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Undiagnosed seizures or "fake" seizures?

Thu, 12/04/2008 - 23:15

Hello, and thanks for reading this! I feel silly asking for help, and am half expecting no response.

Anywho, I'm having these odd episodes.  Basically, I feel very, very tired and my tongue feels heavy (?) then my eyes deviate upwards and I get head drops (my head drops backwards).  I become almost drunk~ I can't balance and I have little control over what I'm doing; I wander from room to room, on unsteady feet of course, repeat things, sway back and forth... all sorts of odd things. There's no twitching or jerking involved, other than the head drops and occasional odd movements that aren't nearly as quick as the tonic clonic movements I've seen in videos, and I remain fully conscious.  I can even talk, but it's an effort and my words are often slurred.  I sleep for an hour or more afterwards, and sometimes am "drunk" when I wake up.

I'm a 23 year old female with depression that is being succesfully treated with cymbalta.  I had these "incidents" before the cymbalta, however, and was even tested with a waking eeg when I was a child as I was thought to have absence seizures.  The eeg proved to be inconclusive.  I don't have a copy of the results now. :-(

Honestly, I'm a  bit worried that I'm "doing" these on purpose because I'm conscious during them, and have discovered psychogenic seizures.  It scares me a bit that I fit the profile in gender and age, but I'm clinging to the knowledge that I was suspected to have seizures when I was younger. That last bit actually makes me think maybe they ARE psychogenic, since why would I WANT to have real seizures? I hope you see where I'm going here.

It'd also help if you shared information about your episodes if they are similar. Basically, I'm a sponge right now. Please give me things to soak up and consider! :-)

Comments

Re: Undiagnosed seizures or "fake" seizures?

Submitted by rikk on Fri, 2008-12-05 - 14:03

ok spounge.  there are several things.  1.  there is non-epilectiform seizure.  pseudo-seizure, psycohogenic seizure.

the being aware stuff is not that uncommon.  do some research on simple partial, and complex partial serizures, the post ictal phase of the seizure. you may not be remembering everything that is happening.  not unusual either. just for starters.  check the side effects of the meds you are on.  the idea that you were checked when you were young is a good reason to have this checked.   many new diagnostic tests are available that may be of help. 

things to consider.  talk to the doc. tell them what is happening, but not that you think you are faking.  i don't think you are.  let them figure that out.  you tell them what is happening to you. 

i have simple partial, complex partial, and other types of seizures.  i have had them for over 40 years.  one more thing is that depression and seizures can be related to each other, and some of the treatments are used for both.  Remember that both seizures and depression are problems of the brain,  not of the mind.  you are not crazy.  feel free to e-mail if you have other questions.  ish4031eagle@aol.com  rikk

ok spounge.  there are several things.  1.  there is non-epilectiform seizure.  pseudo-seizure, psycohogenic seizure.

the being aware stuff is not that uncommon.  do some research on simple partial, and complex partial serizures, the post ictal phase of the seizure. you may not be remembering everything that is happening.  not unusual either. just for starters.  check the side effects of the meds you are on.  the idea that you were checked when you were young is a good reason to have this checked.   many new diagnostic tests are available that may be of help. 

things to consider.  talk to the doc. tell them what is happening, but not that you think you are faking.  i don't think you are.  let them figure that out.  you tell them what is happening to you. 

i have simple partial, complex partial, and other types of seizures.  i have had them for over 40 years.  one more thing is that depression and seizures can be related to each other, and some of the treatments are used for both.  Remember that both seizures and depression are problems of the brain,  not of the mind.  you are not crazy.  feel free to e-mail if you have other questions.  ish4031eagle@aol.com  rikk

Re: Undiagnosed seizures or "fake" seizures?

Submitted by TheHam on Fri, 2008-12-05 - 20:22

Rikk,

 Thank you for your response.  I will certainly check the side effects of cymbalta, but the episodes were occuring before I took it.

I think it's wonderful advice to keep the possibility of psychogenic seizures unsaid... I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, but in this instance (as well as in many others :-p), it would not be a benefit in any way shape or form.

Do you know of any studies about the relationship between depression and seizures?

~hams

Rikk,

 Thank you for your response.  I will certainly check the side effects of cymbalta, but the episodes were occuring before I took it.

I think it's wonderful advice to keep the possibility of psychogenic seizures unsaid... I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, but in this instance (as well as in many others :-p), it would not be a benefit in any way shape or form.

Do you know of any studies about the relationship between depression and seizures?

~hams

Re: Undiagnosed seizures or "fake" seizures?

Submitted by Maggie on Sat, 2008-12-06 - 00:01

Hello Hams, nice meeting you. Maybe I can shed some light on this subject as I just came home from the hospital after being there for 7days for a VEEG (video eeg). It did show some (spike n wave)epilepsy of (jerks)but not alot. Mostly it was pretty normal meaning NES = non epileptic seizures = "fake"? Stiffening n Flopping. I do have the auras of smells and strange feelings in my head. I am semi concious and very sleepy afterwards. I am told that With NES that it is a deep rooted problem that you are not even aware of and it is your bodies way of releasing the tension that is built up inside,so you have the seizure. No I am not crazy and neither are you if this is what is happening to you. These are very much REAL seizures just not from abnormal brain activity (electricial). Epileptic and Non epileptic seizures look the same and many people have been misdiagnosed because of this. When you get a chance ,Google " NES " you will find alot of info. Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck and your in my prayers as this is a long hard journey to go through but you can do it with the faith in God. People here on this site are always willing to help and listen. God bless you

"Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." ~Psalm 17:8

Hello Hams, nice meeting you. Maybe I can shed some light on this subject as I just came home from the hospital after being there for 7days for a VEEG (video eeg). It did show some (spike n wave)epilepsy of (jerks)but not alot. Mostly it was pretty normal meaning NES = non epileptic seizures = "fake"? Stiffening n Flopping. I do have the auras of smells and strange feelings in my head. I am semi concious and very sleepy afterwards. I am told that With NES that it is a deep rooted problem that you are not even aware of and it is your bodies way of releasing the tension that is built up inside,so you have the seizure. No I am not crazy and neither are you if this is what is happening to you. These are very much REAL seizures just not from abnormal brain activity (electricial). Epileptic and Non epileptic seizures look the same and many people have been misdiagnosed because of this. When you get a chance ,Google " NES " you will find alot of info. Hope this is helpful to you. Good luck and your in my prayers as this is a long hard journey to go through but you can do it with the faith in God. People here on this site are always willing to help and listen. God bless you

"Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." ~Psalm 17:8

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