Random activity prior to seizure

[masterjen]

My seizures are very cyclical, in that over a period of about a week random seizure related activity becomes more frequent and eventually I have a seizure. So if I called the day of the seizure day 0, I will have 2-3 perfectly normal days and nights, then over the next few days I start to get pieces of what normally happens during a seizure occur, usually waking me at night or happening in the late afternoon or evening. Usually brief but sometimes lasting 30 seconds. This activity is an isolated segment of what happens during a seizure. For instance the very beginning of a full seizure is my left middle finger closes tightly into the hand, and on these "random activity" days this can happen in isolation. Other random activity is a sudden small kick of my leg or folding in of my arm. During a seizure what happens is sustained thrust out of my leg or folding in of my arm. Then as about day 7 approaches I may have a couple of mini seizures, then around day 7 the full seizure occurs.

What is this random activity?
Is this common among those here? My seizure specialist wasn't phased by it but it seems strange to me.

 

[Lujais]

Hi Masterjen,
I have a similar thing happen, it feels weird to have small things happen which feel like a seizure i know i get quite nervous if i have these, especially if im at work. It can be especially disconcerting when sometimes they will become a seizure. I dont know what this random activity is but my doc said at times it is probably the full seizure happening but the medication is preventing it, then it gets to a point where a seizure will push through......not sure though. Take care of yourself i hope you get answer.

 

[Cint]

masterjen,

IMO, these random seizure related activities or mini seizures are actually SP seizures or "auras" and yes, it is common before the "full seizure". If your specialist wasn't phased by it, then it is time to find another dr. who will be.

 

[masterjen]

Sorry Cont. What I meant that the Dr wasn't phased by the random activity is that she didn't think it was strange. She wants to control it; it's me who thinks it is unusual because I've never heard of it before. And I am curious to find out from the people here if they have it and what they think or have been told their random activity is.

 

[Cint]

She wants to control it; it's me who thinks it is unusual because I've never heard of it before. And I am curious to find out from the people here if they have it and what they think or have been told their random activity is.

She wants to control it because it is seizure activity. Like I said, the "random activity" sounds to me like simple partial seizure, therefore your dr. wants it under control before it gets to the point of having a full blown seizure every day or going "status". I used to have SP's that went into CP's and then started having full blown TC's. Years ago, before being diagnosed with E the stupid dr. said it was low blood sugar, when in actuality I was experiencing SP seizures=this "random activity" or mini seizure activity. Read more about Simple Partial Seizures:

http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_simplepartial

What are they like?

They are remarkably different from person to person, depending on the part of the brain where they begin. The one thing they all have in common is that the person remains alert and can remember what happens.

Doctors often divide simple partial seizures into categories depending on the type of symptoms the person experiences:

Motor seizures:

These cause a change in muscle activity. For example, a person may have abnormal movements such as jerking of a finger or stiffening of part of the body. These movements may spread, either staying on one side of the body (opposite the affected area of the brain) or extending to both sides. Other examples are weakness, which can even affect speech, and coordinated actions such as laughter or automatic hand movements. The person may or may not be aware of these movements.