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Is it possible to have seizures while remaining conscious? PLS HELP!!!

Sun, 11/21/2004 - 19:19

I've had these "seizure-like" episodes for 5 months now.  The first one I had started while I was sitting at my desk at work and I had an aura for about an hour where I got this zig-zag line in front of my eyes and I couldn't really see straight.  I also couldn't think straight or speak straight.  And when I tried to read something, I couldn't even sound out a simple word.  Then when my sight started to return, my legs and body got very rigid and I could barely move, so much so that I could barely stand up or reach my arm out to get the phone.  My body started tremoring for about 15 minutes.  I was rushed to the hospital, but remained conscious through the whole thing.  The paramedics and everyone else around me never said seizure.  They all thought maybe it was hypoglycemia, or something like that.  Well, 5 months later (and many neurological tests later), I'm still having episodes.  (I've had about 24)  They aren't always the same.  But for the most part, now, I will be sitting and all of the sudden I won't be able to hold my head up anymore (or I'll get a feeling in the pit of my stomach), and then my hands will get all fidgety.  This will escalate, until my foot kicks out, or my hand and eventually it's my whole upper and lower torso and head tremoring from anywhere from 5-30 minutes.  It will be hard to speak and my breathing might get labored.  I'm unable to move my own body at that point, so wherever I am having the episode is where I will be until the episode over, unless someone physically moves me.  Sometimes it slows down and stops.  Sometimes it stops abruptly.  I am always totally exhausted afterward and have lots of trouble with my legs afterward, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days.  They get very weak and heavy feeling and sometimes will give out when I walk.

They seem to come in clusters, like I will have 4-7 episodes within a 2-3 week period and then I won't have any for 7-10 days.  During the 7-10 days, I will feel good.  During the 2-3 week period, I will feel very lethargic and weak most of the time.

I've had an MRI, MRA, MRV, EEG, 24 hr. EEG, CT scan of the brain, EMG, ECG, EKG, blood work... plus probably some more that I'm forgetting about that have all come back normal.  One doctor even suggested pseudoseizures during an 8 day hospital stay, after he witnessed one of my episodes.  This was because I responded to him (remained conscious) during my "seizure" and he thought I was making it up, I guess.  I have two young children at home who have witnessed these episodes--I would not do that to them!   I was screened by a psychologist who does not believe they are pseudoseizures.

So my question is, could they still be seizures, even though I am conscious?  Or have any of you have similar episodes while remaining conscious and figured out what these episodes are?  I'm sick of the "pseudoseizure" label I've been getting.  I know something is physically wrong with me and I am trying to get to the bottom of it, but need some help from someone besides my doctors.  Thanks.

Theresa

Comments

RE: Is it possible to have seizures while remaining conscious? P

Submitted by theresab72 on Tue, 2004-11-16 - 12:48

I thought to add that my neuro suggested they might be either partial complex seizures towards the beginning before ruling it out with testing.   Then recently he said something like I have "tonic-clonic" tendencies with possible autonomic neuropathy.  Like I have any idea what that means.

Also, he did put me on Depakote from day one for two and a half months until I begged him to put me on something else because I gained 20+ lbs and lost a lot of hair, and now I am on Topamax 100 mg. twice a day.  He says this is to control the tremors that I have-not for actual seizures, and also to prevent migraines, which I also suffer from.

Please write back.

 

I thought to add that my neuro suggested they might be either partial complex seizures towards the beginning before ruling it out with testing.   Then recently he said something like I have "tonic-clonic" tendencies with possible autonomic neuropathy.  Like I have any idea what that means.

Also, he did put me on Depakote from day one for two and a half months until I begged him to put me on something else because I gained 20+ lbs and lost a lot of hair, and now I am on Topamax 100 mg. twice a day.  He says this is to control the tremors that I have-not for actual seizures, and also to prevent migraines, which I also suffer from.

Please write back.

 

RE: RE: Is it possible to have seizures while remaining consciou

Submitted by Zoe49576 on Wed, 2004-11-17 - 00:19

I remain concious when I have my seizures.  I get a tingling in my body like other people have described here.  I can hear people talk to me and can try to follow Directions, but its hard for me to Respond to them. I am like in slow motion, they say something and when the Seizure is over, I respond. 

 

Leah

I remain concious when I have my seizures.  I get a tingling in my body like other people have described here.  I can hear people talk to me and can try to follow Directions, but its hard for me to Respond to them. I am like in slow motion, they say something and when the Seizure is over, I respond. 

 

Leah

RE: RE: RE: Is it possible to have seizures while remaining cons

Submitted by theresab72 on Wed, 2004-11-17 - 08:09

Did the seizure activity show up on your EEG?

Do you know what type of seizure these are?  I learned about simple partial seizures yesterday, which I never heard of before, where you can remain conscious and have a seizure.  I am wondering why my doctors never looked into or even mentioned these to me.

Thanks for responding.

Theresa

Did the seizure activity show up on your EEG?

Do you know what type of seizure these are?  I learned about simple partial seizures yesterday, which I never heard of before, where you can remain conscious and have a seizure.  I am wondering why my doctors never looked into or even mentioned these to me.

Thanks for responding.

Theresa

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