Simple Partial Seizures or Migraines?

[Dustin]

Firstly, I have never found anyone that has experienced this type of thing. When I told my neuroligist, he just looked at me like i was crazy and said he did not understand what i was refering to, and he has never heard of it; however, I did read that it seems similar to the 'psyhic' symptoms of a simple partial seizure. He is supposed to be the top specialist in both migraines and seizures.

I have had this condition since i was 6 years old and only developed into a full seizure (i.e. loss of consiousness and convulsions) when i was 15. I am hoping someone can explain this and/or someone else has experienced the same.

It begins with flashing lights in my field of vision. The only way i can discribe it is like when you press on a calculator and u see those colors. it pulsates and flashes. It moves as it does this from one side of my vision to the other then begins at the other side. this continues through the entire experience, however, within a short time i am completely blinded by this. This is where it gets strange. After about a minute or two I start having flashbacks which consist of certain events from my life. When this happens I feel as if i am actually there and not in the present. After that memory finishes, I return to the present with yet another strange symptom. To me, it seems like a million people talking all at once about different things and is very hard to filter out.
when this happens i can respond and am aware, athough still blinded, of my surroundings of the present and people around me; however, I am not aware when i relive events from my life. Every time this happens, it is usually the same specific memories i relive. This lasts, I am guessing, for about an hour. After which my vision is a little fuzzy and i have a massive headache for days. When I was 15, within a minute of this starting i would go into a full seizure. this happens 1 out of 4 times now when this occurs. Has anyone else experienced something similar to this?? Any help would be really appreciated. sorry, in advance, for the long story.

 

[RockerMama]

My daughter is 6, and has something similar. She can't explain it very well, but she says she sees "dancing colorful shapes". Things are still VERY new to me, but she has apparently been experiencing it for quite a while(though she thought it was normal, so never said anything). We have been trying to get to the bottom of her headaches since last summer. We thought allergies, then maybe her glasses prescription, but it was neither. She had a clear MRI, and we hoped it was just maybe anxiety or something.

In January she told me about flashing lights she saw. I thought it was a migraine, but shortly after she told me she was seeing the shapes. We brought her to the eye Dr, all was clear there. The eye Dr said she needed to see an neuro, which she did. We got the blow off(the Dr was AWFUL, and told us she needed to see a therapist because it was obviously behavioral, despite the fact she never even talked to my daughter).

We got a new Dr, and within 5 minutes, he said it sounds like SPS that were starting to progress towards Complex Partials, and her list of symptoms lined up with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

She is aware during all of her episodes. She knows it isn't real, and could talk through it, right up to when the complex partials started happening. She will see white sparkles, colorful dancing shapes, and "bad pictures" that flash before her eyes. Her current neuro thinks her headaches were caused from her epilepsy, but she is too young to make that connection between what she was experiencing, and the following head pain.

A lot of what you described reminds me of what she told me about. The biggest thing that sticks out to me is the length of time you described. I am pretty sure that migraine auras can last a long time, but SPS are normally under 2 minutes. I am sooooo not an expert, of course.

 

[RobinN]

No worries about the "story" Dustin. These types of explanations often help others to understand a frightening situation, knowing they are not alone.

They are placing migraines in the seizure family. Perhaps it is now a type of spectrum disorder. I am not sure of the classification, only migraine is not a common headache. I was a migraine sufferer for about 30+ yrs and my daughter began having seizures at 14. I never had the aura that is often described with migraine, though I was affected greatly by bright lights. I was able to eliminate my migraines by taking magnesium. It was a life saver. I have not had a headache in about 7 yrs now.

My daughter has been managing her nutrition, and thus her hormones, also taking vitamins and minerals, and has not had a seizure in over a year. I don't believe she ever had an aura. Her's were tonic clonic seizures except for some that were from the meds she tried.

 

[Trinity]

I don't really have advice to add except that I know that it does sound long for a simple partial seizure - on the other hand, I wouldn't absolutely rule it out. All the things you mentioned could possibly be seizure activity and i'm surprised your dr had never heard of these things.
As for migraines - Robin mentioned that they are in the seizure family and it made me think of something my doctor said to me at my last visit. We were talking about the results of my EEG and how I always have some generalised slowing. I asked him what this meant and he went through various possibilities. One of those possibilities was that it could be caused by a migraine. Before this I had no idea that a migraine would show up on an EEG but obviously it can effect it so the idea that migraines are in the seizure family makes a LOT of sense to me.

