after a seizure-being combative

[bazpa]

In October after over 3 years when I was finally diagnoses, I felt better to at least know what was wrong, and that I was not losing my mind. After going from doctor to doctor, and being told I was depressed, or having hormone issues, one begins to question their sanity! I knew I was not depressed, as I have been there before. I also knew I was not having pre menapause, because at 27, I had a partial hysterectomy, and sometimes when they get in that area, your ovaries will shut down temporarily, but begin to work again in a few weeks. The feeling was totally different from the terrible night sweats I was having. The funny thing about that was that my estrogen levels were normal, but I was prescribed estrogen to take anyway. I came to a point when I would have tried anything to feel better. The hormones did not work! I also tried 8 anti depressants in hopes that I would feel better. Guess what? They do not work, unless you are depressed!

Anyway I had always know before I was going to have one of my spells, as I called them, but this morning was a little different. The last thing I remember was seeing 3 of everything. My next memory was 25 minutes later. I refused to go with the paramedics, and told my family that I did not sign a release form, and would have sworn to it until I found it a week later, in between my car seat. I insisted my daughter take me for coffee, and to my office, because I was going to work. My balance was really bad. My family works for me, and was very worried. They kept trying to touch me and get me to sit down, or let one of them take me to the E.R. I do not remember a lot in between, or even getting mad at them, but I guess I yelled at them, and told them that I was not going, and not to touch me! I tried to answer the phone, but kept nodding in and out of consiousness.

Finally at some point I realized I could not work, and decided to let someone take me home. The day is a blur, and I do not remember much. I did not know that it was dangerous to keep having one seizure after another, or a continuous one for over 5 minutes. I am not sure which this was, but either way-it lasted for at least an hour. I slept for hours. The worst part of the last few years was how tired I always was, and that I could not do all the things I was used to doing, and not knowing why. Having people think that I had just become lazy. For about 3 or 4 days I had trouble with balance, and remembering the words I wanted. I tried so hard to remember things from that day.

I find it so unreal that a piece of my life is missing. Why did I get so irritated and cranky? I have learned so much more on this sight, than any place else, and am thankful for everyone who helps me understand. This taking 6 different kinds of seizure meds in 7 months, because of allergies, or not being able to tolerate them, has been so hard-it's been like a roller coaster, and I haven't had time to adjust to any of them. I am disappointed in how long this is taking, and how hard it has been to concentrate from the side effects. it is also hard that friends and family do not seem to understand, especially at work, when I tell them that I cannot multi-task right now, and they cannot constantly interupt me. I am their boss, and they are used to asking me a lot of stuff, but I can't get anything done, with the phones ringing, all the noise and interuptions. any advice would be helpful. Please excuse spelling grammar, and length-I am so tired!

[Loopy Lou]

6 types of meds in seven months seems pretty excessive :O I hope you find one that works for you soon.

As for the shouting... apparently i have shouted and sworn at people after a seizure before, but i don't do it all the time. It makes me feel pretty ashamed when people tell me about it, but they know i don't do it on purpose.

[bazpa]

My best friend said I had never talked to her like that! I did feel bad, and told her was sorry, but that I did not even remember what I had said. It is embarrassing!

[Nakamova]

Not all the parts of the brain "wake up" from the seizure at the same rate, so the brain does the best it can in the interim. It's almost a primitive protective reaction -- "get away from me, I'm hurt and I don't know what just happened". And depending where the seizure originated, it could also have affected parts of the brain connected to fear and strong emotion, so throw that in the mix and you can get feisty...

[bazpa]

In some ways it's almost like you have had a little too much to drink! Even when I w as younger I did not like to drink so much I felt out of control of myself, so it would figures that since I do not like that feeling something would get me that cause me to act like this!!! Sometimes you just gotta laugh!

[Bernard]

A lot of people experience belligerent postictal states following a seizure. It's actually not uncommon.

[Cint]

A lot of people experience belligerent postictal states following a seizure. It's actually not uncommon.

There have been several times after I had a bad seizure that others have said I shoved them, yelled, even at the paramedics several times. OMG!! Now that is embarrassing. Thankfully, I wasn't arrested for anything.

