Episodes simple partial seizures or something else?

[_snowwhite_]

I have these episodes where I have intense fear and a sense of impending doom. Everything is unfamiliar and words repeat over and over in my head. I can't understand what people are saying and I have a hard time talking and remembering words. I can't read words just run together. I lose control of my bladder or bowels. I feel nauseous like I'm on a roller coaster. My eyelids twitch rapidly when I close them.

All this lasts minutes to hours. Usually hours. I have to go to sleep for it to stop which is hard with the twitching eyes.

Is this a simple partial seizure or something else?

 

[CrunchyFrog]

I'm not sure if they're simple partials, but they definitely sound like seizures. Have you seen a doctor or spoken to anyone about them?

 

[momof3boys]

I'm not sure if they're simple partials, but they definitely sound like seizures. Have you seen a doctor or spoken to anyone about them?

I was going to say the same thing. If you have a dr, check with them on what they think it could be. Its best to try to write down everything you can recall. That way you can take it with you if you need to see the dr. Gives them a better idea of what could be going on! Keep us updated!

 

[RunningGirl85]

The first part sounds like my simple partials but I haven't experienced the rest of your symptoms so I would agree you should check with your doc.

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cint]

I'm not sure if they're simple partials, but they definitely sound like seizures. Have you seen a doctor or spoken to anyone about them?

IMO, they sound like CP's. When I experience a CP seizure, I feel the impending doom also and my speech is also impaired. I cannot make sense of what others are saying, either. They have generalized, where I don't remember a thing. So as CrunchyFrog and momof3 have said, you need to get this checked out by a doctor.

 

[_snowwhite_]

I have an appointment on Tuesday with a neurologist. What would he do? Would he send me for an EEG? Will the EEG show anything if I'm not having an episode?

That's what I'm most worried about. Unless I'm having an episode nothing Will show up in the EEG. Is that true?

 

[momof3boys]

I had a VEEG done last year and alot of my seizures never showed up on the EEG. After I was released, I was sent to a psych dr, who informed me that alot of seizures are too deep in the brain to be picked up by EEG's. The one way they could tell mine were epileptic seizures was because when I was put back on the Keppra XR, the seizures then stopped and I havnt had any since. There are alot of information on the internet that you can look up, that will say alot about seizures that are too deep to be picked up by an EEG. If anything, I would be telling your neuro about these episodes. let the know every thing that is going on, and see what they have to say. They may send you for an EEG. Its just up to your neurologist to see what they want to do. Hang in there. I know its frustrating, but were all here for you!

 

[_snowwhite_]

my neurologist says these are non-epileptic seizures. its a hard diagnosis to swallow because theres no easy treatment. i wish i could just take a drug. now i have to figure out what trauma i have had to cause this.

 

[LJ-Bain]

Did your neurologist say why they are non-epileptic seizures? Did they give this diagnosis without doing any other additional testing?
Alot of people do have a history of trauma with this diagnosis but they don't always. Non epileptic seizures are something they don't understand very well and they don't really have a tried and true treatment for them.
Would you consider getting a 2nd opinion? Do you agree with the diagnosis?

 

[Blue]

Snow, given they don't seem to be epilepsy, I would suggest you find a therapist that deals with trauma and repressed memories. Trust me, if you are having flashbacks that come off as seizures, you will need such a therapist. It's been years but, I've been there.

 

[Nakamova]

A diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures isn't always definitive. Doctors often assume that a negative EEG is the same as not having epilepsy, or that a negative EEG + seizure symptoms means that the seizures must be non-epileptic in origin. If you feel like the diagnosis may have merit, or that therapy may be helpful, do give that approach a shot. If you feel that the diagnosis is inaccurate or incomplete consider LJ's suggestion to seek another opinion.

 

[KarenB]

I concur with Nakimova. Except that I would probably go ahead and see another neurologist -- this sounds very much like the simple partial "auras" that often precede tonics and tonic-clonics. And you certainly don't want those to start up.

How long has this been going on?

 

[_snowwhite_]

It's been happening since may. He says they can't be epileptic seizures because they last too long but that's the only thing he's going on.

 

[momof3boys]

How long are they lasting?

When I have a simple partial seizure, they range between 1-2 minutes. It seems longer to that for me, but when I had them, my mom was timing them for me.

 

[KarenB]

Well, it's my understanding that an "aura" is a simple partial (usually), and they often go on for some time. They certainly seem to do with our Jonathan -- he's nonverbal, so he can't tell us what's going on, but he will often get very restless and fearful, his eyes will get dilated, and he'll and show certain behaviors like his hand shaking and so forth...and about 50% of the time that behavior leads right into a tonic seizure. This can last for a few minutes, or for an hour or longer. Sometimes we can get him calmed down, and head off a tonic or tonic/clonic by removing stimulation in his environment (drawing shades, turning off TV or music, dimming lights) or holding him on the bed til he falls asleep, but that doesn't always work. Other times he'll have a seizure very suddenly, with no warning.

Jon has also had gelastic (laughing) seizures that lasted for hours (I think this is a type of simple partial) and then they usually end with a "real" seizure (tonic or tonic/clonic). Almost the entire school day, one time (we didn't know that it was a seizure at the time, but it certainly concerned his teacher).

Tonic and tonic-clonic seizures are usually brief (if they aren't, you're in big trouble), but I believe other seizure types and auras can last for a long time. There's something called "NCSE" -- or non-convulsive status epileptus, where you can be in a seizure for hours or days, but without convulsions --
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/e_b_nonconvulsive_status_epilepticus.html

"characterized by confusion or diminished responsiveness, with occasional blinking or twitching, lasting hours to days"

"fluctuating lack of responsiveness or confusion"

"One of the most interesting is a disturbance of language (without confusion or stupor) termed aphasic status epilepticus. This can appear quite similar to the new-onset aphasia from a stroke"

Have you had an EEG done when you were having one of these episodes? If it is a seizure, an EEG will show abnormalities while you are having the episode (unless it's originating too deep in the brain, like in the hypothalamus, which often is the case with gelastic seizures).



This describles some of the symptoms of simple partial seizures -- which can vary from person to person, depending on the part of the brain affected:
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy/seizures/partialseizures/simplepartial/index.cfm