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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: Is it possible to have seizures while remaining cons

Submitted by spiritling on Fri, 2007-08-24 - 08:38
I am remain concious when i get seizure attacks from the beginning of my epilepsy history. Before my seizure attacks, i am like in slow motion,somehow cant speak, no respond to others, even cant walk. people thought that i am pretending but i have no control on those weird symptoms.i feel tired and fall to sleep after the attack.

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

Submitted by ashkazz on Thu, 2004-11-18 - 14:23
I have seizures where I remain conscious during the whole time.  I am aware that things are happening, I just can't respond like i want to.    I understand how you feel.   Mine are complex partial according to the doctor.  I also have the feeling of my legs getting so weak that they give out form under me, but my whole body feels weak.  I don't know if this is due to what I am eating, my meds, or if they are episodes as well.  but i do empathize with you. 

I had seizures while I was consious for the first time in my lif

Submitted by kristinlee22 on Mon, 2011-03-14 - 23:40

This happened to me, about six days ago. i went in for a veeg, and I started having seizures about 40 hours after my last medication dose, but this time, I was consious through out the entire seizure! I had about 15-20 consious seizures during the five day VEEG. My neuro said I was having non epileptic seizures. He says I have areas of Epilepsy on my VEEG, but the seizures I were having, were not epileptic seizures. the weird this is that Ive never had these kind of seizures before the VEEG. I had 7 more when I was released and sent home after the VEEG. Ive been taking Keppra XR and Cabrotral for over 10 years now, and other medications prior to those since the age of 18 months when I was diagnosted with Epilepsy.

 

My dr made a appointment with a psych dr in about four days for me to see. He thinks these are stress related. but I dont think they are.

This happened to me, about six days ago. i went in for a veeg, and I started having seizures about 40 hours after my last medication dose, but this time, I was consious through out the entire seizure! I had about 15-20 consious seizures during the five day VEEG. My neuro said I was having non epileptic seizures. He says I have areas of Epilepsy on my VEEG, but the seizures I were having, were not epileptic seizures. the weird this is that Ive never had these kind of seizures before the VEEG. I had 7 more when I was released and sent home after the VEEG. Ive been taking Keppra XR and Cabrotral for over 10 years now, and other medications prior to those since the age of 18 months when I was diagnosted with Epilepsy.

 

My dr made a appointment with a psych dr in about four days for me to see. He thinks these are stress related. but I dont think they are.

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