Could this be epilepsy?

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Lilly

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I am not the most knowledge person about epilepsy. It seems to me like I have it. My experience matches some things pretty closely but other things not so much. I guess the big thing is length. Seizures are only supposed to last a minute or two, but I have had absence seizures and simple partial seizures that last considerably longer.

I am female. I am in my 40s now. I also have sporadic ADD-ish symptoms, but have not been official diagnosed with it. When I was in school they believed that only children with below average IQ had learning disabilities.
I do not have any head injuries. I was in general poor health as a teen and often felt exhausted or low energy. The doctor was not able to find any cause for it. I had really bad nightmares that made it hard for me to get a good night’s sleep.

I first noticed symptoms when I was a teen.

As I teen I had fainting spells on a regular basis. These correspond pretty closely to drop seizures and were very short. I have not had one of these for quite a while.

The doctor tested me for several things but was unable to find a cause. One of the things was an EEG test for epilepsy. It did not turn up anything. Many years later, I found out that the test does not always catch it. I also read that the tests back in the 1980s were not that accurate. They told me I was supposed to be sleep deprived coming into the test, but no one told me ahead of time, so I got my normal sleep the night before. They went ahead and did the test anyway rather than have me come back another time.
I also had absence seizures [or something that seems like them], which I still have. I also have missing time episodes. Seizures are supposed to only last a 30 seconds or a minute, but these lasted longer. More like 5 or 10 minutes or even 20 or 30. It is hard to estimate how long I was out.

I have them less now. It is hard to estimate though. I have suspected missing time episodes. It could be that I am simply slow at doing things and lose track of time though. As an example, no matter how much I try, I cannot seem to take a shower in less than 15 minutes even if I do not wash my hair or shave my legs.

This week I just I found the Wikipedia entry for simple partial seizures.

[I had a link for it, but the site will not let newbies post links.]

It was the first I have heard of them. But I just went down the list for the awake section and I checked off almost everything. I never realized these were connected with seizures at all. These were things I have talked with a mental health professional about. Again these last much longer than seizures are supposed to. Sometime only a few minutes like with the smells, but a half hour is more common. But are they really seizures, if they are lasting that long?

I also have other odd things that are not on the last, but may be simple partial seizures as well.

I described the mood thing to a mental health professional who specialized in mood disorders. I thought I might be bipolar, since I feel random extreme joy as well as the darker emotions. She said I was not bipolar.

A few years back I started having some episodes of aphasia. The doctors did a series of tests, including and MRI but did not find out what caused it.
 
welcome to CWE LIlly
Have you recently been to a neuro? and had any new tests run?
I've had alot of the same symptoms myself, I've had TBI, get aura's mine seizures dont last that long not a doctor so I cannot tell you as to why they would last that long.
And always fell free to ask questions here the brains on here know a lot and are very knowlesgeable and caring
and again welcome
mike
 
Hello Lilly and welcome to CWE! :)

Short answer - your symptoms could very likely be seizure activity, and you should consult a neurologist about these problems. Also try and keep a journal so you can document the times these things happen, for your doctor to refer to. Keeping a journal can be very very helpful in finding a diagnosis. :)

Long answer - Your explanation of your "fainting spells" very much resembles a drop seizure. Because there was no other cause found for these, it's important to bring these up with a doctor if you choose to consult one.

EEGs are not 100% accurate. They can show "normal" activity when areas deep in the brain, or towards the front of the brain, are having seizures. It has difficulty reaching these areas, so they're not 100% accurate by any means. All of my EEGs have been "normal" or "inconclusive".

I also have missing time episodes. Seizures are supposed to only last a 30 seconds or a minute, but these lasted longer. More like 5 or 10 minutes or even 20 or 30. It is hard to estimate how long I was out.
When one has a simple-partial seizure, it can spread to other parts of the brain. If it spreads to other parts, but not the entire brain, it is called a Partial-Complex seizure. When one occurs, the person having it loses consciousness. They normally are rather short, but there are exceptions to every rule and they can last much longer than the normal "less than 5 minutes".

