Being diagnosed with Complex Partial Seizures

[squirrellover]

I am currently in he process of being diagnosed with Complex
Partial Seizures. For the longest time I thought it was anxiety and was told by many different people it was anxiety attacks. Over the course of having 6 a day for a week, I knew it was time I delt with them so I went to a counselor. She wanted me to rule out any medical issues, so I went to my doctor. She was very concerned, so I went to a neurologist, and he said I have Complex PArtial Seizures. I got very freaked out, because I was not expecting to be told I have seizures, I was thinking he was going to tell me it was all anxiety.

I went for an EEG a week ago, and now I am waiting for my results. The waiting is the worst part. I am afraid that they will not have found anything wrong with me and will tell me it's all in my head. To top it off, I have not had an episode in over three and a half weeks, so I really feel like it's all in my head.

I am afraid I won't get help for this issue. I am afraid it will be shrugged off as anxiety attacks and I won't get the real help I need. But what if it is anxiety? How will I know which is which?

I hope there are people here that can help me put my mind at ease. I am currently 20 years old and busy with exams at school and with all of this happening I can't focus. I need to concentrate on school but I have no motivation to do anything until I get this figured out.

 

[valeriedl]

I hate waiting for test results to come back. I understand that it's not something that can be done over night but I want to pull out my hair when it takes over a week. Just to let you know that sometimes when you have tests done they may come up as nothing wrong.

If you don't like the dr that you are going to and feel that he could not be listening to what you have to say then you should probably see another one (or maybe more) and get a second opinion.

What do you do during what you are thinking could be a complex partial seizure? During one of these people black out and don't remember it happened at all. Sometimes you might sit and stare until the seizure is over and other times you may do things. Frequently I will get up and walk around or 'play' with something that is near me. Everyone is different when it comes to things that they do during a seizure. Many times people will have very bad headaches during one.

One of the things that will often bring on a seizure is stress. If you are stressed about school or other things this could be what's causing what is going on.

 

[squirrellover]

What happens during my episodes is I get this crack throughout my body and then I feel fuzzy. I get a strong sense that I'm having a dream, but then within seconds I don't remember the dream, but I know I've had it before. Then I get a sense of panic, that I have to leave the room but I am physically unable to leave because I'm with friends, talking, or driving, or even at work. Once the fear leaves, a shudder comes over my body like I'm cold, and then I have to go to the bathroom. Once the episode is over I can resume my normal functions, and people don't usually notice when I have one because to them it looks like I'm zooned out. My roomate says that I tend to rub my face during one, and then I get really red in the face but pale everywhere else. I don't remember what I physically do during one, all I remember is that I am with other people and therefore I have to make it seem that I am normal and nothing is wrong. I've had an eposide at work before while I was helping a customer, and I could not remember what I was helping him with, but all I knew was that I had to help him before he thought I was ignoring him. I felt like I was talking over his body, like he wasn't there. I don''t remember what I said to him, but I knew I had to talk to make myself seem normal.

Like I said it's hard for people to know when I've had one becuase I naturally zone out, so for people who know me well I look normal.

 

[valeriedl]

It sounds like you could possibly be having simple partial seizures. During those you might get strange sensations, see things, get dizzy, smell thing and many more things. Everyone is different for what happens during one. You don't black out and you pretty much know what's going on but you might be confused about it. You generally remember what happened during them.

If you black out during a seizure and don't remember anything that happened during it it's a complex partial. Many people have a simple partial before they have a complex partial, it's how they know the complex partial is coming on.

Generally during a simple partial you are the only one who knows it's happening because you do look and act normal. You aren't just staring off into space not responding to anything that anyone is saying or doing.

You aren't currently driving now are you? If you were to have a seizure while you are driving you could wreck the car and possibly kill yourself or someone else. It's illegal to drive when you have epilepsy. You have to go so many months seizure free, usually 6 months or longer it varies from state to state, before you are permitted to drive again.

 

[squirrellover]

Currently I am not driving. Once I saw the neurologist he said not to drive. That's another thing I am having a hard time adjusting to, the loss of personal freedom to go wherever i want whenever I want. This twill come with time, but the waiting game is the hardest part right now

 

[joeyrory]

Hey squirrellover

I'm 21, a student and just been diagnosed with simple and complex partial seizures. I've had anxiety for a long time and what you're describing does sound more like a simple partial seizure. I've had some in the presence of people who don't know I'm having one unless I tell them, it's the complex partials that are more obvious because they affect your consciousness.

I definitely understand the pain of waiting to hear and studying at the same time. It's hugely stressful and concerning, the waiting's actually worse than knowing. I hope you find out soon!

 

[Nakamova]

Hi squirrellover, welcome to CWE!

Here's one key thing about EEGs: A positive EEG can help rule in a diagnosis of epilepsy, but an negative one can't rule it out. So even if your EEG registers as normal, your neurologist should still be able to make the epilepsy diagnosis based on your symptoms alone.

I agree with the others above, what you describe are classic simple partial/complex partial seizure symptoms. You might want to read more about the different forms those symptoms can take: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/simple-partial-seizures and http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/complex-partial-seizures

It can also help to keep track of your symptoms in a journal. Make a note of when they occur, what happens, and how long they last. (If you're not sure, just make a guess). The journal can be helpful to both you and your neurologist, and can help you look for possible patterns or triggers to your symptoms. More info about that here: http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f22/proactive-prescription-epilepsy-1254/

When do you see the neurologist next?

 

[valeriedl]

Currently I am not driving. Once I saw the neurologist he said not to drive. That's another thing I am having a hard time adjusting to, the loss of personal freedom to go wherever i want whenever I want. This twill come with time, but the waiting game is the hardest part right now

I think not being able to drive is one of the hardest parts, it is for me at least. I haven't been able to drive for 12 years now. I can't stand the fact that I can't just go to the store any time I need to get something. I have to wait until someone is able to take me and that may not be a few days. Most of my friends live about an hour away and if we want to get together they usually have to come see me. My husband can take me to their place and drop me off then come back and take me home but that's really hard to do at times because of his work schedule. You do get used to it but it takes time.