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Seizures while sleeping~
Tue, 01/25/2005 - 17:03Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
Hello everyone,
I am new to this site... It is late, but I thought I would throw this question out -
Anyone have grand mals only while sleeping?
My apologies if I'm not using the correct verbiage (grand mal, to me, meaning the 'generic' seizures 1 hears about mainly throughout life - full body convulsions lasting a couple of minutes, eyes rolling, etc.).
This encompasses my seizure history, mainly. Quick summary: If I have a petit mal, it starts in my right arm, electric feeling, tone in the ear, still have full control. When sleeping, many times I wake up w/ what seems to have started as this right arm petit mal, but has 'spread' into my chest. Most of the time I can wake myself up out of them...seems if my level of awake/self-awareness is high enough, I can stop a grand mal from happening. However, there are times when I can not wake up enough. I then lapse into a seizure, experiencing/remembering far too much (scary!), & then next thing I know I am waking up very groggy, & so on.
Some may see this as a blessing in disguise, as I have never had a grand mal when I've not been asleep first. I suppose it is, but the experience is no less terrifying.
Thanks for the feedback,
Ache
Comments
RE: RE: Seizures while sleeping~
Submitted by Gretchen on Fri, 2005-01-21 - 23:36
This doesn't answer any questions but to add some information I have "nocturnals", I'm not sure what kind of sz's they are. Like many people once the sz ends my bladder sphincter muscles relax and I'm loosing control over my bladder, which wakes me up. Which is the ONLY way I know I've had a nocturnal often. But 4 times in the last year I've had a tonic/clonic (formerly grand mal) and I'm aware of it. I have quite a few t/c's and I've never been conscious, blessedly. I couldn't say I'm totally conscious but I'm aware and worse - I'm physically stuck! That's the worst part for me. I can't move, can't talk, signal for help. I have no idea how long these have lasted. I don't think I'm conscious for very long. I fall asleep though at some point, and remember them in the morning. I find those VERY unnerving. Hope for my lifetime it stays at the count of just 4. I have awakened with those 4 though fully engaged in the sz.I don't think I got enough information from your post or I'm not reading it right but if you're having one sided tonic/clonic type movements with heaviness in your chest? If the tonic or clonic movements don't move to the rest of your body but are one sided? I'd suggest you look up Jacksonian sz's. See if those fit. I have Jacksonians too and those are a tonic/clonic type sz but you're totally aware and awake. Or at least I am. I have those awake and maybe when I'm asleep. I just don't know the sorts of sz's I have asleep. I doubt tonic/clonic tho because I don't have that incredible soreness after.Bruce, I have read a lot of your posts and you seem to know your "stuff" but I felt your explanation of absence and simples was a little confusing. So, in the interest of those new to this fun thing, would you reread your explanation on simples and absences and rephrase? I don't like to correct others by posting something like well Bruce said but I think....blah blah. You have the gift for explanation too but I found that paragraph confusing. I know what you mean, but people new to this I wonder, might not. I think iti'd be helpful to many who read your post fi they understood the distinct difference bettwen absences and simples.Thank you - and I hope you don't take me as being critical. I am not saying that in the spirit of being critical, just thought your explanation as least to me was confusing (But then who knows I might be a little PI too and just didn't "get it").Good luck (to all of us!)
RE: RE: RE: Seizures while sleeping~
Submitted by classy1g on Fri, 2005-04-08 - 13:18
Gretchen,You wrote: I have quite a few t/c's and I've never been conscious, blessedly. I couldn't say I'm totally conscious but I'm aware and worse - I'm physically stuck! That's the worst part for me. I can't move, can't talk, signal for help. I have no idea how long these have lasted.What kind of seizures are these? what is a t/c? I also have these kind of seizures, and they are terribly frightening. I've had far too many while driving, and since can't drive.. :-( Sometimes, my body goes rigid, and other times I convulse. It starts out for me with loosing peripheal vision, as if I'm in a tunnel. It scares the bejeezus out of me, cause I think I'm going to pass out. I fight this feeling with all the strength I have. But my body freezes up...I know what I want to do, but my body won't react! It's terrifying and frustrating in the least! I also notice, that I stop breathing when this happens...do you also experience these type of symptoms?Warmly,classy1
RE: Seizures while sleeping~
Submitted by jessiprince on Fri, 2005-01-21 - 15:12
Hi,
I have an 11-year old son who also has grand-mal's only during sleep. The thing that has often puzzled me with him is that, often on these nights he will come and wake me up saying that he wants to watch a movie or play a game or something. I tell him to go back to bed and then I will wake again to see him standing over me. On these nights he ends up having a grand-mal seizure when he does fall asleep. I have always wondered if he has an aura or if he just has a hard time sleeping, and sleep deprivation is causing them.I would be interested to hear from an adult who might be able to give me more insight.
Thanks
Hi,
I have an 11-year old son who also has grand-mal's only during sleep. The thing that has often puzzled me with him is that, often on these nights he will come and wake me up saying that he wants to watch a movie or play a game or something. I tell him to go back to bed and then I will wake again to see him standing over me. On these nights he ends up having a grand-mal seizure when he does fall asleep. I have always wondered if he has an aura or if he just has a hard time sleeping, and sleep deprivation is causing them.I would be interested to hear from an adult who might be able to give me more insight.
Thanks