Community Forum Archive
The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.
Petit Mal or Absence Seizures Appearing in Adulthood
Sun, 09/10/2006 - 18:47Topic: New to Epilepsy.com
My Name is Anthony Andrew, and recently, at the age of 25, i have been informaly diagnosed with Absence Seizures by my family. doctor. We are still running a few extra "tests" just to make sure. I have been studying the topic of petit mal's and have yet to find anything on the subject of adulthood appearance of petit mals. I started experiencing absences almost two and a half years ago (i was twenty-two). At first it was just once or twice a week, but has now increased to nearly five or six a day. They didn't bother me too much, untill recently. I own my own business, a fledgling seasonal store. i have been working very hard with my staff to prepare for the Hallowe'en and Christmas seasons, our largest. But because of the absences, i am finding myself suddenly standing in front of my staff with no idea what i was just talking about. It returns after a few moments, but it is always another minute or so before i can form words. It is really starting to affect my business and my relationship with my staff.
After all that, i guess what i am trying to find out is whether or not there are other cases of absence seizures appearing for the first time in adulthood. My Doctors have not heard of any other similar cases, but i don't know if they really don't know, or if they just don't read the Medical Journal.
I would really apreciate any information. Thanks for reading my rant!
Comments
Re: Petit Mal or Absence Seizures Appearing in Adulthood
Submitted by Bloodyrose on Sun, 2006-09-17 - 08:42
Hi Anthony! It's hard to get your head around some of the differences between the seizure types, isn't it? Nobody seems to know whether my stares/space ours are absence seizures or a form of simple partial (which I get definite other symptoms for), along with CPS and TCS.
But there definitely are other cases of adults developing this. They are much rarer than, say, children getting absences seizures, but they do happen.
Welcome to the forum, and I hope you get the answers you are looking for. Are you planning on going on medication?
-Rachael
Re: Petit Mal or Absence Seizures Appearing in Adulthood
Submitted by lrshaw on Mon, 2006-12-04 - 12:02
Hey, Anthony, my daughter who is 29 had her first absent seizure about a week ago. She picked up her daughter from daycare at 5:30 and the next thing she remembers its 5:45 and she doesn't recognize her surroundings. She has went 9 miles past her regular turn for home. She manuvered 2 stop signs and 2 turns and does not have any memory of it. She had numbness across her chest and arms and was very confused and speech was difficult. She calls me on speed dial and realizes where she is at. We go and pick her up and go to the er. They did a cat scan, which came out fine. She has an appt w/neurologist. I never heard of an absent seizure where you were able to function enough to drive but have no memory of close to a 15 minute span..
Re: Petit Mal or Absence Seizures Appearing in Adulthood
Submitted by faerietygers on Tue, 2006-09-12 - 20:23
I have petite mal absence seizures, and I know exactly what you are going through. I started to have them when I was 7, but I continued to get them well into my 20s. I have been seizure free for three years, and i am 29. the last ones I received were when I was 26. I used to get them when I was asked to read outloud in class. I would have a seizure and blank out at the word the....It is embarrassing, but if you speak to them about it, I have found that people were pretty understanding regarding mine. doctors don't know everything, but trust that you are not alone. I had only absence seizures (as far as I knew, but apparently I was probably having partial seizures as well) until my first and only grand mal (tonic clonic)when I was 26.