Hey - new here!

[nikon50]

Hey Everyone!
I'm new here! I'm a 23 year old male.
I had my first seizure/syncope (MD wasn't even too sure) back on 12/25/13.
I was a passenger in a car and looking down at my cell phone when I suddenly felt like I was falling... apparently I lost consciousness for 2-3 seconds. And during that time my neck went limp and my arms went outwards (but no real convulsions).
Since then I went for an EEG, MRI and carotid dopler test, and various blood work. Everything was normal.

Do you guys think I had a seizure? Or did I just pass out from looking downward? I did eat before hand though.

The doctor put me on 100mg of gabapentin one a day at bedtime (I know this is extremely low). And basically told me just to be an alarmist in case anything happens.

I'm kind of scared because I live alone in a studio apartment as a graduate student. I've even been scared to go to class. But on a positive note - I haven't had any seizures since Christmas day.

I smoke marajuana the second time in my life a week before I had my little "episode"... do you think that caused it?? It wasn't laced with anything because my friends who also smoked were fine.

From September to December I was sleep deprived from med school... but slept well the days leading up to my episode... do you think sleep deprivation may have caused it?

Thank you so much in advance... sorry for the long run on paragraphs! I've just been very concerned!

 

[N Sperlo]

Hi nikon

Welcome to the forum. What a strange experience. If you had a seizure, it sounds like it would be considered a tonic seizure. (correct me if I'm wrong here, folks!)

Its hard for us to say that you did or didn't have a seizure. Quite possibly you did. How did you feel afterwards? Did you feel strange before? These can be clues to help you understand what happened.

It sounds like you had enough sleep and I doubt the marijuana would hurt. Studies suggest it may even prevent seizures. Either way, sleep and marijuana can both effect seizures in some way, shape, or form. I doubt they were contributing factors.

Don't be afraid to live life. Try to live normally, but cautiously. Your run on paragraphs were not a problem for me and I doubt they will be for anyone else.

 

[MAB]

Welcome nikon.

I don't know if you had a seizure or not, but frequently people have one seizure and never have another.

Now that I have learned a little more about seizures since I was DX'ed I realize my husband most likely had a seizure several years ago. He was hospitilized for a day or two but the doctors were not sure what happened to him. I know one of the paramedics that took him to the hospital. A couple years later he told me how concerned he was about my husband that night. He has been fine since.

Possibly even if it was a seizure, you may never have another one.

 

[valeriedl]

I can't tell you if you had a seizure or what type but I may be answer some of your questions.

Not getting enough sleep will bring on seizures for me. But the seizure will happen a day or two after I didn't have enough sleep not a week later because I'm usually caught up on my sleep after that.

I smoked marijuana once or twice about 10 years before I had epilepsy but I haven't smoked it since. I've been around people who had since I've had epilepsy but haven't had seizures.

Stress brings on seizures for me. So if you've been worked up about things that are going on in school or happening during the holidays may have played a part in it.

 

[giveasmile]

I don't know if it was a seizure or not but please don't feel scared. 10% of people without epilepsy will have one seizure in their life and never again. And many who have epilepsy live, safely, alone.

Sleep deprivation is a #1 trigger for me and for a lot of people. If you do have a low seizure threshold, then getting good sleep is a must. Sleep for as long, or whenever, you feel you need it. Don't worry what other people think.

If you smoked the marijuna a week before I really don't think it's that.

Did you drink the night before? I only ask because I had a terrible time in college every time alcohol left my system. I never had a problem while drinking but always had a problem the next day or sometimes within hours of stopping. While many people with epilepsy can drink safely, I'm not one of them.

 

[qtowngirl]

Hi nikon

Welcome to the forum. What a strange experience. If you had a seizure, it sounds like it would be considered a tonic seizure. (correct me if I'm wrong here, folks!)

imo it doesn't sound like it, and here's the info:

Tonic seizures have been divided into four types:
-Axial tonic seizures begin with a tonic contraction of the neck muscles, leading to fixation of the head in an erect position, widely opened eyes, and jaw clenching or mouth opening. Contraction of the respiratory and abdominal muscles often follows and may lead to a high-pitched cry and brief periods of apnea.
-Tonic axorhizomelic seizures begin with a sequence similar to the axial type, but then the tonic contractions extend to the proximal musculature of the upper limbs, elevating the shoulders and abducting the arms.
-In global tonic seizures, the tonic contractions extend to the periphery of the limbs. The arms are pulled upward to a semiflexed position in front of the head, and the fists are clenched, producing a body position similar to that of a child defending himself against a facial blow. The lower extremities also can be involved, leading to a fall if the child is in a standing position.
-Asymmetric tonic seizures vary from a slight rotation of the head to a tonic contraction of all the musculature of one side of the body.

tho we have epilepsy we can't say either way if it was a seizure, has to have further investigation by your doctor. tho it does sound similar to a few different types, it's fact that certain types of epilepsy are mimicked by other neurological and/or mental disorders.

lack of sleep, stress, and alcohol/drugs are the top three seizure triggers, even if one doesn't have epilepsy. i used marijuana for years and pretty much had to stop cold turkey when it pulled a 180 on me. started bringing on partials with one puff. NOT FUN. it's very possible that was the cause for you (also includes alcohol or drug withdrawal), but it has to be discussed and hopefully tested as a possibility.
every person has a seizure breakthrough level; some have one and never another, some have many a day and live a life with epilepsy... it's quite a vast range really. best of luck figuring it all out.

:hugs: