Unusual Onset

[Brent]

Hi All,

I've been working with my neurologist and keeping a pretty detailed diary of seizures to try to nail down possible triggers. I have some known triggers and some things (such as lack of sleep) that make me more prone.

However, I've begun to notice an interesting trend. While my partial seizures can sort of come on randomly, I frequently have my most major seizures (generalized tonic-clonic or atonic) following a hectic day. But they tend not to happen during periods of stress, fatigue, sensory overload, etc. - but later one, like that evening, when everything has settled down and quiet, and I am starting to relax - this is when they hit.

Anyone else experience this? My neurologist doesn't find it particularly noteworthy, but it seems odd to me. I understand seizures brought on by acute stress or sensory input - but later during the wind-down, that doesn't make much sense to me. And, it confounds efforts to identify specific triggers that could be avoided. I can't exactly avoid peace and quiet.

It makes me think that there must be something else I do during this wind-down that is the actual trigger.

Just curious if anyone else has this sort of experience, and if so, if any other observations might be helpful.

[Aicila]

My life has been completely insane, stressed, can't handle things lately and my seizure's changed. But the changed ones happen in the evening when I am relaxed and watching tv, not falling asleep, but that after dinner, and before bed time. My doc said it was because of the med changes, but who knows...

[Nakamova]

Tonic-clonics tend to happen when certain brainwaves are present -- the ones that are associated with daydreaming or the in-between moments between sleeping and waking. So it makes sense that they might remain at bay while you are at your most alert and stimulated, but then show up when you are finally able to let your mind wander. Additionally some seizures can be set in motion several hours before they actually occur, based on changes registered in the brain.

[corsetine]

i know of someone who has tonics when for example 4 people are sitting down and talking. person 1 is talking to person 2. if he and say person 4 are talking the same time that 1 and 2 are and he gets distracted he has a tonic. its like too much is going on in the background and he gets triggered from that. so maybe after a hectic day enviroment to then a relaxing enviroment it could have some sort of effect on you? it took the hospital moooooonths to figure this out for the person i know of.

[ajax]

I have exactly the same experience. It seems like adrenaline and other stress hormones may actually be preventative for me in the short term, but when I come down, after the rush, i crash and burn. I think the stress is still the trigger, but the effects are only observed some time after.

[fez]

corsetine
thats a great observation from your friend, i dont have a problem with it E wise but its not something i enjoy. if i am in a social situation i prefer people talking and listening. i love great conversation with interesting people. maybe its a sub concious thing where my brain doesn't like those situations so it avoids them.

[elizzza811]

Check this thread out, especially if you keep a 'seizure diary', since some of the links provided in this thread can even be searched backwards in time. I'll bet you notice a correlation. Twisted magnetic filaments writhing around on the sun were definite seizure triggers for me. And whether or not you had a stressful day or a calm, relaxing, carefree one...the sun doesn't seem to care...

Seizures and...Solar and Geomagnetic Activity?

[valeriedl]

Alot of my seizures come on a few days after things happen.

Stress is a big trigger for me. A few years ago I had to put one of my cats down and my husband and I knew that there was a seizure on it's way, all we could do was sit and wait until it got there. Sure enough about 3 days later there was the seizure. My grandma had to go into the hospital this summer. We thought she was having a heart attack but luckily after a day at the hospital they figured out was was wrong and it wasn't too bad, still not too good though. Again a few days afterward there was the seizure.

If I'm up and running around alot or doing different types of things that I don't do that often, exciting things, then I'll usually a few days later I'll have that seizure.