Could this be epilepsy?

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Msswiss

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Hey everyone I am new here, not 100% sure I am posting in the right place. I am just dealing with all these new health issues and from my research and family history feel like it could be epilepsy I am just looking for feedback advice. I go to the dr next week but I feel alone untill then in a way.

So I am 25 healthy workout everyday eat right. I had one seziure when I was an infant but never found out the cause so my mother tells me. On my dads side there is a long family history of epilepsy my uncle and cousin both passed away at 35 cause of death was ruled epilepsy. My grandfather and other cousins who are still alive all have epilepsy, my father does not.

Maybe six months ago I started dealing with issues mostly at night one night in the middle of the night I woke up and became aware that my whole body was moveing/shakeing on its own. I could not do anything it only lasted a few secs. I went back to sleep when it was over, the next morning I felt horrible my neck head everything hurt and I was so tired. A few weeks after that in the middle of the night I would wake up in massive amounts of pain, I felt like charlie horses all over my body my legs, chest, face, arms. As soon as I got out of bed I lost my vison screaming in pain woke my fiancee up he took me outside and I was fine. I thought this might have been due to increased weight training and maybe a lack of water. Untill a few weeks ago I got this horrible metallic/blood taste in my mouth and I smelled burning hair it was horrible and I felt like I was shocked by something I mean an electric shock but in my head? I told my dad who forced me to make a drs appt because he said his brother got the blood taste and had the shock feeling before his death. Then yesterday afternoon I got the metallic taste in my mouth and a few hours later I was fine sitting on my bed folding clothes and boom I was hit with massive pain in my head and then my vison was going black I also got dizzy, I told my fiancee and I went to sleep and I am fine today.

Could what I am going through be some form of epilepsy? Honestly I am just scared but I don't want to make a huge deal about this maybe this is something else? Thanks
 
Hi Msswiss, welcome to CWE!

Your dad was right to have you make the doctor's appointment. You may or may not be having seizures, but the symptoms you describe are certainly suggestive and should be checked out, especially because of your family history. It sounds like you may be having nocturnal seizures, with muscle tensing or jerking. The metallic taste, burning smell, and electric-shock feeling can be symptoms of what are called Simple Partial seizures. You can read more about them here: http://www.epilepsy.com/Epilepsy/seizure_simplepartial

I recommend that you keep a journal tracking any unexplained symptoms -- when they happen, how long they last, what happens before, during, and after. Even if you're not sure if something is a seizure (like say the massive headache or fatigue), write it down. Also not if you can any other factors that may play a role in triggering your symptoms. Triggers can be fatigue or dehydration or low blood sugar. They can be related to food (MSG, aspartame, food sensitivity/allergy, nutritional imbalance), hormones, infections, flashing or fluorescent lights. Generally speaking physical, physiological, or psychological stressor can be a trigger.

The journal can potentially isolate a trigger or triggers for your seizures/symptoms, and can also be helpful in providing info for the doctor. I hope your diagnosis is NOT epilepsy, but if it is, it's important to get treatment sooner rather than later.

Best,
Nakamova
 
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