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

Submitted by beautimouslove on Wed, 2004-11-17 - 23:58

i know that u are stressed and worried. i am in the same boat. i have seiz like urs up until the tremors, but i also have a brain tingle. anyway there are so many people that will answer ur post. every one is so nice and VERY knowledgable. on tonic and complex seiz,,, if u read some other posts, (cannot remember whichone) i asked the same question in a post, and someone answered and knew there stuff. it helped me so much, so find that.  and the med (only b/c i am a student rn) topamax is a med for partial seiz in children 2-16yrs old, tonic seiz in lennox-gastaut syndrome.  it is also used for bipolar disorder, cluster headache, infantile spasms. it action is to prevent seiz spread.  of course do not take any herbs or drink alcohol.

i hope that i helped some. 

i know that u are stressed and worried. i am in the same boat. i have seiz like urs up until the tremors, but i also have a brain tingle. anyway there are so many people that will answer ur post. every one is so nice and VERY knowledgable. on tonic and complex seiz,,, if u read some other posts, (cannot remember whichone) i asked the same question in a post, and someone answered and knew there stuff. it helped me so much, so find that.  and the med (only b/c i am a student rn) topamax is a med for partial seiz in children 2-16yrs old, tonic seiz in lennox-gastaut syndrome.  it is also used for bipolar disorder, cluster headache, infantile spasms. it action is to prevent seiz spread.  of course do not take any herbs or drink alcohol.

i hope that i helped some. 

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Is it possible to have seizures while remain

Submitted by theresab72 on Fri, 2004-11-19 - 09:09

That's interesting about Topamax.  My neuro said I'm basically taking it to control the tremors and to prevent migraines (and I think the weight loss side effect was one he wished for me too-unfortunately that one isn't helping me). 

He believes I have something called Orthostatic tremors.  I have low blood pressure and I have orthostatic hypotension (they believe-because I failed a tilt table test) where my blood pressure will drop if I stand too long and the blood will pool in my legs and deprive my brain of the oxygen it needs, leaving me weak, leading to almost a faint.  He believes that all my symptoms are due to this.  Except that, I tell him my episodes occur when I am sitting, standing, laying down, and also, I check my blood pressure and my blood pressure is not low at that time(!), so how can that be right???  He never answers me. 

It seemed that when I first started taking the Topamax (50 mg twice a day), the episodes would still occur the same way, then he increased my dosage to 100 mg twice a day and the tremors pretty much stopped for about a month (but not the episodes).  Now they are coming back again during the episodes.

I'm trying to find an epilepsy center in a hospital in my area to contact today.  I'm not even giving my neuro a second chance at this point.  5 months is long enough to live like this without knowing what is the real deal.

Thanks for your help.  Sure doesn't sound like this med is the right one for me.  If you could let me know where your previous post is, I would love to read it.  I'll try to find it if I can though.

Theresa

That's interesting about Topamax.  My neuro said I'm basically taking it to control the tremors and to prevent migraines (and I think the weight loss side effect was one he wished for me too-unfortunately that one isn't helping me). 

He believes I have something called Orthostatic tremors.  I have low blood pressure and I have orthostatic hypotension (they believe-because I failed a tilt table test) where my blood pressure will drop if I stand too long and the blood will pool in my legs and deprive my brain of the oxygen it needs, leaving me weak, leading to almost a faint.  He believes that all my symptoms are due to this.  Except that, I tell him my episodes occur when I am sitting, standing, laying down, and also, I check my blood pressure and my blood pressure is not low at that time(!), so how can that be right???  He never answers me. 

It seemed that when I first started taking the Topamax (50 mg twice a day), the episodes would still occur the same way, then he increased my dosage to 100 mg twice a day and the tremors pretty much stopped for about a month (but not the episodes).  Now they are coming back again during the episodes.

I'm trying to find an epilepsy center in a hospital in my area to contact today.  I'm not even giving my neuro a second chance at this point.  5 months is long enough to live like this without knowing what is the real deal.

Thanks for your help.  Sure doesn't sound like this med is the right one for me.  If you could let me know where your previous post is, I would love to read it.  I'll try to find it if I can though.

Theresa

RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Is it possible to have seizures while re

Submitted by theresab72 on Fri, 2004-11-19 - 09:38

beautimouslove, I found your post.  Thanks for letting me know about it-it helped a lot.  I'm so sorry about what you're going through.  I hope you can find some answers today and get some financial help with the medical bills too.

Theresa

beautimouslove, I found your post.  Thanks for letting me know about it-it helped a lot.  I'm so sorry about what you're going through.  I hope you can find some answers today and get some financial help with the medical bills too.

Theresa

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