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First seizure yesterday at 31 (in my sleep)
Thu, 05/22/2008 - 16:51I am new to this site and not sure where to post this so I hope this is a good area, where people read this and can offer some advice.
Yesterday morning around 5am my husband was woken by the sound of me apparently choking. He turned on the light and my body was in a seizure (muscles all stretched out in arms and legs, head back, eyes rolled back in my head) and turning blue, also foaming at the mouth. He called 911. By the time they arrived (about 7 minutes by his estimate) I was out of the seizure and in a heavy sleep.
When I woke up, I freaked out because there were 2 EMT's in the room trying to talk to me and I had no idea what was going on. I was in a very confused/scared state and passed back out within 30 seconds. I'm told that they got me out of bed and walked me down the stairs to a stretcher waiting, then transported me by ambulance to the local hospital, none of which I remember.
They ran a few tests at the hospital and decided to transport me to the city an hour away for further testing. I had a CAT scan and EEG done. The good (?) news is that both came back clear, no tumors and no signs of epilepsy on the EEG.
So now what?
I am going back in about 2 weeks (waiting for the appointment) to have a second EEG done, this one where I have to stay awake the whole night before so that I am extremely tired for the test. If that one doesn't show any epileptic signs I'm not sure what's next. It's "only" one seizure but one too many for me!
I have an aunt, uncle (brother and sister), and cousin who had epilepsy in their younger years that they outgrew so I guess that is why the dr's are doing further testing, because of the possible genetic link.
Anyone have any thoughts for me, advice?
Comments
Re: First seizure yesterday at 31 (in my sleep)
Submitted by donnasue on Mon, 2008-07-28 - 14:38
Re: First seizure yesterday at 31 (in my sleep)
Submitted by MetsQNY on Tue, 2008-09-30 - 15:32
I guess i've been having seizures during my sleep for a few years now. Never knew. I'd wake up during sleep and the best way to explain what happens is this:
1) i feel like i can't swallow or breathe like my throat is closed
2) i believe there are involuntary movements of my arm
And thats it. Thats usually the last thing i remember..and i must pass out or go into a seizure. In the beginning, these episodes used to pass. My throat would clear and i'd be ok. But as time went on/later on, these episodes wouldn't just clear up. I'd pass out or go into seizures. I'd wake up dazed..and uncomofortable. Can't remember if i'm waking up in my bed or on the floor. These "seizures" usually happened only when i drank beer. So i stopped drinking for a while and they stopped. I started drinking non alcoholic beer. One bottle a day. No problem. One day i had 4 bottles and had an episode that night. So just a few nights ago, i had a pretty bad "episode", and i haven't had a drink in months. That was a 1st. So i'm concerned.
I've was tested for epilepsy last year and i was told that i don't have it. The first doctor i saw (after my father found me out cold on my floor one night) told me that it sounded like Sleep Apnea with seizures. I've had cat scans, MRI's (with contrast) and nothing's come up. At the hospital the night my father found me, all the tests they did came back normal. They said the only thing wrong was that my blood oxygen was low.
Never had a seizure during the day time or any other time at all..only during sleep. Which is why i'm hoping it's just Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I'm gonna try to get a sleep study done and see what happens.
Has this ever happened to any of you people?
I guess i've been having seizures during my sleep for a few years now. Never knew. I'd wake up during sleep and the best way to explain what happens is this:
1) i feel like i can't swallow or breathe like my throat is closed
2) i believe there are involuntary movements of my arm
And thats it. Thats usually the last thing i remember..and i must pass out or go into a seizure. In the beginning, these episodes used to pass. My throat would clear and i'd be ok. But as time went on/later on, these episodes wouldn't just clear up. I'd pass out or go into seizures. I'd wake up dazed..and uncomofortable. Can't remember if i'm waking up in my bed or on the floor. These "seizures" usually happened only when i drank beer. So i stopped drinking for a while and they stopped. I started drinking non alcoholic beer. One bottle a day. No problem. One day i had 4 bottles and had an episode that night. So just a few nights ago, i had a pretty bad "episode", and i haven't had a drink in months. That was a 1st. So i'm concerned.
I've was tested for epilepsy last year and i was told that i don't have it. The first doctor i saw (after my father found me out cold on my floor one night) told me that it sounded like Sleep Apnea with seizures. I've had cat scans, MRI's (with contrast) and nothing's come up. At the hospital the night my father found me, all the tests they did came back normal. They said the only thing wrong was that my blood oxygen was low.
Never had a seizure during the day time or any other time at all..only during sleep. Which is why i'm hoping it's just Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I'm gonna try to get a sleep study done and see what happens.
Has this ever happened to any of you people?
Re: First seizure yesterday at 31 (in my sleep)
Submitted by wyboemail on Mon, 2008-07-28 - 13:14
My 10 year old son has had many, many, many EEG's and only 1 has ever showed anything. And that was a very minor spike. He was dx with BRE. Sometimes your brain just has a short circuit but since you have relatives that has E than I would suspect you may as well. Good luck and try coromega fish oil as a supplement. My 10 year old takes that and vitamin b complex, magnesium, and aloe vera juice.
He is on a very low dose of keppra. 250 mg in am and 500 mg in the pm.
Good Luck, wyboemail@yahoo.com
My 10 year old son has had many, many, many EEG's and only 1 has ever showed anything. And that was a very minor spike. He was dx with BRE. Sometimes your brain just has a short circuit but since you have relatives that has E than I would suspect you may as well. Good luck and try coromega fish oil as a supplement. My 10 year old takes that and vitamin b complex, magnesium, and aloe vera juice.
He is on a very low dose of keppra. 250 mg in am and 500 mg in the pm.
Good Luck, wyboemail@yahoo.com