Seizure doesn't fit prior patterns

Rant

I've got it lucky compared to some with epilepsy... I thought I had it down to a science. I have TLE and have focal aware seizures pretty frequently but have had very few tonic clonic seizures. Every single TC seizure I've ever had has fit into a pattern. Until this weekend. Even my focal seizures fit into a pattern. I know what will make them more likely. I know what will help keep them at bay. Sure, there is some randomness with the focal seizures, but generally - very predictable. Being tired, even one drink of alcohol, and being on my period will lower my threshold significantly.

I became epileptic almost 2 years ago, following a concussion. I had 2 seizures before being diagnosed and medicated. Since being on medication, every tonic clonic seizure I've had has been while I was sleeping. All TC seizures, both before and after medication, happened while I was on my period. And then now, out of nowhere, I had one while awake and while not on my period. I started a new medication over 6 months ago and it's been hugely helpful. My focal aware seizures have cut down tremendously. I was having 3 or 4 FA seizures per week. I have been having 1 or 2 per month now, since the new meds. Right before this recent TC seizure, I hadn't had a FA seizure in 24 days - the longest I've ever been without a FA seizure since I hit my head. How in the world do I go from longest focal-aware-seizure-free-span to the only TC seizure that I've had without a trigger?

Maybe there was a trigger I didn't know about? Idk. I did miss medication the week leading up to this. I made it up, though. Maybe I shouldn't have done that? There was 3 times in one week that I missed meds before bed and then took double when I woke up. Writing it out now, it seems obvious that the meds probably contributed. But I remember when I was on Keppra before - my doctor said that it was better to double dose than miss a dose. I don't usually miss any doses. Maybe taking a dose a couple hours late at the most. But for some reason, once I missed once, it was like it just threw off my rhythm. So 3 missed and then doubled doses in one week might have been a lot. But, that was a few days before the TC seizure. I think I missed one on either Saturday or Sunday, took them as normal on Monday and Tuesday, and had a TC seizure Wednesday. Only one I've ever had while not on my period.

What do you guys think? Anyone have experience with most things falling into a pattern and then suddenly breaking out of that pattern?

Posted Sep 2, 2025, 3:25 PM UTC

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