Is this even possible?

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EmilyZ

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Sorry for making another question thread, this has just been on my mind a lot recently.

I get simple partial seizures that don't progress into complex partial seizures, so as far as I know my whole experience could be classed as a TLE aura. The SPS generally last for a few seconds rather than minutes (often only about 3-5 seconds) and are very unpleasant and scary, but definitely nothing severe compared to others' experiences. It's basically very mild, the sensations involved are consistent, and it has always been like this. The only time it gets worse is when I'm sleep deprived or before a period.

This is confusing for me because I get a feeling that precedes the SPS that is aura-like. I sometimes know when the seizure will happen because I get a dreamlike, spacey feeling. What I don't understand is how can something that is an aura have its own aura? This question probably sounds crazy. :oops:
 
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i think temporal lobe do odd things like this..i make mine worse by paniking
 
I would say that the dreamy spacey feeling and whatever sensory disturbance that follows it are the same seizure in different phases, rather than an "aura" followed by an "aura". In your case it might be clearer to just call the symptoms simple partials rather than auras. They really are only auras if they are followed by complex partials and/or tonic-clonics.
 
One thing that will cause a seizure for me is not getting enough sleep. I usually take a nap in the afternoon and if I go too many days without it then I'll usually end up having a seizure.

Ask as many questions as you want! That's what the site was made for. You'll get all sorts of answers and suggestions from people who know what is going on with you because it happens to them too.
 
Nakamova said:
I would say that the dreamy spacey feeling and whatever sensory disturbance that follows it are the same seizure in different phases, rather than an "aura" followed by an "aura". In your case it might be clearer to just call the symptoms simple partials rather than auras. They really are only auras if they are followed by complex partials and/or tonic-clonics.
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But surely the dreamy feeling can't be a seizure because it lasts too long? Sometimes it goes on for hours before it gets to the 'main' part.

Thanks for the replies, btw. It's nice to hear from people who have similar experiences.
 
But surely the dreamy feeling can't be a seizure because it lasts too long?
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You could be having multiple seizures during that time, rather than just one. Are there moments of clarity during it? The dreamy state could also be related to something like fatigue or low blood sugar.
 
You're right that it could be fatigue. Maybe the dreaminess is just sleep deprivation or tiredness and then the seizure is triggered by that.

As for clarity, the detached feeling can go and then return more than once in the same day. It also includes agitation and what they call a 'sense of impending doom' but I never know whether that's a cause or a symptom.
 
EmilyZ said:
and what they call a 'sense of impending doom' but I never know whether that's a cause or a symptom.
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That is a 'psychic' symptom of a simple partial. I fully agree with Nak - is more an ongoing seizure with moments of clarity rather than an 'aura followed by an aura.'
 
OK, thanks for clearing that up. It does make more sense to think of it as different stages of the seizure or as recurring seizures.

I also meant to add that I don't have low blood sugar - I've been tested a few times in the past and it's always been normal.

Another thing I was wondering about was the fact that the episodes always involve a gasp (not due to breathlessness) that is totally involuntary, but the only time I've heard anyone mention any kind of gasping or shouting noise has been in the context of a tonic-clonic or 'grand mal' seizure. I don't understand why I'd experience that seeing as I don't get those.
 
I relate to this question very much. I always wondered if I was having an aura before an aura, which made no sense to me. Though I felt like it was a consistent seizure, but not as intense. I felt the exact same feeling I would normally have after a complex or even a tonic. Super tired, trouble talking, understanding basic things for some brief moments. I wouldn't imagine have a post ictal stage after a partial, but I guess that is possible. So I wouldn't think any question is out of the ordinary. The brain is still a huge mystery, hope you can figure out more of what is going on.
 
According to this http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2605/, a gasp can be part of a complex partial. Here's the specific passage from the link:

A brief respiratory arrest, a sigh or a gasp is common in the initial part of complex focal seizures. Hyperpnoea, hypopnoea or even apnoea may occur in the late seizure phase.
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(Hyperpnoea is deep breathing and hypopnoea is shallow breathing)
 
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