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Deja vu
Tue, 04/05/2005 - 08:00Hi, my name is Lisa and this is my first time posting. I am 39 years and a mother of two daughters. About 18 months ago, I had two experiences of deja vu. After the deju vu feeling passed, I had a strange feeling in my stomach (like being on a rollercoaster). These deja vu experiences were about a week apart and I believe only lasted a second or two. About two weeks after these deja vu experiences and had a "doom" feeling. I was in the bathroom and this intense feeling of dread happenned followed by that strange feeling in my stomach. After these incidents I feel very "foggy" and tired. I called my family practioner and he ordered an MRI which was "normal" and showed no lesions. He asked if I wanted to see a neurologist but I declined because I thought it would never happen again. Well it did--last Friday I had two more episodes of Deja Vu, once when I was laying in bed and again about an hour later. I know they were deja vu and at the time intense, however I cannot remember what the particular dream sequence was. I called my family practioner and he has referred me to a neurolgist that specializes in seizure disorders. I cannot get into the neurologist until late May? Am I on the right track here? should I request certain tests? does an EEG only show irregularities while having a seizure? Also, I am afraid to drive in case one of these episodes occur. Thanks!
Comments
Re: RE: Deja vu
Submitted by Jennifer1171 on Sat, 2007-07-21 - 13:21
RE: Deja vu
Submitted by mommy2kyra on Mon, 2005-04-04 - 18:00
Hi Lisa,
Sounds like a simple partial seizure to me. I had my "scary deja vu" experiences for 8 years before it was looked into. And that was only done because a complex partial had progressed and became generalized. I was rushed to the hospital by paramedics, and the ER did a whole host of tests while I was still out of it. My MRI and bloodtests were normal, the TLE was discovered by an EEG.
Up until that fateful night. I had gone through a whole lot with my deja vu's. It started with just a couple of deja vu's (from what I knew, anyway...as I wasn't fully conscious through the rest of the seizure, so I had no knowledge of my frightened words). The deja vu scared me, and I began having panic attacks too. Soon, I was either always seizing or panicking. Not to scare you, but that lasted 2-3 years. I, also, just thought that I was going crazy...so, I wasn't medicated. I saw a psychologist for 4 years in order to figure out what my problem was, and stop the scary deja vu's already! Seeing the psychologist did provide some relief from the fear and stress, and a pattern began to emit. I would have these episodes as I was drifting off to sleep (my hubby told me) where I would sit up and say, "Shhhhh...shut up! Shut up!" Then, I'd lay back down and was asleep. I had no recollection of it at all. My episodes began occuring predictably. Pre-menstrually and during times of high stress, and almost always as I was falling asleep. We just figured that I was unconsciously working through my anxiety...DUH!!! What a dummy! It wasn't until I had a grand mal right after my usual episode one night that the sh*& hit the fan.
I lost my drivers license, until I'd been seizure-free for at least one year. It took 2 years to get my seizures under control, and I got my DL back a year after that. For a little while, I was pretty angry about it all. But, after a few years, I had to switch meds (due to a rare side effect). During my med switch, I was under extreme stress. It was finals week in my senior year at college, no one knew that I had any kind of disorder, and I was SOOOO out of it because of the meds. I got into an accident in a parking lot. From my perspective, this car came out of nowhere and I backed into her. The driver was furious with me, and I was confused. Chances are, I had a small seizure and backed up into her. I shouldn't have been driving. My neuro should have told me not to drive. Thank God I was in a parking lot when this happened!
I'm sorry if I bored you with my history, but I have a tendency to do that! LOL :) Seriously, though, look out for any patterns. And, just because you aren't aware of anything other than deja vu (and fuzzy consciousness) doesn't mean that something more serious isn't happening. In fact, the "foggy" consciousness makes me think that you're having complex partials too. I would avoid driving as much as you can, for a while, until you're certain that things are under control. Heck, I still avoid driving, and it's been 8 years since I was diagnosed! I do drive...but, hubby drives whenever possible. And, if I'm feeling out of it (which happens, I'm a mother of two young girls), I won't drive at all. I hope that this has provided you some insight! Feel free to e-mail me: heathertink@yahoo.com
Heather
p.s. I've had EEG's when my seizures were both out of and under control. Each time, the test showed either seizure activity or "pre-seizure" activity.
