Dreams about seizures

[Kyla]

This has probably been a thread before, apologies if it has.
I've read somewhere that sometimes people have dreams they are having seizures and sometimes they actually are. I hear more people say that their dreams involve them having a grand mal. I've had a dream like that once, but it wasn't me having the seizure, it was some guy in one of my classes.

But I never really hear about people having dreams that they are having a simple partial/complex partial in their dreams. Has anyone ever had dreams like that and if so, was it actually happening? I've had a couple of dreams like this, one being last night. There was two dreams that intermixed. But during these dreams there was just times where I would have one of my stares. There was quite a few of them actually.

 

[masterjen]

Hi, Kyla
I have come to believe that very often these dreams are caused by being anxious about having a seizure (as opposed to general anxiety). And given your concerns about camp, this would be very understandable
I've had seizure dreams, and unless I wake up feeling like I do after a usual night-time seizure, I know that it really was just a dream.
There are a lot of differing opinions about whether seizure dreams are real seizures or not, even among doctors. I'll be interested to read what other readers have to offer in response to your question.

 

[Kyla]

masterjen- Very understandable thank you . I've heard that too about being anxious and having seizure dreams, it's crazy yet amazing what the brain is capable of doing when you're unconscious. Definitely something doctors should study. I'm sure many would be interested to know the results.

 

[masterjen]

I agree, Kyla - The brain is an amazing thing. Looking at the correlation between seizures and dreams would make a great research study for scientists and doctors. They would have the attention of everyone on the forums that's for sure!

 

[BIGMAN131307]

Although it happened several years ago, I did have a few dreams about seizures.
I was on Lyrica at the time.

I would be in a deep sleep. It seemed like I was having an out of body experience. During the dream I saw family members talking to me. Then suddenly I would have a bad seizure, with stroke like results. I then seen my family crying as they looked at what the seizure had done to me. It looked like half of my face was drooping down, like half of my face had collapsed. It was at that point I would start convulsing badly. I would wake up completely shaking all over. After those episodes I couldn't get back to sleep for several hours. Those episodes happened at least 2 or 3 times. I got off Lyrica as soon as possible. Since then I haven't experienced anymore of those dreams. That has been the scariest "side effect" I have ever experienced on AEDs. That was the only times I ever "seen myself" have seizures. I don't usually scare easily, but that scared the crap out of me.

 

[Kyla]

masterjen- The brain is amazing! I agree, If I were a doctor-which I want to be- I would definitely have an interest in this study!
BIGMAN131307- I'm sorry to hear about your experiences at night. Sounds scary for sure, thanks for sharing. Glad they could take you off Lyrica, definitely doesn't sound like it was on your side. I'm glad you haven't had anymore of those dreams . I haven't experienced anything like that before but I have experienced strange things upon waking up in the night this past February and last year.

Good luck to both of you

 

[DancesWithPugs1980]

Only one time, and it actually was a dream about a partial seizure... then I woke up actually having one. Freaked me out so badly that I got up and didn't bother trying to go back to sleep. That had never happened before (dreaming about it, nor waking up to one). Prior to falling asleep, I had one as well; so dreaming about it, then waking up to it was way freaky to me :\ That was a few months ago or so, and it still creeps me out just thinking about it. These things tend to scare the living crap out of me anyway, even though I've been getting them for a long, long time. Does anyone ever really get used to it?

 

[MuayThaiFighter]

I've had seizures and was convinced I was having a dream, only to be told I did have a seizure. Also mornings I wake up feeling really brain fried like I just had a seizures I tend to have VERY odd dreams. Like the way my mind registers these dreams, makes me wonder if a person can be in REM and seizure. Or if the dreams are lucid dreams. So many questions in regards to dreams alone, hopefully in the future we will have a better understanding. I hope camp is good for you my friend, keep the anxiety low.

 

[Kyla]

DancesWithPugs1980- I'm sorry to hear about your dream and seizure, it's not something anyone can get used to. during my dream, I would actually wake up a few times for what felt like a couple of seconds, then right back in the dream. When I finally woke up, I had a couple of stares in bed.
MuayThaiFighter- I found the same thing, dreams and seizures. Sometimes when I dream, those are the mornings I wake up feeling worse. That would also be an interesting study for doctors, can people have seizures while in REM sleep? I'm sorry that you've been having seizures in your sleep my friend, never a good feeling. And thank you

Take care to you both

 

[Nakamova]

can people have seizures while in REM sleep?

The brainwaves that characterize REM sleep (theta waves generated by the hippocampus) are ones that suppress seizure activity. For this reason, folks don't have seizures during REM sleep.

Additionally, if you are deprived of REM sleep, that can make seizures more likely at other times. So for someone with a lowered seizure threshold, getting enough REM sleep (or periods of theta wave activity) is crucial.