Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

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 Karolwf on Sat, 2004-11-20 - 09:49

I know what you mean about the pseudoseizure bit! I get sick of that myself. I was told I wanted attention to which I replied that I could find better ways of getting attention like climbing up on top of a table and doing a jig. That did not go over too well but for the life of me I do not know why anyone would want to have those kinds of feelings and things happening to their body to get attention. I know what you mean about the kids. I hated for my kids to see me when I was having an episode-- of course I was looking for attention!

You can remain total consious during a seizure-- I hardly ever loose conciousness and I usually never stop hearing. I cannot respond back but I am aware of what is going on around me most of the time even if it is a little distorted. I have been in a coma and I can tell you that while I was in the coma I HEARD EVERYTHING!! So do not let anyone tell you --even a doctor or a neurologist that just because you are aware it can't be a seizure. SPS which I have most of the time -- I do not loose conciousness and CPS sometimes I loose time awareness but I do remember most things. I will have some black out time but believe me it is not an attention getter. I'd rather go out in the middle of the busiest highway and yell at the top of my lungs than suffer from this!!

The "light shows"-- the squiggly lines and colored dots and such could be a migraine which also is connected with seizure activity. DO NOT LET DOCTORS BULLY YOU-- I have been at this for over a decade and the only real help you will get is when you stay as far away from Mental Health Pros as possible and find a neurologist who majors in Epilespy . Not all of them do and they don't always tell you that-- but you can tell by the way they treat you -- so I always ask if they are up on the Epilepsy info before I will hire them.

 

GOD BLESS YOU
Karol

I know what you mean about the pseudoseizure bit! I get sick of that myself. I was told I wanted attention to which I replied that I could find better ways of getting attention like climbing up on top of a table and doing a jig. That did not go over too well but for the life of me I do not know why anyone would want to have those kinds of feelings and things happening to their body to get attention. I know what you mean about the kids. I hated for my kids to see me when I was having an episode-- of course I was looking for attention!

You can remain total consious during a seizure-- I hardly ever loose conciousness and I usually never stop hearing. I cannot respond back but I am aware of what is going on around me most of the time even if it is a little distorted. I have been in a coma and I can tell you that while I was in the coma I HEARD EVERYTHING!! So do not let anyone tell you --even a doctor or a neurologist that just because you are aware it can't be a seizure. SPS which I have most of the time -- I do not loose conciousness and CPS sometimes I loose time awareness but I do remember most things. I will have some black out time but believe me it is not an attention getter. I'd rather go out in the middle of the busiest highway and yell at the top of my lungs than suffer from this!!

The "light shows"-- the squiggly lines and colored dots and such could be a migraine which also is connected with seizure activity. DO NOT LET DOCTORS BULLY YOU-- I have been at this for over a decade and the only real help you will get is when you stay as far away from Mental Health Pros as possible and find a neurologist who majors in Epilespy . Not all of them do and they don't always tell you that-- but you can tell by the way they treat you -- so I always ask if they are up on the Epilepsy info before I will hire them.

 

GOD BLESS YOU
Karol

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

Submitted by theresab72 on Sat, 2004-11-20 - 10:14

You have no idea how much your reply has helped me.  I will continue to pursue this until I am satisfied with my answer!  I made an appointment with an epilepsy center yesterday and I am no longer continuing to see my old neurologist.  I am taking my care into my own hands and not waiting for my doctors referrals anymore.  Fortunately my insurance does not need referrals to specialists, so I can make my own appts. without needing someone else's permission first, so it's time I do this on my own.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  God bless you too.  And thank you for taking the time to answer me.

Theresa

You have no idea how much your reply has helped me.  I will continue to pursue this until I am satisfied with my answer!  I made an appointment with an epilepsy center yesterday and I am no longer continuing to see my old neurologist.  I am taking my care into my own hands and not waiting for my doctors referrals anymore.  Fortunately my insurance does not need referrals to specialists, so I can make my own appts. without needing someone else's permission first, so it's time I do this on my own.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  God bless you too.  And thank you for taking the time to answer me.

