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peksh78

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Hi everyone,

I'm a 32 year old male. Was diagnosed 2 years ago when I had a memory lapse for 40 minutes. I was having lunch with my colleagues, and they said that I was laying my head on the table for awhile, after which I behaved normally, was able to finish my lunch and was talking normally to students (I worked in an educational institute). I was even able to remember my password to log in to my computer. However, I have totally no memory of these happenings at all, even till now. I was referred to a neurologist. Did a EEG and a MRI scan, and was thus diagnosed with epilepsey.

The thing is I am not sure what type of epilepsey I am diagnosed with. After that first memory lapse, I do not have such ocurrences anymore, or at least not that I know of. However, I do have more frequent (maybe a few times a year) periods when I get kind of confused, usually lasting less than a minute. For example, when I'm on the train to work, I will suddenly forget where I come from, and where I'm going to. I will need to think very hard to try and recollect and trace back the events that lead to where I am now (for e.g. where I stay, how I walk to the train station, which station did I board and change trains etc). I will feel a slight headache, but usually I can recover after closing my eyes and stop thinking for awhile.

These had happened quite randomly, when I am walking in a mall, when taking train, when reading books. Not sure if these are caused by epilepsey? If they are, I'd like to know what type if anyone can advise?

Thanks and regards,

SH
 
Welcome peksh78

I know that feeling of not remembering something. It can be very frustrating at times but if I don't miss anything important I usually never know I missed anything.

What you've described getting sudden disorientation is quite possibly a seizure. It might be an idea to start marking down when these happen & what you were doing & where you were at the time. The first thing I notice that you describe is that you've had them in places where there are probably fluorescent lights or when you're straining your eyes (reading). You might want to watch if flashing lights trigger them as well.

As for the types of seizures, this should help you define what type of seizures you have.

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/types-of-seizures-their-symptoms
 
many thanks for your advice, epileric. I've been told by my specialist that my seizure is the "absence" kind, but was unsure of the disoriented spells.

Will heed your advice and keep track of the times the seizures happen.

Cheers!
 
Sounds a lot like my complex seizures. My neuro says the seizure itself is short, probably less than a minute. But my post-itical period usually last 30-40 minutes. I have cooked/eaten lunch, driven....and have no memory of it. I don't remember my passwords, so usually lock myself out of computer during it. I am very confused when I come out of it. I have gotten lost or forgotten where I am going too.
I am also photosensitive....you may be as well...photosensitive can vary, only certain lights bother me. So it may not be the reading, but the light you are reading by.
 
hmmm... ok
but come to think of it... some of the times the seizures happened was when I was walking to the train station in the daylight in the morning. And the weird thing is these seizures do not happen regularly during many similar situations, for example I walk down the same route to my train station, or I take the train almost everyday, but the seizures happen only like few times a year.

Anyway, it's good to be able to talk to you guys about this, none of my friends would have understood what I'm going through. Thanks =)
 
Hi peksh78 --

You might want to keep a seizure journal to document the few times you do have a seizure, and how you were feeling before and after. Sometimes you can isolate a seizure trigger that way. It can be anything -- physical, physiological, environmental. It could be an infection (which lowers seizure threshold), or fatigue or low blood sugar or dehydration. It can be a combination of of factors like a nutritional imbalances and photosensitivity. And it could also be that your medication (if you're on any) isn't at the proper dosage.

Best,
Nakamova
 
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