How do you tell a separate seizure from after-effects of an earlier one?

[violetopia]

I have partial seizures and am in the early stages of trying to get my meds right. So I've been keeping a seizure log and updating my neurologist now and then as to how many I'm having per day.

My seizures always involve weird sensations on the right side of the body. Sometime those sensations (aura, I guess) progress to confusion, disturbing emotions, & difficulty communicating. Then things go back to normal, usually for several hours till I have another one.

But sometimes, after one of those "bigger" seizures, I'll feel better, but then 15-60 minutes later I'll have 10-15 seconds where my right side goes wonky again. It's not like the full-blown thing, though, just a sort of residual mini-seizure. Or like the aura occurring again. This can happen 2-3 times in an hour, or just once.

Maybe these are just after-effects of the original seizure? Does that happen? Or are they separate seizures? They sort of seem like simple partials from some of what I've read, but I'm not really sure.

In a way, this is a moot point since I'm having plenty of seizures and need to have less no matter what. But it seems important to figure out the difference so that I'm able to tell if I'm improving, getting worse, etc. Thanks for any input!

[epileric]

IMHO I don't think it makes a difference how you think of it. Such things don't need to be defined to figure out if you're getting better or worse. should they stop, they'll stop regardless what you call them.

What does matter is that you record it happening & note any changes.

[Endless]

Violetopia,

Even "auras" are seizures. The goal is NO seizures of any kind. I agree with eric - it's important to get them all down in your journal and let your doc know about them.

It really IS confusing, isn't it? It's especially confusing when new kinds of seizures happen or you have lots of kinds and its hard to keep track of. Hang in there....