What is UNCONSCIOUS?

[Bidwell]

I have confusion/uncertainty about WHAT IS UNCONSCIOUS. Last week I fell while walking on a city street. I tripped on the sidewalk, crossing the sidewalk as I fell and slamming my head into the wall of a building. In other words I started out on the curb side and ended up with my head plastered against a building on the inside of the sidewalk.
Was I unconscious? When the policewoman was picking me up I was muddled and when they asked I said I was not unconscious. I was INCREDIBLY vague. A few hours later I went to the ER because I thought I might have had a concussion. While I was lying around in the ER I decided I must have been unconscious out there on the sidewalk.

I know how the fall started and I know how I ended up and when I ended up there I was vague and dazed. But in between, when I was doing damage to myself of various kinds, I was clueless. Would you call this “unconscious?”

This event might and might not have been a seizure. I have not seen the epileptologist yet. I was diagnosed in 2012 and 2013 with waffling in between. I have temporal lobe seizures, they say.

I will be very interested in any information, experience, or belief that you care to pass along.

 

[N Sperlo]

The easiest way to define consciousness IMHO is with recollection. Do you really remember everything? Are there points I'm which you don't remember. You could have been in and out of consciousness.

So, by defining consciousness, i hope I have shined a light on your question regarding unconsciousness.

 

[Cint]

I've had both Tonic/Clonics and CPs. When I've had CPs, I'm in an altered state of consciousness--I may seem like I understand, but I have a blank look on my face and may stare straight ahead. I don't not understand or later remember a thing that was said to me, although I do know I had a seizure. Some of the words may be remembered, tho.

When I've had TCs, I only remember the aura, and when I'm out with my eyes rolling back in my head and my body is squirming all over the place, I do not remember a thing because I am unconscious during this type of seizures. The seizure itself only lasts a minute or two, I can understand after about 5 minutes afterwards, but I cannot speak. It will take me usually more than 20 minutes before I am able to speak again. My mind and memory of it all is gone during that time.

But in regards to what Sperlo said, even when I've had CPs, I don't remember much and am considered to be semi-conscious.