Hi, my 15 year old just had two tonic clonic seizure this week out if nowhere. The second one she felt coming- she had me coming to school to get her she knew because her legs felt light, her jaw got tight, and she couldn't think right- she had the seizure right before I could make it there. This morning she said it was happening again- I got her comfortable and safe, I got over her as she was crying and scared and just kept telling her that I was there, I wasn't leaving, I would keep her safe and knew everything to do. After about 15 minutes she said she was going to throw up. I brought her a bag and told her to just throw up, just do whatever, that she was safe and could do anything and I would be there. After about 5 more minutes she said it was gone. She started kepra on Friday. Is it possible that being made calm could help ward off a seizure? I have no idea- but she really thought another was on the way. The one on Friday which she felt coming happened about 30 seconds after the school nurse left the room and she trust that nurse completely. Is it possible that fear and emotions could help control these? Thanks, Jennifer. I am just looking for any way to help her
Can certain seizures be stopped with support?
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Even Keel
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Auctions,
Welcome to the forum. I'm happy you found your way here.
I am sorry to hear about your daughter's seizures. Scary for her, and for you.
Has she been to see the doctor yet? What does he say? Was it a neurologist or a general practitioner? She will have eeg's, MRI's, and other tests ahead of her. Supporting her through that will be a huge help. Her knowing her mom is there through everything is a huge help.
I really don't know if making someone feel safe would keep an epileptic seizure at bay, but I don't think so. It's caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and that can't be thought away. Feeling safe will help her when she's not having the seizure. It can help her recover from a seizure better, function better in the world, learn to live with epilepsy better and more quickly. The priority right now is to get her the medical care that she needs. The faster her seizures are stopped, the better.
Welcome to the forum. I'm happy you found your way here.
I am sorry to hear about your daughter's seizures. Scary for her, and for you.
Has she been to see the doctor yet? What does he say? Was it a neurologist or a general practitioner? She will have eeg's, MRI's, and other tests ahead of her. Supporting her through that will be a huge help. Her knowing her mom is there through everything is a huge help.
I really don't know if making someone feel safe would keep an epileptic seizure at bay, but I don't think so. It's caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and that can't be thought away. Feeling safe will help her when she's not having the seizure. It can help her recover from a seizure better, function better in the world, learn to live with epilepsy better and more quickly. The priority right now is to get her the medical care that she needs. The faster her seizures are stopped, the better.
The first two seizures were probably terrifying for her, so I'm wondering if during the most recent incident she started having pre-seizure sensations (maybe an aura) that she had before and became extremely frightened, but that it was never destined to become a full tonic-clonic seizure.
MAB
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According to this some people are able to learn to prevent their seizures.
http://ucepilepsycenter.com/hope-stories/deannas-story-seizure-disorder/
Thanks! Neuro is tomorrow. She had a clean ct scan and blood work. I am reading and reading trying to help her. Perhaps the aura was just for something minor- she swears it was almost the same way she felt before the second one. I will be with her thru everything - at this point I don't even want her alone much except to sleep. Poor girl is going to get sick of me, but I do urge her to carry in as usual if possible. She was too scared to go to school today. She so embarrassed. Thanks again!
MAB
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The article above is from a level 4 epilepsy center.
I'm so sorry. My daughter has her first t-c seizures right before school started, and missed the first 2 days of 10th grade (at a new school!) while she was in the hospital and recovering - but we both agreed that it was better than having them at school. She got put on IV keppra at the ER, and has not had any t-cs since then, but she did have a few partials the first few weeks (I think she was still getting the meds fully in her system), and once when she forgot her morning dose.
It is so, so hard, and you may want to wait until after the neuro appointment, but I would suggest that she head back into school as soon as possible. I'm sure it is much worse in her mind than it will be in reality. And watch her anxiety level - the keppra has made that worse for my daughter, but she is dealing with it OK and it is really working for her seizures.
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I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's seizures. They can be frightening and embarrassing, but it will eventually get better with the right treatment.
An aura is actually a simple partial seizure, so with a TC seizure she has time to make sure she gets to a safe place. Making sure she is safe and everyone stays calm can help. And take a look at this website for instructions on what to do during a TC:
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/firstaid
I think this may be true (if you read Epilepsy: A New Approach there are quite a few stories about people who learn to prevent their seizures when they feel one coming on). However, the particular example in the linked story seems to be someone who was having non-epileptic seizures. I am very impressed with how they handled them at that center though!
MAB
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How long do I have to be here before I am allowed to post links? It looks live my link was deleted.
