Auras?

[DEEMO :)]

Hi guys hope you are all well

I sent my licence application to my epileptologist a few weeks ago and I got a call back saying that she would not approve me. I have no problems with that if they think I should be off the road, that's very fair.
The reason they are not is because they said that they are unhappy to let me drive because of the feelings I have been describing. They feel like a VERY tiny aura. I can feel them but it is nothing like my seizures before I was medicated. I get this funny feeling that is like everything feels different. As you all probably know how hard it is to describe seizures. It's kind of like I am more aware of what is around me and I don't fit into place. Hard to explain. I only feel it very briefly. About a few seconds. I thought it may have been a side effect of my medication. It happens when I am hormonal and can very in frequency. She wants me to have a video EEG. I have already had 2 VEEGs and 1 ambulatory EEG and I feel as though it would be a waste for me to go in. I think that other people would benefit from having that hospital room. Other then extreme fatigue and a severe lack of concentration I feel fine. She wants to see if I go unconscious when it happens but I don't. People have seen it happen. I am the only one that knows. It's just a funny feeling.

Has anyone had a similar feeling? Do you think it is a small aura?
It does not phased me. It's annoying but not as bad as seizures.

The only other thing is a can be talking to someone and say something. They reply and I completely forget what I have said or what they may have said. I believe that's just a side effect of temporal lobe epilepsy. Kind of like a day dream but I am aware of it.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Senjuro]

I wish I could be of more help here... but I'm sorry to respond with a no, but I don't have any auras, and if I ever do, I have no memory of them, so I don't have any knowledge of what it feels like. I have Temporal Lobe Epilepsy as well, and I have never once felt an aura. The only time I knew I had a seizure was when I had an absence seizure, and family noticed I was staring off into space. I would more or less wake up lying down somewhere. I'm sorry to hear you were declined for the license because of your epilepsy. I hope one day you will be at a point where it is safer for you to drive.

 

[masterjen]

Deemo - what you're describing as an "aura" might be interpreted by your doctor as a simple partial seizure. They can lead to stronger seizures, such as complex partial or generalized, and this is likely the reason you are not permitted to drive.
As for why another EEG, your doctor may want to see if the aura does show up on the EEG as abnormal activity; ie. seizure activity. Also there is a remote possibility that what you remember as happening during this "aura" is not all that is happening, especially at those times when no one else is around. Also, you mention yourself you have severe lack of concentration - not a safe mindset to be in when driving!

 

[Belinda5000]

Deemo

an aura doesn't give anyone enough time to pull to the side of the road.
I've had all kinds of auras and sometime I might have one usually I don't have one, it's usually just bam with my seizures.

 

[valeriedl]

Deemo - what you're describing as an "aura" might be interpreted by your doctor as a simple partial seizure. They can lead to stronger seizures, such as complex partial or generalized, and this is likely the reason you are not permitted to drive.

During my auras or simple partial seizures I'm always awake. I know what's going on but it may not be what's actually going on. Once I swore my aunt was in the house, but she wasn't. Another time I thought that someone moved the furniture in the living room because everything was in the wrong place.

There have been times too that I'll be talking to someone. I know exactly what I'm saying but that's not what's coming out of my mouth. I could be saying the wrong words or it could just be mumbled/jumbled speech. I'm completely aware of what's going on and did not black out. I don't know if these would be considered semi or complex partials.

At times my semi will lead directly into a complex before I even realize it and don't even know that I've had one. After I come out of some complexes my husband will tell me he knew that I was going to have it because of the way, having a semi, before it happened. Most of the time I just go right into the complex with no warning.

As far as not driving it's better to be safe than sorry. I was moving the lawn tractor one time and had a seizure while I was on it. No warning that I was going to have the seizure. I just pushed down on the gas and was heading strait for a tree. Luckily my dad runs fast and was able to stop it before I got there. I can't imagine what would have happened if I was in a car.

 

[photoguy]

DEEMO,

I have "auras", both simple partial and complex partial. In both cases I get anywhere from a 60 second to 2 minute warning before it hits. In either case I get very, very tired afterwards and usually sleep for 30-60 minutes. My simples are exactly that, just a feeling, nothing remarkable. My complex are more or less a 5-10 second "zone out" (staring into space, daydream like state). In both cases I'm a bit "foggy" afterwards and the only thing I want to do is find a place to sleep it off.

I'm an engineer, and it really doesn't impede my life all that much (I do not drive). I am currently considering surgery, hopefully to resolve these. Both the surgeon and epileptologist are hopeful.

Anyway, hang in there, and ask anyone who is around you what you did while you had the aura. See if they noticed anything odd, that will help with determining if it's a simple or complex partial.

 

[marika853]

Deemo, I DO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL! I have many auras and they are hard to describe. I am in the present but still feel detached from the moment. Sometimes it also comes with deja vu. Not always. I just sit down and try to relax, count to ten, take deep breaths. Mine never go into full blown seizure. But it does scare me. They happen most often in the mornings. But last week I started taking a vitamin supplement and noticed them later in the day. I stopped taking it.
We just have to be aware of what our bodies are telling us and try to figure it out. I have and appt. with my neuro. on July 10. He wants to do a 24 hr. eeg. Have never had one.
Stay strong!
M

 

[DEEMO :)]

Thank you so much for the replies
It's interesting to hear different experiences. The brain is really fascinating. These auras (feelings) I have been having are really tiny. They don't build into anything. I always question if they are even seizures. When I have them I function normally. It's just a funny feeling. Everyone I have been around does not notice anything different. I tell them I am having a funny feeling and we can carry on a perfectly normal conversation. I don't feel tired after one. The meds make me a little fatigued but I haven't noticed them making me tired. I am really unsure if they are seizures. My auras used to be a lot more obvious and I always had time to get myself to a safe area. I am pretty lucky to have that. Mine did not always progress into a seizure either. I actually would be able to pull over to the side of the road. Not that I would ever want to test that out :-/

I find it frustrating not knowing. They do feel funny but they don't tend to bother me that much. Because they are hormone related I don't know if the crankiness is related to them. I never used to get cranky at all until I developed epilepsy.
I know it's annoying to see someone whinge about having the tiniest seizures when people have it a lot worse. SORRY about that :-/ unintentional.
I did exaggerated about my concentration. It only happens when i am a little bored. Like when completing professional development at work. I used to be better at pretending I was interested.
I am used to not driving now but I am a 25 year old who has osteoporosis and arthritis. I have compression fractures throughout my spine and I am really struggling in this cold weather to walk to and from the train. I feel well enough to drive but I can definitely understand if they don't sign the paperwork. I just want to understand what's happening. I need to sell my car if I can't. It is sitting there doing nothing and it is not going to be good for it if it keeps sitting there.
And as stated before it will be an absolute waste of a hospital bed for me to go in. I have already done 3 lots of 7 day EEGs. I am not to keen on going in. Even though the food was great and, as my sister put it, she had to be my "slave".

Thanks for reading my rant about something small. Most people don't understand. Especially when I tell them that I am in chronic pain.

Thank you.
Hope you guys are not having the same weather as I am.