how long can seizures last?

[Deb]

I recently had a episode where I was functioning (going out for ice cream, to the store - not driving though) and all I remember is seeing double or triple. Later on my husband and daughter to me to the ER and since I am a stroke survier, they did all the tests for that. I couldn't remeber my name, my husbands name, city, ect. I was admited and woke up not knowing what happend (not even remembering the ice cream. ect). When all the tests came out with no sign of stroke. I told my nuerlogist that I hadnot been taking my Keppra. He said I was having a seires of seizures. I had kinda been in denial about having epilepsy because I thought seizures were only the kind that caused loss of body function. He was saying I had a series of seizures lasting about 12 hours or more.

Can that be true?

Sorry about the spelling, stroke aftereffects..

Deb

 

[Bernard]

Yes, it is possible for seizures (or for a series of seizures to occur one after another with little or no recovery to full consciousness) to last for hours. This is generally referred to as status epilepticus and can be dangerous - leading to major or minor permanent brain damage and/or death in some cases.

 

[Deb]

Thanks for the info

thanks for putting in layman's terms. He did say I could have died form this kind of seizures. I am still in denial but this last episode is making me a believer. I would like to learn about the different kinds of seizures.

 

[epileric]

http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f23/epilepsy-101-part-faq-part-tips-advice-1255/

 

[Crystal11]

Usually with partial seizures it would not cause death- but it needs to be stopped with medication. I've had two seizures close together with no break between and went to the ER for it. They made sure another one didnt happen.
If it did they would give Ativan or other meds to stop it.
Generalize status is dangerous though.

Take care,
Crystal

 

[dfwtexas]

I got diagnosed last year with simple and complex partials and also take Keppra. My neurologist told me that my EEG showed seizure activity in multiple parts of my brain and said if I ever had seizures in more than one part of my brain at the same time, it could cause death.
Is there a reason you weren't taking your Keppra?
jenn

 

[Z J]

Deb,
Among others, I often get these chains of seizures that last would last for hours on end save for the Lorazepam I'm taking to control them. They are called "chain seizures" and, in my case, often lead up to a grand mal.