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A bad taste - is this an Aura?

Tue, 09/16/2008 - 13:28

I am new to this website.  I was diagnosed with Epilepsy after 2 tonic-clonic seizures on March 27, 2008. One neurologist diagnosed me with a severe case of eplispsy.  I went for a second opinion and this neurologist said my seizure was provoked and I do not have epilepsy.  I've just finished weaning off Keppra, 2 weeks ago. 

For the past 1.5 days, I have had a really strange (maybe metallic) taste.  It's not necessarily in my mouth, but it's on my lips and my skin.  So, in other words, I taste metallic and so does some of my food.  I didn't think it was at all related to epilepsy (because I was told I didn't have it), until I looked up the symptom in WebMD.  On WebMD, strange tastes, acid tastes, metallic tastes, bad tastes and unusual tastes all point to epilepsy (and poisoning, heartburn, antibiotic use, etc...none of which I have).  I am not really sure what to think......could this be an aura?  Does anyone out there have this same symptom, prior to seizures?

Any help or opinions are greatly appreciated!

Gina

Comments

Re: A bad taste - is this an Aura?

Submitted by danniesand on Tue, 2008-09-16 - 17:52

 

Hi there-  I'm new too!  I was diagnosed with epilepsy 11 years ago and one of the dead give aways was me telling my doctor "I taste metal in my mouth, feel like I have de ja vu, etc." He said that's textbook for a symptom of epilepsy.

An aura could be different for everyone- My aura is the same every time- I have a hallucination that is the same exact thing every single time and by the time the aura is over, my convulsing has started.  I'm on Topomax and Lamictal- works for me!

So- go back to your doctor and talk this over with him/her again.  Have an EEG test.  Good Luck!

Danae

 

Hi there-  I'm new too!  I was diagnosed with epilepsy 11 years ago and one of the dead give aways was me telling my doctor "I taste metal in my mouth, feel like I have de ja vu, etc." He said that's textbook for a symptom of epilepsy.

An aura could be different for everyone- My aura is the same every time- I have a hallucination that is the same exact thing every single time and by the time the aura is over, my convulsing has started.  I'm on Topomax and Lamictal- works for me!

So- go back to your doctor and talk this over with him/her again.  Have an EEG test.  Good Luck!

Danae

Re: A bad taste - is this an Aura?

Submitted by rikk on Thu, 2009-02-26 - 10:34
Gina hi,  time for a third opinion, or go back to doc number one.  metalic taste is a signal.  you  may want to consider going to an epileptoloist for evaluation.  A lot of the new information states that the aura is the begining of a seizure, not a warning.  it may be a simple partial.  i t may be more.  it may also mean more to come.  it has been found on eeg.  that means seizure.  i found this out after 40 years with seizures.  hope it helps.   rikk

Re: A bad taste - is this an Aura?

Submitted by Michael Igoe on Thu, 2009-02-26 - 11:43

Michael

Rikk makes a lot of sense, Gina.  You can't have seizures, especially major ones, for no reason at all.  Something caused them, so find more medical opinion.  You must, or you could be in real trouble without warning.

Taste, sight, hearing: you name it, a distortion of any of these can be an aura.  My family tell me I used to mention a taste what smelled like hot steel before an attack.  Now, years later, it's more likely to be hearing or sight.  Hearing seems to pulse, to vibrate and/or vision becomes confused.  Is it an aura, or the opening stage of an attack?  For many, it's practically impossible to know for sure.

One thing, though: do what Rikk says.  See a doctor again. You must.

Just a point worth making: the word aura dates back, with epilepsy, at least 1,500 years.  We borrowed the Latin word.  It means 'chilly breeze'.  Researchers (yes, even then and 1,000 years before then) into epilepsy noticed how often people with epilepsy mentioned just how often they had a forewarning of an attack: it was like a cold breeze, very short, usually running up their backs.  That's the value of the aura: forewarning.  When you feel it, any kind, if you possibly can, sit down.  That way, there's less chance of collapsing and suffering injury.  There are dogs trained, strangely, to sense an aura before the person himself/herself does.  It could be worth looking into this. 

 

Michael

Rikk makes a lot of sense, Gina.  You can't have seizures, especially major ones, for no reason at all.  Something caused them, so find more medical opinion.  You must, or you could be in real trouble without warning.

Taste, sight, hearing: you name it, a distortion of any of these can be an aura.  My family tell me I used to mention a taste what smelled like hot steel before an attack.  Now, years later, it's more likely to be hearing or sight.  Hearing seems to pulse, to vibrate and/or vision becomes confused.  Is it an aura, or the opening stage of an attack?  For many, it's practically impossible to know for sure.

One thing, though: do what Rikk says.  See a doctor again. You must.

Just a point worth making: the word aura dates back, with epilepsy, at least 1,500 years.  We borrowed the Latin word.  It means 'chilly breeze'.  Researchers (yes, even then and 1,000 years before then) into epilepsy noticed how often people with epilepsy mentioned just how often they had a forewarning of an attack: it was like a cold breeze, very short, usually running up their backs.  That's the value of the aura: forewarning.  When you feel it, any kind, if you possibly can, sit down.  That way, there's less chance of collapsing and suffering injury.  There are dogs trained, strangely, to sense an aura before the person himself/herself does.  It could be worth looking into this. 

 

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