Seizures During Sleep

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by sunstarr_429 on Mon, 2009-08-10 - 17:49

i'm 19 & was diagnosed when i was 7. the majority of my seizures have been in my sleep, the rest have been w/i 2-3 hrs of waking up. i have tried avoiding all known triggers (even though i've never seemed to have any other than flashing lights and arcade sounds) and i still have them every few mths. best of luck 2 u!

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by parent68 on Mon, 2009-08-10 - 17:56

Hi Everyone:

 I have been a first responder and you never get used to witnessing a full blown grand mal (sp?) especially when it is a loved one. It has definately impacted my day today.

Here is my story of the events of this morning. There are many stories that are similar and the doctors did a one day EEg and found nothing. Ironic that this seems to be par for the course for doctors trying to diagnose this.

At around 5 am my step daughter came into our bedroom, her mother was at the gym, and she complained that she was shaking and couldn't stop. I asked her what kind of shaking and she quickly disappeared out of the master bedroom. I quickly got to my feet and headed into her bedroom and turned on the light. She was in full seizure. She was stiff like a board and was shuddering wildly with a sucking noise coming from her mouth which was also foaming a bit. She was totally unrepsonsive to my yelling her name and clapping loudly. Her eyes were rolled back in her head and I could only see the whites of her eyes. I immediately called her mother and observed her bretahing and heart rate. Her heart was pounding out of her chest and she did not seem to be breathing during the seizure. Once it stopped she looked like she was dead. Her breathing returned and her heart rate began to settle down. She was completely non-repsonsive for 15 to 20 minutes after the seizure. She slowly came around and said she remebered coming into our bedroom with the shakes but that was the last she remebered. She said she has had similar symptoms on a few seperate ocassions but did not mention them to us. They were all while she was sleeping. Her dad, who does not live with us, has only experienced the after-math with the non-responsiveness and that is what sent her in to the doctors a few months ago for what turned out to be a normal looking EEG. SHe said whe was very tired after the siezure and complained of an upset stomach. Through-out this incident I was monitoring her breathing and heart rate and at the seizures worst at had 911 already up on my phone but seeing a seizure before I felt this would have scared the wits out of her so I waited and watched very closely. I feel bad for her as this looks like living torture. Any Suggestions would be warmly welcomed.

Loving Step Parent

Re: Seizures During Sleep

Submitted by J and A on Mon, 2009-08-10 - 19:58

My husband started having sz less than 2 years ago (we're in our 30s). They have ALL been GMs in his sleep. He has no memory of them and generally recovers quite well after. So it is up to me to track and describe them. We did the neuro. with all the tests. They told us nothing (except that he doesn't have any tumor etc. Thank God). My question is, should he go on meds. when they only happen at night and he doesn't seem to suffer many after effects? I know there are many bad side effects to meds. Has anyone heard of someone having them only at night and then suddenly having one during the day?

It has been great to read so many accounts of different experiences! Thanks all.