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Is this something I should worry about
Mon, 08/30/2004 - 05:51I have Epilepsy. I haven't had very many in recent years, but I have had one or two lately. I'm not so worried about me, the problem is this.... My boyfriend has been having episodes that are either seizures or very similar to seizures. The seem to only happen when he coughs really badly. I have seen a few of these lately. He is now telling me it has been going on for a while now, but he didn't want me to worry so he hadn't said anything to me about it. Is this something I should worry about? Oh and he does not go to doctors if he can avoid it. (It doesn't help that he has no insurance either)
Any Ideas anyone????
Comments
RE: RE: RE: RE: Is this something I should worry about
Submitted by doksdarlin on Wed, 2004-08-18 - 06:36
thank you Heather.
I really am concerned. He doesn't seem to be. He had an ex that used to have very severe seizures and he doesn't see this as a problem, since it's only when he coughs. He was very clear, not the mention this to my family or his, and not to cross him on this.
I sort of understand this. My mother is very insistant if anyone is remotely sick. She goes way overboard. Being a nurse she tells you several things it could be, and insists, even if you have a bad cold, that you see a doctor. Most of the time, a doctor isn't needed, but she doesn't see it that way. She has always been that way. I went to the doctor all the time when I was growing up.
I don't know exactly which kind you would call it. He usually keeps his eyes open, and just loses control of whatever he has in his hand. He either drops a bottle, or whatever he was holding. Once or twice he was on the computer and had the mouse in his had. When he came back, he had clicked tons of stuff and had to clear all these boxes off the screen.
Oh and he jerks some, but not like convulsions exactly. Just like 3 or 4 jerky moves usually his arm or his upper body jerks a few times. This is what drew my attention when I saw it the first time.
This is different that what happens to me. I get a warning, and then I black out for a minute or two, my head drops if nothing else does. I lose concousness. He usually does not.
The last one I saw, his head actually dropped on the computer keyboard, and I had to arouse him. He said he was going to quit smoking to help stop the cough. Which of course is good, but doesn't tell us what is going on.
I'm gonna keep working on him. I have to go to my GYN today, and I'm gonna ask them to recomend a neuro for me. We'll see how that goes. Thanks again everyone.
thank you Heather.
I really am concerned. He doesn't seem to be. He had an ex that used to have very severe seizures and he doesn't see this as a problem, since it's only when he coughs. He was very clear, not the mention this to my family or his, and not to cross him on this.
I sort of understand this. My mother is very insistant if anyone is remotely sick. She goes way overboard. Being a nurse she tells you several things it could be, and insists, even if you have a bad cold, that you see a doctor. Most of the time, a doctor isn't needed, but she doesn't see it that way. She has always been that way. I went to the doctor all the time when I was growing up.
I don't know exactly which kind you would call it. He usually keeps his eyes open, and just loses control of whatever he has in his hand. He either drops a bottle, or whatever he was holding. Once or twice he was on the computer and had the mouse in his had. When he came back, he had clicked tons of stuff and had to clear all these boxes off the screen.
Oh and he jerks some, but not like convulsions exactly. Just like 3 or 4 jerky moves usually his arm or his upper body jerks a few times. This is what drew my attention when I saw it the first time.
This is different that what happens to me. I get a warning, and then I black out for a minute or two, my head drops if nothing else does. I lose concousness. He usually does not.
The last one I saw, his head actually dropped on the computer keyboard, and I had to arouse him. He said he was going to quit smoking to help stop the cough. Which of course is good, but doesn't tell us what is going on.
I'm gonna keep working on him. I have to go to my GYN today, and I'm gonna ask them to recomend a neuro for me. We'll see how that goes. Thanks again everyone.
RE: Is this something I should worry about
Submitted by doksdarlin on Sun, 2004-08-29 - 07:28
update:
I have been searching through the symptoms, and I think what seems to happen to him, better fits with Syncope better than it does with seizures. Specifically, Situational Syncope or cough sycope.
I will know for sure if I can get him to a doctor, but for this, there isn't much they can do for him. It only happens when he coughs, and from what I read, the best thing he can do is stop smoking, and try to control his coughs when he can. And not to sit upright for too long at a time.
If anyone has any other information on this, please let me know. I have done alot of reading about this and seizures lately, and this best descibes what has been going on.
Thanks for you help
update:
I have been searching through the symptoms, and I think what seems to happen to him, better fits with Syncope better than it does with seizures. Specifically, Situational Syncope or cough sycope.
I will know for sure if I can get him to a doctor, but for this, there isn't much they can do for him. It only happens when he coughs, and from what I read, the best thing he can do is stop smoking, and try to control his coughs when he can. And not to sit upright for too long at a time.
If anyone has any other information on this, please let me know. I have done alot of reading about this and seizures lately, and this best descibes what has been going on.
Thanks for you help
RE: RE: RE: Is this something I should worry about
Submitted by mommy2kyra on Tue, 2004-08-10 - 09:44
Hi doksdarlin,
You've got several different problems here. Your bf may or may not be having seizures, the only way to tell (in most cases) is gonna be some pretty extensive brain testing. I do think that it's strange that he only seizes when he coughs...are we talking tonic-clonic, or some other type of seizure btw? If bf has a problem seeing doctors, you've got a BIG hurdle to overcome..my dh is similar, he'll only see a doctor if he's REALLY sick. I don't know how you can convince your bf to see a doctor, especially if he is so wary of them.
All that I can recommend doing is finding a doctor that you, yourself, are happy and confident with..maybe run the problem by him/her (and see what they say)...and tell your bf that you are very concerned. Tell him that you'd like to see your new doc. Kill two birds with one stone :) Reach out in your local community, to find a good neuro that others with seizure disorders are happy with. Check with your local Epilepsy Foundation chapter to see who they might recommend.
Good luck to you and your bf!
Heather
Hi doksdarlin,
You've got several different problems here. Your bf may or may not be having seizures, the only way to tell (in most cases) is gonna be some pretty extensive brain testing. I do think that it's strange that he only seizes when he coughs...are we talking tonic-clonic, or some other type of seizure btw? If bf has a problem seeing doctors, you've got a BIG hurdle to overcome..my dh is similar, he'll only see a doctor if he's REALLY sick. I don't know how you can convince your bf to see a doctor, especially if he is so wary of them.
All that I can recommend doing is finding a doctor that you, yourself, are happy and confident with..maybe run the problem by him/her (and see what they say)...and tell your bf that you are very concerned. Tell him that you'd like to see your new doc. Kill two birds with one stone :) Reach out in your local community, to find a good neuro that others with seizure disorders are happy with. Check with your local Epilepsy Foundation chapter to see who they might recommend.
Good luck to you and your bf!
Heather