All-Day Aura - Make It Stop

[Endless]

I've had an aura all day today. My auras are an electrical feeling in my body plus a feeling of forboding. It can be incredibly icky. Today the aura is really intense, and it won't stop. I'm on 1200mg of trileptal and 100mg of Lamictal (ramping up on Lamictal).

How do I make this thing stop. I feel so cruddy. Feel like I can't take it. When I've asked my epileptologist about long auras his only reply is he wants to get my meds right so I don't have them any more. Never on how to stop them when they are in progress. To be fair I only have them every couple of weeks now, and they usually last only 10-20 minutes, but once in awhile I have one of these really long ones.

The only thing I've found that helps is an old migraine remedy my PCP gave me - hydrocodone plus cyclobenzaprine, taken together. I have no idea if it stops the aura or just puts me out of my misery until it is gone. It knocks me out for about 4-6 hours and when I wake up the aura is history. I really don't want to take this cocktail of stuff. I'm afraid of what it's doing to my brain on top of the anti-epileptic drug's. Does anybody else take this kind of thing periodically, and does it stop your auras?

Any kind of help you have to offer, short of an ER visit, would be great. (I don't go to the ER - they put you through a lot and are not very helpful)

Help?

[daisy.girl]

sorry to hear you are going through all of this....

it really sounds a lot like an anxiety/panic attack, the fact that it last sooo long and that your 'cocktail' takes it away.....cyclobenzaprine is used for anxiety.

hope you feel better real soon

[Endless]

Thanks, but not anxiety. It's the usual aura I have before a seizure, just lasting an unusally lonnnnnnnng time. Don't know how to stop it. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant, also - was prescribed to relax my neck muscles due to a neck injury.

[epileric]

I really do feel for you because once every so many years I get the same thing.

When I was a teenager it lasted 3 days-all with no sleep. I used marijuana & it stopped but that's not something I"d do today. Have you tried valerian tea? I just steep real valerian (not a pre-mixed tea) in water for 10-15 minutes. As fara as herbs go, Black Cohosh, Hyssop and lobelia are supposed to help seizures. Other than using Ativan (lorazepam) I can't think of anything else.

I'll post if I do. Meanwhile focus on your breath- hyperventilation is part of a seizure so both breathing slowly & being focused on it might help. Also remember the pressure point on the upper lip. Just don't press too hard.

Meanwhile good luck.

[Rae1889]

Try smelling something really strong. Vodka, or other alcohol. Oranges. Something unpleasant. Lavander. Anything.

Also try to press just above your upper lip under your nose, or have someone squeeze your thumbs. That works to kick me out of complex partials.

[epileric]

For those into aromatherapy, lavender & clary sage (not sage!) are supposed to help seizures.

Do you just happen to have some lying around.

[Endless]

I have lavendar, but only regular sage. Thanks, Eric. I'll try anything. Also did the famous acupressure point below the nose. Didn't help.

[epileric]

2 more acupressure points:

1 (GV 17) is in the groove above the external occipital protruberance (the bump on the back of your head)

http://www.rootdown.us/Points/GV_17?query=epilepsy

The other (KI6) is in the little groove 3 finger widths below the medial malleolus (the inner ankle bump) http://www.rootdown.us/Points/KI_6?query=epilepsy

The pictures at the bottom of the page might help.

When you apply the pressure it should be firm but don't put all your effort into pushing it.

I suggest the first one (it seems to work for me). Keep your pressure on either point for 3 minutes or so.

Here's hoping it helps.