 

[Dustin]

Yeah. That is what confuses me as a I have never
Heard of any of these hallucinations happening during
a migraine so not sure what to think. My family doc
Thinks they are migraines which in turn are linked to
Whatever this is. Is it possible for a simple partial to
Last longer? My MRI shows "nodules" as the doc calls
It between my occipital and parietal regions but the doc
Does not seem to be concerned. My eeg always comes
Back normal. When I was a child I used
To refer to the event as "my eye flipping" as this was the
Only way I could describe it at that age. I am guessing it is
Starting in my occipital lobe and spreading to the memory
Centers of my brain but that is just my opinion. The doc doesn't
Seem to want to find the cause nor a treatment for it which
Really frustrates me.

 

[RobinN]

Dustin - I was frustrated with the same situation.

When I was in a fetal position for 4 days each month due to a migraine, and was only given a pill to ease the symptoms I was at a loss. Especially when the meds no longer worked. I was told I could switch to a daily pharmaceutical, that is when I dug in my heels. I found an alternative doctor that treated the whole doctor. Actually he is an OB/GYN, but he suggested that I try magnesium. Within two months I was migraine free. After about 6 months I toyed with the mineral, and did not take it, once again I had a horrible migraine along with nausea. I decided then and there that I would never doubt.

When my daughter began having seizures. No doctor tried to figure out the cause. In fact many we saw did not even bring up known causes related to symptoms that she was having. I learned by doing research on the internet. The only thing that was offered to us was medication.

Very frustrating to say the least.

 

[pita300]

Dustin,

I have had the same condition for years. I had a right temporal lobectory about 25 years ago. I remember going to the neuro because these started after my surgery. She said they were migraines and not to be concerned with them. I have exactly what you described minus the headache and the flashback. I have just learned to deal with it and wait for it to pass. Untill recently I started seing lines and colored blobs. This only lasts a couple minutes max where the migraine symptoms would last 45 minutes to an hour. I had an MRI about a month ago which came back normal and waiting for the results of an EEG which will also probably come back normal. If this is the case then I will probably just balme it on the seizure med that I am taking as it can cause occular illusions along with a ton of other side effects. I know this probably does'nt find the answer your looking for but it does let you know you are not alone.

 

[Emee]

Dustin, when I started reading your post I had to look to be sure it wasn't something I had posted. My migraines start the way you describe but I don't have the deja vu with the migraines. With my deja vu or past memories, I feel I am slipping away into another life & can't stop myself. That's the only way I can describe it. My memory is very fuzzy & I can't remember anything for several min. I still know who everyone is but my brain is jumbled & I feel disconnected to everything. After that clears I do have a slight headache for a day or two but not a migraine. Sometimes I feel a little nauseous but that may be because I'm scared. I don't hear people talking. I've only seen one dr in my life that knew what I was talking about & he called it temporal lobe seizures. It doesn't sound like much when I try to describe it to others but to me it's very stressful.

I have read where people do experience all these symptoms with a migraine.

 

[Dustin]

Where can u get magnisem tablets? I would
Like to try them and if if I get any results. I
Can't be sure if they are migraines cuz I do have
Total seizure 1 out of the four times it happens. I have
Not had one in a very long time as i have migraine meds
That seem to stop it from happening but I am wondering if it
Could be simple partial as no migraine doc I have ever seen
Seems to know these flashback symptoms. Another thing I forgot
To mention is when in the memorie I can smell all the smells and feel
What I was feeling when the event actually occurred, and it
Is usually bad smells and sick feeling.

 

[Nakamova]

Magnesium is a supplement that is available at your drugstore, or you can order it online. It's a good idea to check with your doctor first to make sure that it's okay for you to take. There are several forms of magnesium. Magnesium citrate (the one that I take) is one form that is well-absorbed. Magnesium can have a laxative effect, so if that happens when you take it, you should try a smaller dose.

At least one CWE member has found that taking magnesium got rid of her migraines entirely. I hope it can help you too.