Again these last much longer than seizures are supposed to. Sometime only a few minutes like with the smells, but a half hour is more common. But are they really seizures, if they are lasting that long?
Again, that's just how they "typically" work. Epilepsy and seizures in general are different for everyone, so they could last that long.
I described the mood thing to a mental health professional who specialized in mood disorders. I thought I might be bipolar, since I feel random extreme joy as well as the darker emotions. She said I was not bipolar.
Simple Partials can occur in the "emotion center" of the brain. Depending on what parts are affected, this can induce extreme depression, extreme joy, or any other emotion. That could also explain how you can have these swings and not get the bi-polar diagnosis. Your brain chemical levels are normal, and you aren't bi-polar. But a simple partial in that area can very easily mimic bi-polar symptoms.

A few years back I started having some episodes of aphasia.
Yes... I struggle with that a lot. Mainly with speaking, I'm alright when I'm typing or writing but when I speak it's a whole different story.

This week I just I found the Wikipedia entry for simple partial seizures.

[I had a link for it, but the site will not let newbies post links.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_partial_seizure
:)
 
Some of my seizures can last just a few minutes and others even longer, sometimes 15 minutes or more.

I normaly only have partial seizures.

During alot of my seizures I'll black out and don't know anything that I'm doing or is going on at the time. When I start to come out of them I'm confused about what's going on around me and have trouble talking right. It could be a good while until I'm completely back to normal again.

Sometimes I'll just get this wierd feeling where things just aren't right, I don't know how to exactally describe it. Sometimes I'll be confused about what I'm doing, I know what I want to do but I can't do it right.

As thornton said, see a neurologist and have some tests ran again. Things have changed alot since the last time you've had things done.
 
Thank everyone.

I have not seen a neurologist. I get a little stressed by doctors. My past experiences with doctors have not been the best. The whole "we can't find anything physically wrong with you" thing.

I had kind of assumed that it was psychological, but now I am starting to question it.

I have been to therapy twice in the past. And I read lots of self help books. But things are starting to not add up. I like my job okay. My marriage is very good. I feel well adjusted. I do not really have any major problems in my life, only ordinary day to day stresses that everyone has.

So there really is not anything that should trigger psychological symptoms.

And really who smells blueberries as a reaction to psychological problems?

Should I keep a dairy for a while before I try to get an appointment?

I was also wondering if there are any books that talk more about simple partial seizures.
 
A seizure diary is a good idea, both to explain what's going on to a doctor, and also to help you to potentially identify triggers or patterns to your symptoms.

You might check out this book (and if you do, consider reviewing it in CWE's book section): [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Partial-Seizure-Disorders-Patients-Families/dp/0596500033"]Amazon.com: Partial Seizure Disorders: Help for Patients and Families (0636920500032): Mitzi Waltz: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51khC-DYKvL.@@AMEPARAM@@51khC-DYKvL[/ame]
 
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Should I keep a dairy for a while before I try to get an appointment?

dont wait to get an appointment but definatly keep a seizure diary from now on
... i have learnt this week that it is a very good idea to keep a seizure diary :)
least then when you go to an neurologist you can present them with how often you have them and when ect least that way you and them can see if there is any pattern to when they happen ... :)

hope this helps :)
 
I get the whole we cant find anything wrong with you all the time but I keep going back to new doctors all the time till I get answers, finally found a new neuroshrink that finally gave me an answer on the 21st, I smell candy as my aura's lemons, jolly ranchers type smell, and def keep a detailed journal about even the most little things no matter how small or how big it may seem it could make a big difference to the doctor you are seeing you never know, track if you can how long it lasted what possible started it anything that you noticed before what happened after it, and have family and friends put things in there as well if you cant remember what happened as well.

Mike
 
All good advice :) I say see a doctor right away. If you specifically tell them you have missing time frames, they should refer you to a nuerologist right away. I'm sorry you haven't had the proper care up until now with doctors. It is very frustrating, however I would not wait. It would be good for you to know what's going on. Good luck. Let us know how you do. :)
 
I will look into a neurologist.

I ordered the book.

Missing time is tricky. I will have to keep track closely to try to see if I can tell the difference between missing time and just loosing track of time.

I remembered that certain types of music often cause an absence seizures for me. Gregorian chant, seems to do it for me. Also sometimes psychedelic and trance music.

So maybe if I bring some of those in on my music player and actually play them while I am hooked up to the machines it might read something. Also the flashing flickering lights can do it sometimes to.
 
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