Theresa

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

Submitted by mexican_fire on Sun, 2004-11-21 - 18:02

It is possilbe to ahve seizures while consious.

However, they are few and far between.  having gone through 3 or years of medical school leaning on being a neuro, I ahve some textbooks I can look in and give you information based on the medical aspect of what you want to know.

IF you have a Primary or Secondary TC, you will NEVER have consiousness.  All consiousness is supressed during a convulsion, hence switching off or turning off the brain the same way you would a light switch.

Those seizures last an average of 2-4 minutes, occaisonally shorter or longer give or take.  If those do go longer than 5 minutes, than emergency personel need to be contacted.  Post-ictal for hours to days afterwards.

In Simple Partial seizures the consiousness does remain in tact, and those last anywhere from 30 secs-1 1/2 minutes.  No post-ictal state.

In CPS the consiouness or awareness is altered or lost completey and this will vary for each person because of their set seizure pattern.

They will do the same things everytime, and their actions or automatisms will also remain the same.

These seizures last on average from 2-3 minutes.  Postical for hours to days afterwards.

Myoclonic seizures involve quick muscle-jerk motions of the legs, hands, arms, shoulders, and neck.  Awareness and consiousness is maintained during these seizures, and they only last a few seconds, no more.  No post-ictal state.

In Absence seizures wether they are part of an adult syndrome, or a childhood syndrome, they cause loss of consiousness and last for 5-20 seconds, and can occur from as few times as around 50 to as many as 4-500 times a day.  No post-ictal state.

Atonic seizures cause a very momentary lapse of consiousness and the person isn't even aware.  They last 2-3 seconds.  No post-ictal state

Tonic seizures cause a loss of consiousness for everything around them.
They get stiff like a bpoard and fall to the ground.  They get cyanotic and have a fixed gaze like that of a TC.  Post-ictal for hours to days afterwards.

Clonic seizures cause a loss of consiousness and are similair to TC except they only have the rhythmic jerking and no stiffening.  They last 2-3 minutes.  Postical for hours to days afterwards.

Nancy

It is possilbe to ahve seizures while consious.

However, they are few and far between.  having gone through 3 or years of medical school leaning on being a neuro, I ahve some textbooks I can look in and give you information based on the medical aspect of what you want to know.

IF you have a Primary or Secondary TC, you will NEVER have consiousness.  All consiousness is supressed during a convulsion, hence switching off or turning off the brain the same way you would a light switch.

Those seizures last an average of 2-4 minutes, occaisonally shorter or longer give or take.  If those do go longer than 5 minutes, than emergency personel need to be contacted.  Post-ictal for hours to days afterwards.

In Simple Partial seizures the consiousness does remain in tact, and those last anywhere from 30 secs-1 1/2 minutes.  No post-ictal state.

In CPS the consiouness or awareness is altered or lost completey and this will vary for each person because of their set seizure pattern.

They will do the same things everytime, and their actions or automatisms will also remain the same.

These seizures last on average from 2-3 minutes.  Postical for hours to days afterwards.

Myoclonic seizures involve quick muscle-jerk motions of the legs, hands, arms, shoulders, and neck.  Awareness and consiousness is maintained during these seizures, and they only last a few seconds, no more.  No post-ictal state.

In Absence seizures wether they are part of an adult syndrome, or a childhood syndrome, they cause loss of consiousness and last for 5-20 seconds, and can occur from as few times as around 50 to as many as 4-500 times a day.  No post-ictal state.

Atonic seizures cause a very momentary lapse of consiousness and the person isn't even aware.  They last 2-3 seconds.  No post-ictal state

Tonic seizures cause a loss of consiousness for everything around them.
They get stiff like a bpoard and fall to the ground.  They get cyanotic and have a fixed gaze like that of a TC.  Post-ictal for hours to days afterwards.

Clonic seizures cause a loss of consiousness and are similair to TC except they only have the rhythmic jerking and no stiffening.  They last 2-3 minutes.  Postical for hours to days afterwards.

Nancy

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.