Thoughts on symptoms?

[Selig]

Hi everyone, I am new here and wanted to pop in and ask you guys a few questions before I undergo neurological testing.

I had rolandic epilepsy syndrome or simple partial seizures until I was 13 years old, (Can't remember which it was) where they no longer found seizure activity. That was the last test I had.

I am now being sent in to be tested due to developing Depersonalization Disorder- my doctor wants to rule out any type of seizure as a cause. I do not experience convulsions, but I am wondering if any of these things can be related to seizure activity?

-Frequent deja vu.
-Intense ten second periods of dissociation
-Sensitivity to lights, particularly fluorescent.
-Frequently waking up during sleep paralysis.
-Ocular migraines and general visual disturbances esp. at night.

I can't think of any more at the moment, does any of this sound like I could be experiencing even minor epilepsy? My mother has seizures and is being treated by Dilantin. I also find it odd the medication I respond to the best for Depersonalization is Clonazepam, out of all the benzodiazepines.

Thanks!

 

[chmmr]

All of the things you mention can definitely be a type of seizure so it is good that your doctor is looking into things. The Deja Vu, and dissociation in particular can be a type of seizure called Simple Partials.

 

[Selig]

Thank you for your reply! I am waiting on the neurology appointment now. I am beginning to wonder if the clear EEG at 13 wasn't the final appearance for seizure activity.

 

[Free Bird]

Those all sound like things that I experience, and I have simple, complex, and tonic-clonic seizures. The deja-vu, and visual sensitivity...all kinds of visual junk with me! I have really bad double vision right now, dizziness, *sigh*. I hope you DON'T have epilepsy, but hope you *do* get answers and good treatment!

Carpe Diem!
Georgialee

 

[Selig]

Thanks!

I feel the same way about it, but at the same time some answers and a proper treatment plan would be nice. Particularly if I continue to try to treat my issues on a psychological basis with no help!

 

[Selig]

-

Those all sound like things that I experience, and I have simple, complex, and tonic-clonic seizures. The deja-vu, and visual sensitivity...all kinds of visual junk with me! I have really bad double vision right now, dizziness, *sigh*. I hope you DON'T have epilepsy, but hope you *do* get answers and good treatment!

Carpe Diem!
Georgialee

Could you tell me a bit about your experiences and symptoms?

 

[MAB]

Can anyone give me a personal example of dissociation? I have looked up the definition but I am still not sure what is meant by it. Thanks.

 

[Selig]

-

Can anyone give me a personal example of dissociation? I have looked up the definition but I am still not sure what is meant by it. Thanks.

The way I experience dissociation is a feeling of detachment from my surroundings and self.

 

[MAB]

Thanks, I don't think I have experienced that. I have a dissociation from my family, sort of like I don't belong, if that makes any sense.

 

[Selig]

Thanks, I don't think I have experienced that. I have a dissociation from my family, sort of like I don't belong, if that makes any sense.

It does!

 

[Zolt]

Hey Selig,

Don't want to get you down, but have them do a CAT scan. I had a brain tumor and the things u mentioned i also had. It's probably not a tumor, but best to rule that out.

CHeers,
Zolt

iano: op:

 

[Selig]

Hey Selig,

Don't want to get you down, but have them do a CAT scan. I had a brain tumor and the things u mentioned i also had. It's probably not a tumor, but best to rule that out.

CHeers,
Zolt

iano: op:

Hey thanks, I'll ask for one. Can you give me some more details on your symptoms, how long they lasted and treatment?

 

[Zolt]

My headaches were most severe early in the mornings, followed by visual disturbances, like a lighting bolt slowly crossing my field of vision. Or actually it was the other way around, i'd get the visual disturbances first, then the major headache.

Sensitivity to light, when i didn't take any medicine. Looking up was painful.

Vomiting in the mornings, but that happened the last week before they found it.

I also had seizures every now and then, but didn't know what to make of them. They came so infrequently. And as most people are today, i was totally ignorant of what seizures where, other than the grand mal ones.

One time i was driving home from work and i couldn't for the life of me think of where home was or how to get to it. I drove right past my exit. Then shortly after everything came back. That was a scary moment. I told my girlfriend at the time i'm going to die soon. She suggested i get an MRI, but me and hospital were not a very good mix. So i did nothing. I had told my PCP about the terrible headaches i got, but nothing much came of it. That is one key to diagnosing tumors, if one doesn't have regular headaches and all of a sudden has them regularly, then there is something wrong and a CT scan should be ordered.

Then I had a Grand Mal at work, didn't really know what to make of it. But after that i had a major headache. So i called the advice nurse who said to come into the ER right a way. They did all types of tests on me, then finally they did a CT and the nurse came in with some bad news. At first i didn't believe it, i ask to see a picture. And good Lord, there looked to be a crab in my head. Doh!@#$ Once they found my tumor, a baseball size one on the parietal and frontal lobes, right on top of the motor strip and the sensory strip, they had me in surgery within 2 days.

Afterwards, my life with Epilepsy started. But I'd rather have the big E then to be 6 feet under.

Zolt