Feeling of falling over when sitting at a computer.

[bernbern]

Brief history:
I have had 3 nocturnal seizures, 2 6 years ago, one 5 months ago. On trileptal for 2.5 years came off it and everything was fine until 5 months ago.

The issue:
I have had this sensation a few times now and I had something similar 6 years ago when I was trileptal. Six years ago when I was laying in bed it felt like the bed was flipped upside down and pressed up against the wall while I was laying in it. If I sat up it went away, but lay down it came back. Lasted maybe 5 minutes. This feeling only happened once and chalked it up to the medicine since I was still in the ramp up period of getting to the full dose.

Smash cut to now and I have a similar sensation, while sitting at my work computer, twice. Now it feels as those I am falling into my laptop like I am about to do a face plant. Granted, I am hunched over leaning in, but if I sit up, the sensation goes away. Lean back over and it comes back. Lasts about 5 minutes and never happens again.

I don't know if this a seizure or just some vertigo since it goes away when I re-adjust.

Thoughts?

 

[Nakamova]

Hard to know for sure, since seizures can play all sorts of tricks on our perceptions.
If it's not seizures, it might be something along the lines of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo:
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neur...ons/benign_paroxysmal_positional_vertigo.html

Make a note of your symptoms and how often they're occurring. If the symptoms are problematic, and/or are getting worse, let your doc know.

 

[kirsten]

I recognise that feeling of being pushed. I wrote about it here just a few days ago. I was told that that feeling of pressure happens naturally when someone is suffering from sleep apnea, so I assumed that the seizure i had when I felt that pressure had somehow gotten in the way of my breathing. All just guesses but it does help me to feel less frightened of that feeling.

About the computer: You can't really rule out seizures, particularly since computer monitors flash, which is a nightmare for photosensitive patients. I had my computer built to reduce the likelihood of photosensitive seizures. It seemed as though the changes the technicians made were pretty similar to those they would have made for a graphic designer who needed particularly strong resolution. They put in the best graphics card possible and used a high definition (HDMI) digital cable for a digital monitor. Apparently most computers use analogue screens, which flash more slowly and increase the odds of a seizure. The technicians told me that faster flashing would be better for my epilepsy. It seems illogical but I've not had a seizure at my computer since they made this one--and I work in front of it all day every day.

Perhaps this sounds like I'm pulling at straws but is it possible that when you lean over your laptop, you get closer to the monitor and thus the flashing, which in turn provokes epileptic events?

 

[petero]

pinched nerves in your back?

 

[Wobblez]

I know exactly what you mean. I've felt like someone has picked up the room and flipped it forward. It feels so real I actually grab the desk. I had a similar feeling the other day. I had been evacuated because of a bushfire so it was a pretty big day. I was just about to get on my scooter and go home, when I grabbed my mum's arm because I thought I was falling. I ended up on the floor but I think it was more out of instinct, than inability to stay up.

 

[kmccuistion]

I have this all the time too when I'm trying to sleep it feels like my bed is tipped forward. I've also sometimes have the sensation of not being able to move my body while I'm still awake and get freaked out then a few minutes later I can move again.. Its so weird and I have no idea what it is.