Can you talk someone through a seizure?

[MouseyMouse]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone had a spouse that spoke to them during their seizures, and if anyone felt that it helped them through their episode?

My boss was asking me this question earlier this week and I didn't really have an answer for him. I'm wondering what the thoughts were here, as I've never really thought about it potentially lessening the seizure.

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[Porkette]

Hi MouseyMouse,

There have been times when I will start to get an aura (simple partial) seizure that often will lead into a complex partial or absence seizure and I try to conscentrate and tell myself where I am and to stay calm along with tightening up all the muscles in my body and it has stopped a lot of seizures over the yrs. My neuro I had back in the 1970's taught me about tightening up muscles in my body to stop the seizures. Wishing you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

 

[RichardFry]

There's so many sorts of seizures ... what type do you mean?

I cycle through a few smaller sorts of seizures before a tonic clonic kicks in. My fiance will try to talk to me during those and remind me to relax and stay seated but once the TC is on there's really nothing to be done.

It is comforting having her there when I'm coming out of it though.

 

[MouseyMouse]

There's so many sorts of seizures ... what type do you mean?

I wasn't thinking of any seizure type specifically, it was more a question to see if there is a correlation between seizure types and whether you can comprehend what's going on. I know that some literature says people can hear the voice of a loved one, but I was more curious to know how many people ACTUALLY experience this.

It is comforting having her there when I'm coming out of it though.

I know what you mean. I've had some episodes alone as well as with my partner, it's definitely nice hearing the soothing familiar voice while waking up.


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[acshuman]

Talking and Seizures

MouseyMouse,
I have been able to do what Porkette said she had done in the past as far as relaying or stopping an absence seizure from taking place.
The big problem for most people with your question is that most people are unconscious during their seizures. If a person is unconscious they aren't able to hear anything. They lose normal use of their other senses also. That is why a person may hurt themselves during a seizure but not realize it until they have regained their consciousness and feel the pain. This is the reason that many times a person who has had a seizure has to be told what they did during the seizure. Their brain is NOT working normally and doesn't remember. Some people do remember or are able to hear and speak, but this happens when the seizure isn't as strong and hasn't shut down all of the senses.
I have found out that a person with E can never feel that they know everything about E. It has been 50+ years since my diagnosis and I still learn new things each day that I do some reading in books and on the Web about E. A person will never run out of things to learn and get answers to! :e:

acshuman

 

[Frink]

If my hearing has come back on line I can hear my wife talking to me, if I am able to talk I will respond. It is nice knowing she is there but it makes no difference to the intensity or duration of the seizure.

 

[Fedup]

As acshuman has said once the seizure starts I am unconscious and I am not aware of anything.

 

[Kgartner]

When Annika has a simple partial seizure she really wants someone with her, particularly if it is a really strong one - she is fully aware (although perception is impaired) and it helps a lot when someone is with her. But it doesn't stop the seizure, just reassures her while it is happening!

If it progresses to a complex partial or tonic clonic, she is totally "gone" and it doesn't matter if someone is there. But it is very helpful as she is regaining consciousness, because she is usually completely disoriented and confused.

 

[marika853]

Agree with everything everyone said. I had a seizure when I was with my friend in Ireland and she told me about it when we came back. She thought I knew. Had no clue. Then had one in a meeting. One minute I'm listening to a speaker, the next, I'm surrounded by people telling me I'm going to be ok. By the time EMTs arrived I was "totally back."
This is a weird disorder!
M

 

[MouseyMouse]

Thanks for everyone's answer's so far.

I often feel that most times it wouldn't matter if anyone was there during a seizure. There have been a couple of times where I'm almost positive that I can hear my boyfriend talking to me softly. It's not all of the time, but I can hear him.

I always love feeling him stroking my hair and talking softly to me after I've had a seizure. I'm so envious of pets. It's soo soothing and comforting to have him there "petting me" until I'm totally functional again.

 

[seagull]

When aura usually the type of intense fear I like someone there I cling to them try make them talk to me you get so terrified I get after another As for losing consciousness that is momentary but it starts all over again that can go on for a hours.as soon as I feel that fear pit in stomach I cry out for someone.it happened in front of workman once he was very good stayed with me just talking as I going through it.
I have both seen and know people talking to people who zonked out I think it works carer as much as cared for.It certainly good to do it.i have been with people who just verge lose consciousness just able whisper no hospital then zone.
both my daughter and me have it,she went boarding school kids with it and had small intensive care unit top of the arts.kids in status the nurses spoke to them all the time.It made difference I spoke one nurse who reckoned they came out of it quicker if spoken to.they very sick kids and status could go on for days one two nurses with them 24/7.obviously epilepsy like that they in great danger of death but rarely happened.they made sure verbal interaction went on non stop.It not do any harm I think you should talk to them it keeps you calm and that itself is good.when I was nurse one patients had lot sz doctors said it hystria Because she did not fit into what sz should be like as in fit.they said she could hear. But we come along better one can sz with out being rigid and the aura can be total terror and not panic attacks.
My personal opinion yes talk to them they may not remember but who knows what people can hear when zonked..Some people on here myself included the fear and pounding head ache the worse thing the aura you started losing consciousness so talk

 

[gymrat827]

yes, i talked threw a couple, but they were petite mal's or mini's for me.

I typically have tonic-cloinc's or partial complex's w/2nd generalization. You cant talk threw those, but when i was in the EMU at the mayo clinic they turned off my VNS, cut all drug doses in half.

Those were the petite's or mini's i had, never had those type of seizures but in the EMU. But i talked threw prolly 3 out of 11.

i remember talking to my wife and the poof, 3 staff members coming in, rushing around to do X & Y.

 

[350spider]

Hi ,

Nice to meet you. For me, it depends hugely on the person and the seizure type. In my grand mals, I'm completely gone, so it makes no difference. In my partial complex and simple seizures, I am divided. If I'm not fearful, then someone talking to me works well. Actually, a lot of the time, my hearing is quite in tact. I tend to find that I get reassured when my partner or who is with me has a sense of humor about it (that's my personality type), because it makes me feel like it's not a big deal (even if it is). However, if it gets too much, I like them to change to being reassuring. I find if I stress, my seizure gets worse, and someone talking to me relaxes me and helps me through it.

Regardless of whether you can hear or not, I do think it's worthwhile being spoken to if you might find it reassuring if you can hear them. If you're a person who'd prefer silence, then choose that option.