This is the link I wanted to post regarding controlling seizures.
http://ucepilepsycenter.com/hope-sto...zure-disorder/
UC Neuroscience Institute in Cincinnati, OH is great!!!
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The Andrews-Reiter clinic has done a lot of research into methods for short circuiting the seizure process. A lot of the key methods they found are described in this (inexpensive) book:
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f40/epilepsy-new-approach-7189/
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Has she been diagnosed with epilepsy Auctions or are they still working on finding out what's happening with her?
I was diagnosed with epilepsy 10 years ago and I got a VNS (not sure if you know what that is) about 5 years ago. It has helped with stopping my seizures as long as I can feel it coming on. If someone else notices that I'm starting to have a seizure they can use it on me to try to stop it, which it usually does. Or if I am having a seizure someone can use it on me and it will bring me out of the seizure faster.
I very rarely have TC seizures, maybe once a year, only partials. Since I've gotten the VNS I'm not having as many seizures a month. Before I got it I was having on average 5 a week, now I'm having around 5 a month and the ones I have aren't as intense as they were.
I was diagnosed with epilepsy 10 years ago and I got a VNS (not sure if you know what that is) about 5 years ago. It has helped with stopping my seizures as long as I can feel it coming on. If someone else notices that I'm starting to have a seizure they can use it on me to try to stop it, which it usually does. Or if I am having a seizure someone can use it on me and it will bring me out of the seizure faster.
I very rarely have TC seizures, maybe once a year, only partials. Since I've gotten the VNS I'm not having as many seizures a month. Before I got it I was having on average 5 a week, now I'm having around 5 a month and the ones I have aren't as intense as they were.
It does sound like an aura, it is the feeling you get before a tonic clonic but doesn't turn into a full seizure. These auras are referred to as partial seizures, they are usually positive, in that medication is working to prevent the tonic clinic but maybe needs to be slightly higher or on it for a bit longer to prevent the auras. Keeping calm is great as it reduces panic which can heighten sensations, especially if like me you get a feeling of fear or déjà vu. I also find eating a savoury meal & going to sleep really helps. I hope it continues to improve.
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welcome auctions; great place to be
The 2 types of partial seizures, known as simple or complex, are common before a tonic clonic, with a few possibilities depending on the type of epilepsy one has (the standard diagnosis of e is given after two tonic clonics without cause). her legs feeling light, tight jaw, not thinking right, BUT verbally able to say how she felt is likely a simple partial (we have much info here on partial seizures). a complex is partial loss of consciousness and it's rare to relay feelings in normal conversation. added to that she would have been acting odd and not responding to you.
be proud that you made her feel so safe. though it's impossible to know if that will prevent a t.c., it helps regardless. i see she's in grade 10... a stressful year in the regards of hormones/who likes you/more workload, big age especially for girls. if stress (doesn't always take much) is a trigger for her then feeling safe is important. wanting to throw up is part of it too, simple partials can wreak havoc on our tummy's nerves; if just five minutes later she felt better know you were part of that
even if it had turned t.c., you being there making sure her surrounding is safe, consciousness comes back soon enough, and she has help dealing with it after is pretty much all we need.
re: warding it off, this is what's tricky with partials, for many they will happen whether you're calm and happy or not. when seizure activity starts in the brain there is next to no control, this is when the brain owns you. The odd time some can stop a simple partial (only seizure i know of where this is possible) mid-seize. in 20 years and over 1000 sp's i've been able to stop less than 10. there's no way to know with her but try, distraction is key. it takes major mental strength (very tired after) but can happen. re: fear and emotions, has she been diagnosed? fear and emotions greatly involves the hippocampus and amygdala, if mri's and catscans haven't been done yet have your doc refer you to a neurologist. it's a very scary time, everyone on this site is with you, we know, but finding out the what/why and how of these seizures is half the battle. we're here to help, ask anything you'd like. :hugs:
Thanks to all. My daughter was diagnosed although I don't quite know how yet but they said 2 tonics in a few days was plenty to diagnose and the partial and a possible one early in the morning a few months ago just backed it up. We have an MRI and EEG next week. They also upped her dose of kepra. She's having a hard time right now. Life changes, health worries and meds. No seizure activity since last Sunday. Maybe she's going to be lucky and have this easily controlled with meds. I sure hope so!
When I was in the hospital recently I had what I would have SWORN were seizures. The docs assured me they were not, and I most likely had a panic attack. I've never had a panic attack before, but what I had sounds just like what you described. Felt like I was going to throw up, heart racing, my body was totally out of my control, but I was aware of everything going on. EEG showed normal brain activity through the whole thing though.