Are These Epilepsy Symptoms or not?

[lb76696]

For my whole life pretty much I have this thing where I will 'jerk'. It usually happens like once every few months - or less. But recently, in the last week or so, it's been happening everyday. It is really hard to describe. It feels like it sort of happens when I am mid-blink. I will just jerk slightly. It literally lasts for less than a second. I saw my friend have something similar once. Sometimes my arms will go up, and I guess these move most. Does this sound like a partial seizures? Does it sound like I'm leading up to a big one? Would I really get them my whole life and not know it's Epilepsy?

Thank You .
xxx.

 

[Bernard]

Hi lb76696, welcome to the forum. :hello:

If you see a neuro (doctor), you could get an EEG test that might be able to confirm seizure activity - especially if you happen to 'jerk' while the EEG is recording.

There are a couple types of seizures that can present with jerks. Myoclonic seizures present as noticable jerks. Jerks can also occur during complex partial seizures, but they usually also present with impaired consciousness, so you likely wouldn't be aware of the seizure or you'd be confused immediately afterwards (generally).

 

[lb76696]

By 'confused immediately afterwards' are you saying I'd be aware it happened by thinking 'where did that come from?' or 'wow, I can't remember what happened for that second. Did I just jerk?'. I'm mostly like the first. I'm not sure if it hapens mid-blink or if my eyes half close. Do you think if it was Epilepsy I wouldn't have had thm throughout my whole life like this?

Hi lb76696, welcome to the forum. :hello:

If you see a neuro (doctor), you could get an EEG test that might be able to confirm seizure activity - especially if you happen to 'jerk' while the EEG is recording.

There are a couple types of seizures that can present with jerks. Myoclonic seizures present as noticable jerks. Jerks can also occur during complex partial seizures, but they usually also present with impaired consciousness, so you likely wouldn't be aware of the seizure or you'd be confused immediately afterwards (generally).

 

[lb76696]

Now I'm worried that when my eyes do this it's actually me blacking out. If it was would I have no recollection of the jerky movements I'd made?

 

[Bernard]

Here are a couple of descriptions of complex partial seizures:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/seizures/partialseizures/complexpartial/

https://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_complexpartial

But bear in mind that there is a wide spectrum and they can present differently for each individual. Seizures don't always fit the textbook definition.

Some people are aware after they have had CPS, others aren't. Some people experience slight confusion after one, others don't (they ones that don't typically aren't aware that anything just happened - they have no memory of the event).

When my wife has one, she will "go blank" (eyes, face), she might jerk or have other automatism like smacking her lips, she might repeat "ok. ok." a few times or she might laugh (the short laugh like you were amused by something). Then she will generally stop all activity and be slightly confused for a second or two. The whole episode might last 5-10 seconds.

 

[lb76696]

Thank You for the links Bernard . zmine deginiyely don't sound as complex as those. I am definiteluy mot in a trance or anything. It's just like a quick flinch. Do you think that doesn't sound as concerning?