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Do you consider auras to be seizures

Mon, 12/06/2004 - 10:57
My husband had epilepsy and had surgery a little over two months ago. He has had auras on and off for the past two days, no seizures. However, when I called his doctors office the nurse said that auras are little seizures. I never heard that before and now am heartbroken because if I tell my husband that he will lose it. Has anyone else heard that before?Jackie

Comments

RE: RE: Do you consider auras to be seizures

Submitted by jackieoh on Fri, 2004-12-03 - 14:19

Hi!  The aura is as he describes a "funky feeling in his belly"  it starts out as a rising from his belly upward - he describes it as going down in an elevator, the initial feeling in the pit of his stomach does not go away, the rising feeling comes and goes.  This type of "aura" usually lasts for weeks at a time.  That is why I am unsure that it is an actual aura, don't get me wrong, I believe my husband, I love him more than anything, I just wonder if it is an aura.  I know that he has epilepsy and I never don't believe anything he tells me, I just wonder if he confuses this feeling with something else or I don't know what else it could be.  It is just hard to understand that an aura can last weeks on end.  He has no halucinations, auditory issues, smells or anything else when this is going on.   He continues to have this aura but this morning he told me that he was feeling achy, feverish, etc.  The flu is going around in the school where he works so I am hoping that maybe it is all related and will just stop.

Thanks for all your input.  I am taking it all in and sharing with my husband.

Thank you again.

Jackie

Hi!  The aura is as he describes a "funky feeling in his belly"  it starts out as a rising from his belly upward - he describes it as going down in an elevator, the initial feeling in the pit of his stomach does not go away, the rising feeling comes and goes.  This type of "aura" usually lasts for weeks at a time.  That is why I am unsure that it is an actual aura, don't get me wrong, I believe my husband, I love him more than anything, I just wonder if it is an aura.  I know that he has epilepsy and I never don't believe anything he tells me, I just wonder if he confuses this feeling with something else or I don't know what else it could be.  It is just hard to understand that an aura can last weeks on end.  He has no halucinations, auditory issues, smells or anything else when this is going on.   He continues to have this aura but this morning he told me that he was feeling achy, feverish, etc.  The flu is going around in the school where he works so I am hoping that maybe it is all related and will just stop.

Thanks for all your input.  I am taking it all in and sharing with my husband.

Thank you again.

Jackie

RE: RE: RE: Do you consider auras to be seizures

Submitted by theresab72 on Fri, 2004-12-03 - 19:22

I am adding my two cents worth only because I was just diagnosed (as in two days ago) with autonomic neuropathy (nerve damage).  I also have had that pit of the stomach feeling for weeks now and it doesn't go away.  Does he feel full all the time and is he eating less than normal?  I will eat three bites of food and feel full.  Lately, I will eat one small meal and then have to drink Ensure or Boost to sustain my calories because I feel that feeling in my stomach.  Almost a nausea, but not quite.  That elevator reference was right on with what I am feeling too.

My neurologist (in NY) has just gotten this new test called an ANSAR test which tests both sides of the nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic and how they work together and that is how I found out that I have this disorder.  (I am still not totally convinced that I am not also having seizures too, but have never been diagnosed with seizures.)  This is a relatively new test (as far as I know) but you might want to see if you can find out more info about it.  Here is the website where you might be able to request info on it: http://ansargroupinc.com/  My neurologist was the one to order the test for me.  It gave me results right then and there.  It was amazing!

Best of luck.  Theresa

 

I am adding my two cents worth only because I was just diagnosed (as in two days ago) with autonomic neuropathy (nerve damage).  I also have had that pit of the stomach feeling for weeks now and it doesn't go away.  Does he feel full all the time and is he eating less than normal?  I will eat three bites of food and feel full.  Lately, I will eat one small meal and then have to drink Ensure or Boost to sustain my calories because I feel that feeling in my stomach.  Almost a nausea, but not quite.  That elevator reference was right on with what I am feeling too.

My neurologist (in NY) has just gotten this new test called an ANSAR test which tests both sides of the nervous system, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic and how they work together and that is how I found out that I have this disorder.  (I am still not totally convinced that I am not also having seizures too, but have never been diagnosed with seizures.)  This is a relatively new test (as far as I know) but you might want to see if you can find out more info about it.  Here is the website where you might be able to request info on it: http://ansargroupinc.com/  My neurologist was the one to order the test for me.  It gave me results right then and there.  It was amazing!

Best of luck.  Theresa

 

RE: RE: RE: RE: Do you consider auras to be seizures

Submitted by jackieoh on Fri, 2004-12-03 - 22:47

Hi Theresa,

Thanks for the info.  I went on the website, I am definitely intrested in finding out more about it.  You are the first person to ever say they have had this seemingly endless feeling.  I am going to contact his doctor on Monday about it.  Last time he had this aura, he had an EEG and nothing showed.  I have given him over 4mg of ativan in the last few days and it has not ended the aura, when I have given the ativan in the past during actual seizures (ones that I could see- not that I don't believe) it has stopped them, that too is why I do not know if it is an actual aura.  Anyway, thanks for the information.  If you don't mind my asking who is your neuro?  We are also in NY and I would love to find out exactly where they have this test.

Thanks.

Jackie 

Hi Theresa,

Thanks for the info.  I went on the website, I am definitely intrested in finding out more about it.  You are the first person to ever say they have had this seemingly endless feeling.  I am going to contact his doctor on Monday about it.  Last time he had this aura, he had an EEG and nothing showed.  I have given him over 4mg of ativan in the last few days and it has not ended the aura, when I have given the ativan in the past during actual seizures (ones that I could see- not that I don't believe) it has stopped them, that too is why I do not know if it is an actual aura.  Anyway, thanks for the information.  If you don't mind my asking who is your neuro?  We are also in NY and I would love to find out exactly where they have this test.

Thanks.

Jackie 

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