Partial Complex Seizures...

[steve20]

Hi I am looking for some advice, so here goes... A few years ago I suffered a brain injury, during that time I suffered a number of seizures. I vaguely remember my head feeling like someone had thrown all my memories in the air and they were playing back at a rapid speed in the wrong order - quite similar to the feeling of too much alcohol when the room spins!

As the injury affected my short-term memory I presume this must have been the seizures.

Since then I have been on medication but every so often I get a strange feeling in my head. It is a kind of very mild pins and needles that lasts for a few seconds but is enough to make you think that this doesn't feel right. It is also the same feeling I experienced before the seizures I mentioned but not in the extreme they previously happended.

After this sensation, I feel quite tired and my memory is very poor and I am often left with a headache.

I have been told these are partial-complex siezures, does anyone agree?

Cheers in advance.

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Steve, welcome to CWE!

The sensation you describe does sound like a simple partial seizure, also often referred to as an aura. Simple partials can show up with a wide variety of symptoms -- I've listed some below. The fact that you are tired and headache-y afterwards is a good indication that something seizure-like has happened. If you are on medication, you may want to check in with your doctor about tweaking your dose, and/or look at ways to identify and avoid seizure triggers. (More on that later).

Here are some different kinds of auras/simple partials:

Sensory/Thought:
Deja vu
Jamais vu
Smell
Sound
Taste
Visual loss or blurring
Racing thoughts
Stomach feelings
Strange feelings
Tingling feeling

Emotional:
Fear/Panic
Pleasant feeling

Physical:
Dizziness
Headache
Lightheadedness
Nausea
Numbness

Hope this is helpful,
Best,
Nakamova

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Steve,

As I mentioned above, it can be helpful to identify any seizure triggers if possible. The best way to do this is to keep a journal where you write down any seizures, anything that feels like a seizure, any medications, any side effects, etc. In addition, note anything that might be a trigger. This can include a variety of physical, physiological, and emotional stressors -- anything from fatigue (the #1 trigger for many) and dehydration, to low blood sugar and flashing lights. Some people have more than one trigger, and if you have a low seizure threshold you may be more vulnerable to triggers like alcohol or infection. Some folks here at CWE have found that modifying their nutritional intake has helped with seizure control, and keeping a seizure /food diary has helped to point them in the right direction.

 

[Endless]

Hi, Steve,

And welcome!

Complex partial seizures involve a loss of consiousness, memory, or responsiveness. Sometimes people don't even know they've had them - maybe just a sense of lost time, if anything at all. Since the signs may be subtle, observers may not know they've had them, either. Other times it's quite obvious someone has had a CP seizure - they do or say crazy things, or when they come to things are quite different than when the seizure started.

Here's more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_partial_seizure
http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/types/types/complex.cfm
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_complexpartial

 

[steve20]

Thanks for the replies. It is bizarre as due to the nature of my illness I cannot remember the origianl seizures or the six week stay in Hospital and Intensive Care - only what I have been told by those who were present.

The seizures at that point are what most people would expect to see when someone has a seizure, i.e, thrashing around etc.

The feelings I have now as previously mentioned starts with this tingling sensation in the left side of my brain - bizarrely it does feel quite a nice sensation almost as someone is squeezing the brain momentarily.

Then after I feel extremely tired - yawning a lot - and my memory is poor. Visually I could have one and no-one would notice.

At first it used to frighten me but I am now aware of what is happening I feel ok about it and the medication has it largely under control.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[Topcat]

When I have a SPS I have a feeling of Deja Vu and just generally feel weird. I also feel anxious. Often my guts will cramp up and I feel like I need a bowel movement. Since I have a Vagus Nerve Stimulator I use the magnet to activate it. Even if I don't use the magnet I seem to come right out of them in a few minutes. They don't seem to have a lasting effect as i am not really tired out after them. My Neurologist is switching me from Keppra to Zonegran since that is supposed to be better for that type of seizure.