Frontal Lobe Epilepsy - Symptoms match up?

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barns

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Hi everyone,

I went to the doctors today and have been told that I'm to be passed through to a neurologist, and that some 'experiences' I've had in the past may be signs that I have frontal lobe epilepsy. Essentially, I was just curious as to know the various ways in which people with this form of epilepsy are affected? I mean, honestly, I know very little about any sort of epilepsy, and was just wondering whether what I experience is even vaguely similar?

I've had these 'experiences' since I was very young (I'm 22 now). Infact, one of my earliest memories is actually having one of these things happen. They tend to last between 5 - 20 minutes, and come on quite quickly, and go within seconds when they do go. When I was young, I noticed that when they were happening, I would feel sounds in my head grow with increasing loudness, and also the feeling of certain materials would bounce around in my head. It's a tough one to describe, but essentially it's as if certain objects take on two opposite properties. A good one is something like if I was to think of clothing during these moments, both the fact that they were smooth and 'spiky' would pop in my mind. Another one would be sand, the fact that it filters through your fingers, and also is composed of huge rocks (on a small scale).

As I've grown older, I've noticed a few more things, and generally it's that time seems to go noticeably slower, and again, this is most noticeable when I'm listening to music. It's also apparent when I move, so normally I make an effort to move 'slower', to make up for the apparent way in which I seem to move 'quicker' when these times come. My sense of touch also seems heightened, and my sense of sound, although sight isn't affected. I haven't ever really been in a place to try out smell...

Sometimes I won't get one of these for months, and sometimes I'll get three in a week. I had one on Monday of this week, but before then I hadn't had one for a good couple of months. They're not unpleasant feelings at all, but I wanted to talk to someone about it just in case it was related to something serious, hence my visit to the doctor. They've given me some information on Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in general, but don't really know all too much about it.

Mainly, I was just seeing whether my experiences were in any way similar to other people with TLE? Again, it's a hard one to describe, but hopefully something is clear in there, or something relatable!
 
Hi barns, welcome to CWE!

What you describe sounds more like Temporal Lobe Epilepsy to me, if only because you don't mention the muscle tensing symptoms that are common with FLE. TLE is also more likely to be characterized by the unusual sensory impressions you describe. But I don't have FLE myself, so I hope others will chime in.

Best,
Nakamova
 
Hi Barns, I have TLE and what you describe does sound quite familiar. It definitely does affect my sensory perceptions. Sounds sound soooo much louder, I smell smoke when there is none around. Often I'll 'see' the earth open up in front of me and I feel like I'll fall in, and I'll get the feeling that I'm rushing through a tunnel, even if I'm sitting still. Oh, and no matter how high the chair I'm sitting in, it feels like I'm sitting on the floor. I get deja vu, and jamais vu, which is the opposite of deja vu -- I get lost in a place I've been a thousand times. Most of my symptoms are negative -- I just hate having TLE. I've also had weeks where I have such strong anxiety that I can't function, yet I have to because I have to earn a living! And the anxiety isn't necessarily because I have anything to feel anxious about, it's just another symptom of my TLE. These things had been happening for years before my migraine specialist recognized the symptoms and referred me to a neurologist. Even after the neurologist told me I probably had TLE I didn't believe it, because I had the misconception that epilepsy only manifested in convulsions. Which is what most of the world thinks, and why TLE is so misunderstood. One of the biggest problems I have is that I 'look' fine, so people don't understand what a huge impact this has on my life, on my ability to function, so they expect me to carry on as usual and think I'm being a slacker or hypochondriac when I have trouble 'just carrying on'. I take 3 drugs -- Lamictal, Lyrica and Zoloft -- which help a lot, but whenever I'm under a lot of stress you can bet all the symptoms will hit me like a ton of bricks. I also use a crazy electrical device called 'Alpha Stim' which does seem to help calm my constant anxiety. Anyway, my neurologist, who is an epilepsy specialist, said that the reason you need to address TLE, even if it doesn't 'look' like anything is wrong, is that it can get worse. The connections in your brain that have gone off track to cause your simple partial seizures could spread and lead to seizures that affect other areas of your brain. I hope all this helps -- good luck!
 
I too have Temporal lobe Epilepsy (I guess) however my symptoms sound different to me.

I will have Deju Vu, which lets me know it's coming. ( Iwill pull my car over, have the seizure, then go on way.)
I don't drive that much anymore, after losing my job.

I star into space, I know where I'm at, and I can hear to other person talking. But I can not respond.
I smack my lips.

I am on Dilantin and Klonopin

I have been on many other medic. that could not tolerate.

I haven't had a seizure since March of this year.

It seems when I am given a medic. - like an antibiotic are even some of the counter (tylenol). This will bring on a seizure.

I had never been asked about triggers, being in the forum the more I read the more I understand.

I had people to say, well you don't look like someone with Epilepsy. and Boy do I want to say --would you please tell me what someone with epilepsy looks like. (but I don't say it)

Well as usual I have gone ON and ON.

hopes this helps you.
 
Excellent, thank you all for your responses.

Having read up on it all, I don't ever get Deja Vu, or Jamais Vu, and some of the feelings I get are slightly different to what you are describing, apart from the feelings of sensations being really heightened.

Whilst it happens, I really struggle to 'feel' anything, I barely am able to think, which is actually quite nice, as I still have control, but it's all a little set back from myself. Well thank you all, and I will post back here I'm sure, once I've heard from the neurologist.
 
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