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Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Wed, 05/25/2011 - 18:04

So I'm in the hospital today, (was yesterday too) for VEEG testing.

I had a two "attacks" yesterday that included sudden numbness in face neck and arms, sudden tension to the point where my hands were bent in funny ways, loss of mobility in arms, jerking/muscle spasms, emotional, with clouded awareness and some loss of memory. Believe it or not, these attacks were shown to be psychogenic according to my EEG. They also say that based on previous EEGs I still have confirmed epileptic seizures. So what I know right now, and what we are looking at, is that I have both epileptic AND PNES. I have been prescribed Lamictal for my epileptic spells.

Gonna be in the hospital another day or so.

Anybody else deal with both epileptic and psychogenic seizures? It would be nice to hear about some individuals that have the issue of detrmining spells caused by unconscious mood stressors vs spells caused by epilepsy. How do you cope? What triggers have you found? Have you found a difference between the two?

AJ

Comments

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by phylisfjohnson on Thu, 2011-05-26 - 12:15

Yes, I have both and here's a little research:

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures – (PNES)

PNES as defined by the Epilepsy Foundation, is a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. They’re caused by psychological trauma or conflict that impacts the patient’s state of mind. 

The Epilepsy Foundation states that sexual or physical abuse is the leading cause of psychogenic seizures, where the abuse occurred during childhood or more recently: life changes, like death and divorce are another possible cause of a psychogenic seizures.  This form of seizure often resembles a complex partial or tonic-clonic (grand-mal) seizure, with generalized convulsions, stiffening, jerking, falling, shaking and crying. Less often, a psychogenic seizure resembles a complex partial seizure, with a temporary loss of attention.

Interestingly, about 1 in 6 of these patients either already has epileptic seizures or has had them. So different treatment is needed for each disorder. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are most often seen in adolescents and young adults, but they also can occur in children and the elderly. And they are three times more common in females!

Doctors have identified certain kinds of movements and patterns that seem to be more common in psychogenic seizures than in seizures caused by epilepsy. Some of these patterns do occur occasionally in epileptic seizures however, so having one of them does not necessarily mean that the seizure was non-epileptic.

Phylis Feiner Johnson   www.epilepsytalk.com

Yes, I have both and here's a little research:

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures – (PNES)

PNES as defined by the Epilepsy Foundation, is a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. They’re caused by psychological trauma or conflict that impacts the patient’s state of mind. 

The Epilepsy Foundation states that sexual or physical abuse is the leading cause of psychogenic seizures, where the abuse occurred during childhood or more recently: life changes, like death and divorce are another possible cause of a psychogenic seizures.  This form of seizure often resembles a complex partial or tonic-clonic (grand-mal) seizure, with generalized convulsions, stiffening, jerking, falling, shaking and crying. Less often, a psychogenic seizure resembles a complex partial seizure, with a temporary loss of attention.

Interestingly, about 1 in 6 of these patients either already has epileptic seizures or has had them. So different treatment is needed for each disorder. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are most often seen in adolescents and young adults, but they also can occur in children and the elderly. And they are three times more common in females!

Doctors have identified certain kinds of movements and patterns that seem to be more common in psychogenic seizures than in seizures caused by epilepsy. Some of these patterns do occur occasionally in epileptic seizures however, so having one of them does not necessarily mean that the seizure was non-epileptic.

Phylis Feiner Johnson   www.epilepsytalk.com

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by elania5 on Fri, 2011-08-12 - 19:34
I also have that!!!! I'm on delaint and my moods are crazy sometimes, but I have been on the medication for 2 years. So I know if I'm going to have a good day or a bad!! The worst thing about the seizures is that your so SORE after the fact!Elania

Re: Psychogenic AND Epileptic. Anyone else have this too?

Submitted by Odd1Out on Fri, 2011-08-19 - 18:52
I have that to Elania. Although it was painful for me and still is because I've had all types of seizures since 12yrs. I had brain surgery though and the main ones that I have now (along with side-effect from surgery) are Psychogenic seizures. Due to the fact that many here do not know what those are people in the medical field here denied them which REALLY hurt my feelings.  I myself found proof and infact until later they were written about.I have an illness though so I just let it be. They didn't have the option of my talking about them on most epilepsy sites due to lack of their knowing about them. I want to go to college but I doubt very seriously that I can afford it and while I was trying out for college last time. Many denied my condition so I ended up getting very depressed and giving up. I really wish that the epilepsy community would at least help me to help them. I learned to make a site all on my own because I couldn't afford to pay someone to do it. I'm a HUGE epilepsy advocate and always will be. :) I'm awful glad that there are others that I can relate to.

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