[bazpa]

Well, I am glad to know I am not the only one, but I do feel bad. I am not normally a rude out spoken person. I am having trouble sleeping on this new medicine also. I end up so tired. Most of my seizures are at night, and in the morning. Just as I am about to fall asleep, my whole body will jerk, and tense. I end up wide awake, and anxious! I am not sure if this is just from anxiety or a seizure.

[Jfpinell]

If part of EMT training would be on how to approach someone in that state, things would be better to say the least. I have written right on my file of life card to speak in a gentle calm tone and ask questions rather than to give orders. Is it any wonder why it took 3 officers to get me on the stretcher 1 day when the EMT's were all like "NO NO STAY DOWN! BE CALM! WERE HELPING YOU!"? Like I as a First Responder know you don't do that...you guys should.
One time at college I had a seizure and the cop was just as bad, if not worse. Quite honestly, if the school nurse wouldn't have been there getting the cop to settle down, I probably would've wound up explaining to the D.A. that I had no idea what I was doing when I took a swing at him!

[bazpa]

There obviously needs to be more training for Emt's & law enforcement. I know I am repeating some of this, but I went to several doctors, several times, trying to tell them that something was seriously wrong. My opinion is that if they don't know they wil say that one is suffering depression, and write a perscription! I did try it out of desperation. In fact I trid about 8 of them, but they had no effect. I was on my way to work. The last thing I remember was seeing 3 cars, and 3 lines in the road, and thinking what the hell is wrong with my eyes! 25 minutes later, I realized that I needed to pull over. As I looked in my mirror, I saw the blue light coming up behing me fast! 2 state police. I only remember pieces. One started screaming at me, asking if I knew how many people had called 911. As I tried to look around, I realized my car was surrounded. They said to turn car off, and hand them the keys. If I had been drinking, smoking pot? They started looking in my purse, and asking what things where. There was a drug dog. I wonder now-I can smell a beer from 20 ft away on somebodys breath, pot smells very strong, I was dressed up, hair & make-up freshly done. I did not look like I just rolled out of a bar! What were these guys thkinking? I know I was slow, slurring my word, could not answer some questions ect, but seriously. I believe I was about to be cuffed when my eyes rolled back in my head. The emt's just left me on the side of the road! Are they not trained to know when somebody is not in their right mind? Now that I have done some reading on this-it scares me what could have happened, or could still happen.

[Jfpinell]

The last thing I remember was seeing 3 cars, and 3 lines in the road, and thinking what the hell is wrong with my eyes! 25 minutes later, I realized that I needed to pull over. As I looked in my mirror, I saw the blue light coming up behing me fast! 2 state police. I only remember pieces. One started screaming at me, asking if I knew how many people had called 911. As I tried to look around, I realized my car was surrounded. They said to turn car off, and hand them the keys. If I had been drinking, smoking pot? They started looking in my purse, and asking what things where. There was a drug dog. I wonder now-I can smell a beer from 20 ft away on somebodys breath, pot smells very strong, I was dressed up, hair & make-up freshly done. I did not look like I just rolled out of a bar! What were these guys thkinking? I know I was slow, slurring my word, could not answer some questions ect, but seriously. I believe I was about to be cuffed when my eyes rolled back in my head. The emt's just left me on the side of the road! Are they not trained to know when somebody is not in their right mind? Now that I have done some reading on this-it scares me what could have happened, or could still happen.

I certainly wish I had more details of this. Not sure where you are, but there are Constitutional grounds that obviously were crossed there! If my instructors heard of me behaving like that they'd have my badge!
How long ago was this? Was it just State police? Depending on how long ago this was, there may be someone you could/should bring this behavior to the attention of!

[bazpa]

Washington state. Last October. I am a 47 year old female, so it's not like I was a juvenile delinquent!

[Jfpinell]

It may be a bit late, but it would be worth talking to someone that was involved or the agency involved. Just for educational purposes if nothing else.