Hi Lisa,
Sounds like a simple partial seizure to me. I had my "scary deja vu" experiences for 8 years before it was looked into. And that was only done because a complex partial had progressed and became generalized. I was rushed to the hospital by paramedics, and the ER did a whole host of tests while I was still out of it. My MRI and bloodtests were normal, the TLE was discovered by an EEG.
Up until that fateful night. I had gone through a whole lot with my deja vu's. It started with just a couple of deja vu's (from what I knew, anyway...as I wasn't fully conscious through the rest of the seizure, so I had no knowledge of my frightened words). The deja vu scared me, and I began having panic attacks too. Soon, I was either always seizing or panicking. Not to scare you, but that lasted 2-3 years. I, also, just thought that I was going crazy...so, I wasn't medicated. I saw a psychologist for 4 years in order to figure out what my problem was, and stop the scary deja vu's already! Seeing the psychologist did provide some relief from the fear and stress, and a pattern began to emit. I would have these episodes as I was drifting off to sleep (my hubby told me) where I would sit up and say, "Shhhhh...shut up! Shut up!" Then, I'd lay back down and was asleep. I had no recollection of it at all. My episodes began occuring predictably. Pre-menstrually and during times of high stress, and almost always as I was falling asleep. We just figured that I was unconsciously working through my anxiety...DUH!!! What a dummy! It wasn't until I had a grand mal right after my usual episode one night that the sh*& hit the fan.
I lost my drivers license, until I'd been seizure-free for at least one year. It took 2 years to get my seizures under control, and I got my DL back a year after that. For a little while, I was pretty angry about it all. But, after a few years, I had to switch meds (due to a rare side effect). During my med switch, I was under extreme stress. It was finals week in my senior year at college, no one knew that I had any kind of disorder, and I was SOOOO out of it because of the meds. I got into an accident in a parking lot. From my perspective, this car came out of nowhere and I backed into her. The driver was furious with me, and I was confused. Chances are, I had a small seizure and backed up into her. I shouldn't have been driving. My neuro should have told me not to drive. Thank God I was in a parking lot when this happened!
I'm sorry if I bored you with my history, but I have a tendency to do that! LOL :) Seriously, though, look out for any patterns. And, just because you aren't aware of anything other than deja vu (and fuzzy consciousness) doesn't mean that something more serious isn't happening. In fact, the "foggy" consciousness makes me think that you're having complex partials too. I would avoid driving as much as you can, for a while, until you're certain that things are under control. Heck, I still avoid driving, and it's been 8 years since I was diagnosed! I do drive...but, hubby drives whenever possible. And, if I'm feeling out of it (which happens, I'm a mother of two young girls), I won't drive at all. I hope that this has provided you some insight! Feel free to e-mail me: heathertink@yahoo.com
Heather
p.s. I've had EEG's when my seizures were both out of and under control. Each time, the test showed either seizure activity or "pre-seizure" activity.
Re: RE: Deja vu
Submitted by Debbie39 on Fri, 2009-06-26 - 09:52
I have been having these same episodes as described varies a little but for the most part the same, following the seizures there is always a feel of doom, almost like a panic attack, I forget things during this time. If the are strong enough I will throw up, also I have a metallic taste in my mouth and food does not taste right at all. I have had my seizures now for 7 years after the birth of my son, while pregnant with my daughter they stopped but started again right after she was born, now I get them once a month, usually during ovulation. I have tried about 6 different meds and have been to numerous doctors and no one knows what to do or what exactly it is. My MRI and CT scan were normal, my EEG was abnomral showing seizure activity. I guess it helps knowing other people are in the same "boat" but still scarey. If anyone has any other ideas on what to try keep it posted.