First seizure

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encorepilot

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Hello,

I am a 39 year old female. I had my first seizure a week ago. I was at a garage sale with my husband and without any warning I had seizure. I only remember waking up in an ambulance. I was unconscious for almost 5 minutes. I have been very confused since the event (seems to get a little better every day). Also, I have vertigo, it has been a week, should I still be feeling this way? How long can the vertigo last? Spent the night in the hospital had CT, MRI, EEG, Blood test, etc...Everything came back normal. So right now its a mystery. I appreciate any advice provided....
 
Hi encorepilot, welcome :)

The fuzziness and other side-effects like vertigo can last for a good few days (we all react differently after our seizures and take different amounts of time to recover) sometimes and are very common, especially after the very first episode- it's a major situation for the brain to deal with but it should get better soon :)

I was going to suggest concussion, but I see you've had lots of scans, so it probably is just the body 'getting over it'.

If it does last for much longer, then obviousily go back to get it checked- it can be very difficult to detect certain types of concussion, and if it's not a side-effect of the seizure, it could possibly be linked with whatever caused it.

Whatever happens, try and think back and see if you can remember anything unusual before the seizure- sounds/smells/vision problems etc, and if there was anything that could have been a trigger. Were you stressed/over-tired/around flickering lights (even just dappled sunlight through leaves on a tree) it could all help the docs..

You'll find great support and very sage advice here (much better than mine lol) so stay around, and let us know how you're getting on!
 
Hi encorepilot and welcome to CWE! Sorry to hear of your seizure :( Regarding the vertigo, did the doctor administer any medication or start you on any meds at the hospital? I'm doubting so, since your tests came back negative and it was your only seizure but I thought I would ask.
 
thanks for replying, I'm glad I found this site. I have so many questions. At the hospital they gave me a dose of Ativan. This was to relax me and prevent any more seizures. They said the dose amount would prevent seizure for a couple days. The neurologist did not prescribe any medication since this was my first seizure. I am already taking 400mg of Lamictal per day for BP. They said this medication was also used to prevent seizures. I don't think this was a psychological seizure since my eyes were open. My husband said my pupils were pinpoint, I did not blink, and my eyes were frozen. He is afraid to leave me alone. He insist that someone be home with me at all times. What happens if no one is home if I have a seizure. I imagine I'll eventually wake up. I'm sure there are a lot of people with epilepsy that live alone? Thanks again...Shawna
 
Oops! I should have asked if you were on any meds (see? my advice isn't brilliant lol)

Vertigo-like 'swoons' are a known side-effect of Lamacital- I get that a bit now and then too, but it's most commonly only noticed when starting on it, or ramping up to a new dosage, and shouldn't be constantly- especially if you've been on it a while.

It could very well be the Atvian causing a kind of 'wonky', unbalanced feeling- that's a well known side-effect, and I guess that could be described as mild vertigo, but it definately shouldn't be severe.

It can be very very hard to tell sometimes, whether a certain side-effect is due to the E or the meds, or the mix of meds- a lot of them are quite similar!

Again, my advice is if it continues, go back and get it checked out, in the meantime, try keep a note of what you're experiencing, as this could help the docs help you.

As for living on our own? Many of us do, I do- since before diagnosis, but your partner is obviously worried and cares for you, and doesn't want to see you possibly hurt, which I guess is understandable.

I hope you never have another seizure at all, but whether you do or not, you'll always be welcome here :)
 
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Encorepilot
I also have some vertigo feelings due to meds but mine has tapered off mostly except for when I initially stand up after laying down or sitting after a long period of time. I know the feeling of what your wondering if you are alone what will happen. I have only had one that I was alone for that was grand mal. I ended up okay but I had stayed home sick from work so at least I was home. If you can feel anything beforehand just get yourself to a safe soft spot. Hopefully this will be a one time occurrence for you. But especially for a while you want to be alert of any unusual feelings. ;) I know my strength of independence has to come after a few days of recovery and getting back to the usual routine I keep. Be alert but don't let the fear of another one happening keep you from life. You commented about your eyes being open but I just wanted to say in my case my eyes are open and my husband and friends always say that it looks like I am staring right through them. Keep in touch with this group there are a lot of good resources here. :hugs:
 
encorepilot said:
What happens if no one is home if I have a seizure. I imagine I'll eventually wake up. I'm sure there are a lot of people with epilepsy that live alone? Thanks again...Shawna
Click to expand...

Shawna,

I have epilepsy and now live alone. I've had it for over 30 years and lived alone for the past 4 years. I was married, but couldn't take the verbal abuse any longer, so moved out. I have an auras before the seizures and have time to get myself to a safe place, and once the seizure is done, I recuperate by lying down of the sofa and sleep for a while. I have CP seizures most of the time, but once in a while will have a TC seizure. When I was married, I was having TC's quite often while my husband was out of town, so learned to cope on my own.
 
I had just married but was a stay at home wife when mine first started. Really young even though I thought I was grown and knew everything. Miles away from my family. I was alone when mine first started. I wasn't even sure what had happened. Happened several times alone until one Sunday while my husband (now my ex.) were watching football on TV. Laid there sleeping most of the day and didn't say anything. I guess he just thought I was really tired. That night in my sleep had a grand mal. ER sent us to see a neurologist who did all the test. CT scan did not show anything but the EEG did show seizure activity. So I was put on Dilantin 300/mg three times a day. I have been on it since 1979. About six months ago I have started having break thru seizures on the Dilantin. So as of last week they are trying to switch me over to Keppra. I am divorced now and live alone. I have had many seizures alone, most of which I feel I'm better off alone. It just scares the people who are around and they make something big out of nothing.
 
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