[bazpa]

It was Washington State Patrol, and they do not seem to be too friendly. I work in vehicle title and license. I was with my daughter, when she informed me we were about to be pulled over. When I asked her why she thought that, as she hadn't done anything wrong that I could see, her reply was that she did not know, but she just was sure we were. As soon as we got off the clover leaf, and onto the freeway, his lights came on. The reason she was pulled over was, because we had just bought her a new car, and because a payoff from the former owner was involved, we had to wait for the title from the bank. To make sure she was legal, and I put the vehicle on a 60 day temp, where all taxes and license are paid up front, while waiting for all the proper paperwork as this can take a few weeks. He began giving her a hard time, and being 17 did not help, but told her to get in to DOL, and it should only take a couple of days to get her plates. Obviously I had heard enough. I was raised to be respectful to law enforcement, but informed him of where I worked, and that she had a legal permit. He let us go, but I do not think he was happy. Seems our state patrol are just a bit-um not sure how to put this-full of themselves. I have dealt with other police depts., and even spent the day with one, which was very fun, and they at least took the time to listen. The other interesting thing is that she is now 23, has been pulled over 10 times, for who knows what, but has never been ticketed! weird! I really thought to make a call to WSP, about a week later, when I was thinking straight, but they were so mean, yelling so loud, and grabbing stuff from my purse, and questioning me about what certain things where, that I thought maybe I should just leave it alone. I was so confused at the time, but it does scare me what could have happened to me if I had said the wrong thing.

[lovemyladybug]

youre not alone this happens to me pretty much everytime , my poor husband is trying to help me get in bed or stay in bed if i've been sleeping so i dont hurt myself , and i yell and cuss telling him no i need this , or im going to do this ( and of course it's so slurred only he can understand me ) i usually do this for maybe 15 to 20 mins then fall asleep and stay that way for hours , so i guess it's good it doesnt last long , and im sure they understood you couldnt help it

[bazpa]

Thank-you to all-I at least feel better knowing that I am not the only one that does not want to be touched or told what to do! Strange side effect! Especially for me as I am not normally ornery! My best friend works for me. A few days later she told me that I had hurt her feelings that day, and that I had never yelled at her like that! She said she just was trying to get me to sit down, because my balance was so bad, and she thought I was going to fall and get hurt. I had to tell her I was sorry, but I had no idea what I had said, as I do not remember, and would not normally have yelled at her. I had read a bit about this by that time, and tried my best to explain, but still, I felt bad. I am so glad that I found this sight, and have learned more here than any other place. There is nobody in my family, or that I know that has seizures, so I am on my own with this. Again thank-you for helping make this a bit easier for me.

[marlena23]

I have these moments too. There is a feeling...kind of hard to describe, and it could be part of my fibro, but I'm so sensitive that I think ANY touch would hurt me. I always tell my kids, don't touch me cuz it hurts. I also know there have been times I've snapped and yelled at my hubby for no apparent reason. I'm so lucky he's patient and understanding.

[Jfpinell]

A lot of it, if not most, has to do with instinct as well. Picture yourself in a dead sleep. Suddenly someone comes in grabs you shakes you and screams as loud as they can. Is your initial reaction (while you're still half asleep) going to be "Hey, joe. What's up?" or is it going to be something along the line of "WHAT THE ____??!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!" *SWAT!* *KICK!*? Obviously when you're half into it yet, your body is going to instinctively defend itself. You don't know if it's your kid playing or if someone is trying to attack you. The first thing you're probably going to do is physically lash out at them. So it's not just us....the "guy next door" would do the same exact thing if in that state of mind. It doesn't matter if it's waking up from sleep or a seizure or what.

[lovemyladybug]

A lot of it, if not most, has to do with instinct as well. Picture yourself in a dead sleep. Suddenly someone comes in grabs you shakes you and screams as loud as they can. Is your initial reaction (while you're still half asleep) going to be "Hey, joe. What's up?" or is it going to be something along the line of "WHAT THE ____??!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!" *SWAT!* *KICK!*? Obviously when you're half into it yet, your body is going to instinctively defend itself. You don't know if it's your kid playing or if someone is trying to attack you. The first thing you're probably going to do is physically lash out at them. So it's not just us....the "guy next door" would do the same exact thing if in that state of mind. It doesn't matter if it's waking up from sleep or a seizure or what.

makes perfect sense when you explain it that way ! good post

[Jfpinell]

By the way.....this is another EXCELLENT time to use the lavender oil I keep mentioning. It would definitely reduce this kind of thing within seconds. (I've seen it work more than once.) ...If only medics were allowed to be trained how to use it! (We all know who's responsible for *that* lack of knowledge though!) $$$$$$$$$$$$ !