfed the net for this, but I didn't got any exact answer.

The important point which you have mentioned in your answer that "sleep deprivation".
Because during the 2 attacks which I mentioned she had very little sleep.

Yesterday we visited a well known Epilepsy expert in Pune. He suggested us for an EEG test.
He said that current status and report doesn't points to any root cause.
He asked my wife to have a very little sleep before coming to EEG test.
Let's see what will be the outcome of the test.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

I know that you have said in your post that your wife had a normal pregnancy. However, can you recheck whether she had any hypertensive during or after her pregnancy and child birth? Seizures during or immediately after child birth may be a condition called eclampsia.

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures.

There are many known triggers for seizures/epilepsy. The doctor would have to proceed from what is known - such as pregnancy status, general health , to what is unknown - such as presence or absence of triggers, i.e., alcohol or drug withdrawal, head injury,reading, hot water on the head, hyperventilation, and flashing or flickering lights, Being asleep, The transition between sleep and wakefulness (hypnagogia), Tiredness and sleep deprivation, Illness, Constipation, Menstruation, Stress or anxiety, Alcohol consumption, Pictures with excessive flashing etc.

Usually the therapy for seizures is continued for a couple of years at elast based on the response and etiology of the seizure. And the doses are adjusted so as to find the minimum possible dose that will not precipitate a seizure. Re-occurrence is usually not seen unless there is some change of the status of the patient. i.e. disease condition or weight.

Hope this helped answer your questions.