Questioning if these are Complex Partials??

[Jan4you]

Ok I just got diagnosed with both simple and compelx partials by this neurologist..and will also be seeing an epileptologist next week as he wants a video EEG in the hospital.

At first I could not see me having simple partials..I DID have jamais vu (got lost on a familar street) then dejavu in the hospital in March. Then I heard a code in the hospital called out all wrong.. it was a fire code and I thought I heard something else..so stupid. Neurologist told me it was a hallucinatory part of seizure. What??

OK..get home and nothing. But then I smelled a cocoa smell during the night.. later..smelled something like burnt food..2 x and later on my clothing. I also heard a woman's voice in my kitchen.. no one was there.

But complex partials?? My experience is spacing out while working ( I am off now on disability). I missed what my patients were saying.."gone" for I dont know how long. Was on the phone with an insurance company on hold.. and next I hear, "are you there..hello.. are you there?

But the worst part is that I write the WRONG name or information or words while working. This is unethical and could actually cost me my job. I billed the wrong person.. or write down the right person and never chart my visits with them but was sure I did. Sometimes I have secretaries or my supervisor who "catch" these mistakes..but geez.. are these complex partials??

How come I don't LOOK like I am having a seizure?? Or doing the typical..picking.. walking around aimlessly etc.. I dont do that..I dont think so. NO ONE has seen me act weird or spacey. They just say they told me something and now I cannot remember? What is going on???

Thanks for anyone who responds.

Jan

 

[Endless]

Hey, Jan.

During complex partials you can look like you are perfectly concious - walking, even talking with what *seems* like logical speech, but is completely inappropriate or removed from the topic. You can write things down, too. The key is that it is nonsensical, and you don't remember it.

It sounds like complex partials to me, also.

 

[epileric]

It's true, I've had many people say that they've never seen me have a seizure & I have to explain to them that they have. I even had one in front of my neurologist who didn't notice I was having one until I told him.


There is a part of my seizures where my head is jerked to the right. Even then people just think I"m looking away unless they're very familiar with my episodes.

 

[Cint]

They definitely sound like CPs to me. Often times when I am with family they ask if I'm okay if I happen to walk in a different direction or am deep thought about something because they may think I'm having a CP. Or sometimes, due to the aphasia, they ask if I am ok because I can't get the words out correctly.

During CPs a person doesn't remember what was done or said, even if it only lasted a few seconds, but others notice.

 

[Jan4you]

Yes I will suddenly turn my head to the LEFT. Especially when driving..I would kind be aware I did it..but would not turn my head back..till someone honked at me.

OK.. got another delimma. I get an "aura" that something is wrong.. and I will lose consciousness. My HR and BP go up.. my fight or flight system goes beserk. I am suddenly very weak..know that I will not be able to stand or sit any longer. I have driven myself to the ER and Urgent care (and end up in ER). I now can tell them what is going to happen:

I cannot pass their mental status test.. just stare at them after awhile.. or tell them the wrong answer..like who's the president.. what year is it etc.

I lose my abilty to talk.. then I get sleepy..and go "out" BUT I can HEAR!! This can last for hours..and when I finally come out of it.. I can hardly talk.. everything is S L O W...and I am exhausted.

I do have Dysautonomia..and they think its related.. But I told my neuro that it starts with an aura.. and ends with something like post ictal. BUT I am AWARE of everything and can remember.. I just cannot talk or move.

NOw I do paralyze with my kidney problem.. my kidneys waste electrolytes..but often my levels are good..

Does any part of this sound like a partial seizure??? I will ask the epileptologist next week..but you guys rock ..

Thanks.. I do feel better as I was questioning whether I had seizures.. and if I could ever work. I do not want to risk making ANY mistakes.. and will not work. My neuro thinks I could work. My present job requires driving.

I am a mess.. LOL

Jan

 

[epileric]

After some of my bigger & stronger seizures I do have trouble talking. Either I want to say something & I can't remember any words or other times I've been told I babble. My brother says words come out but make no sense. Despite that I remember saying something specific.

 

[Jan4you]

thanks for your response..but what do you mean by your "bigger and stronger" seizures. I am so in doubt about all of this stuff.

Jan

 

[epileric]

Some of my seizures are pretty light... I can keep talking & interact with no problem except an electrical sensation around my head & the need to focus a bit harder. Others (more bigger/stronger ones) make me feel more like I'm in a dreamland, I might have my head pulled but there is a part of the seizure I don't remember. Often when my head is pulled to the right, I don't remember the headpull until a day or even a week later. It seems that even though I'm aware I had a seizure I'm not aware of that part of it. I'm also a lot more tired & confused afterwards.

 

[Crystal11]

Starting at age 6, I was having "Stareing episodes" many many times during the day. My eyes would dart over to the right, get stuck, and I would stare unresponsively for a while, then come back to myself. I would hear "Crystal? Are you awake?" "Everyone is waiting on you!" I would be sitting at my desk while others were already in line and waiting to go eat.. I got yelled at by everyone but anyway..

I was diagnosed with Absences seizures since they were so short. But no EEG finding was found at age 6 for me. I grew up not understanding what was going on with me when I would "space out" as my Mom called it. She would wave her hand in front of my face to get me out of it. They were so short that by that time, her doing this would surprize me and made me frustrated.
I found out at 13 that I was having complex partials, just shorter ones. 30-45sec to 1-3min complex partials. As I got older, they became longer and more involved.
When I saw my new neuro, she said that I've been having complex partials my whole life- since age 6 and those were probably not Absences. Most adults do not have Absences as they get older- even though my friend has them and she is 25.

During my seizures, I don't always walk around, I don't always look like I'm having a seizure- most CPs don't look anything like a GM. And most people just think I'm sleepy, or out of it, or some peopel think I'm having a stroke.

Complex partials, I like to say, are complex. Each person with complex partials can act differently- some can be shorter or longer and be less involved or more involved as in what the person does during it.
Sometimes I keep doing whatever it is I'm doing- such as walking, washing my hands, eating, or talking- its just slowed down or unorganized.

Let us know how things go for you.
Crystal