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Is my Dad ok?
Fri, 06/16/2006 - 08:17Hi,
My Dad - who has been healthy his whole life - had a seizure about 18 months ago. He had never had one before. It was in the middle of the night, he was shaking, was not conscious, and when he awoke was very confused.
He was in hospital for a few days, and when he came out he was ok. Nothing happened after that until about 4 months later. We were in our house and he just stopped talking in the middle of a sentence. When i spoke to him, he just made 'hum' noises, like he was agreeing to what I was saying but couldnt respond. It lasted about 20 secs, and when he came out of it, he said he knew what I was saying but just couldnt do anything.
That didn't happen again until 4 months later, and then again a few months later. Each time the same thing happened. It always affected him for a few days after- he was more tired than usual. It hasn't happened since December, but two days ago, my Dad just blacked out at work. He dropped to the floor, and woke up a few seconds later with his collegues around him.
I'm really worried about him. I don't really know what they are that he has. Can they harm him? Can they do anything worse than they already are? How do they happen? He says he often knows before one will happen, usually by a really sudden migraine or de javu. Please, any information would help me, I'm just really worried about my dad.
Thank you all so much,
Emma
Comments
Re: Is my Dad ok?
Submitted by blacky on Fri, 2006-06-16 - 11:12
I know exactly how you are feeling. It is a scary thing. I agree with the last post. He is having seizures and needs to go to a Neurologist and have tests done such as MRI and EEG.
My husband had been having the same "episodes" in the early 90's. Started off as once a year with a blank stare. He would always say he had de javu also but we did not relate it to his episodes. He progressed to clinching his right hand, smacking or chewing motions with his mouth and would repeat the same word if we spoke to him. Then in 1996 he had a Grand-mal seizure while asleep. His whole body was stiff, his breathing was very fast and his eyes were rolling up. EMS asked him alot of questions that he got wrong. They gave him oxagen and he started thinking clearer. He was diagnosed with a seizure disorder, his CAT scan, MRI and EEG i believe were all normal at that time. There was no visible cause of his seizure. He started medication but continued to have seizures. Over the years the seizures progressed and got worse. His MRI would come back normal but his EEG was abnormal now. He has complex partial seizures. He does not know when one is going to occur. He continued to drive because even while having an episode he was still able to stop and start when needed. It was not until 2000 that he voluntarily stopped driving because of an accident caused by his seizures. In 2006 he underwent left temporal surgery and has been seizure free for 3 months. Prior he would average no less than 2 seizures a week.
The sooner he gets tested and put on meds if needed the better outcome. Good luck.
Re: Re: Is my Dad ok?
Submitted by gretchen1 on Fri, 2006-06-16 - 19:12
Hi Emma -
You are VERY observationally smart! You said your father was in the hospital? When I was 17, ages ago BTW, I woke up by my father hitting my bed, then the floor, having a seizure. It absolutely scared me to death. There had never been an ambulance in our house. My father was totally unlike himself. I was afraid of him, everyone because - I didn't know what was going on. Further, no one told me because they thought it'd scare me. What scared me was I didn't know what was going on as this continued.
What I did was call my father's doctor, who was my own, and asked him. He was one of these exceptional men as well as a doctor and explained epilepsy to me, told me that's what my father had. Answered questions like he's not in pain in a seizure although it may look like it, what I can do and gave me options, many things. I left with such relief. The other thing I could have done if my family wouldn't have made the topic so unapproachable was just ask my dad, you're doing this or that, what is it? Establish communication with him.
You know as an epileptic myself, I got it 8 years ago, I lived apart from most of my young adult children then and I did everything to hide it from them. I told them I'd been diagnosed with it but I didn't want them to visit, I avoided being on the phone but I was sending these very bizarre emails occasionally. That scared them far more than if I'd have been more open. Brought them into the circle. It caused some relationshiop problems we've now patched up. I was protecting them from - what? I created more fear for them.
I would talk to your father first. If he won't talk to you, and obviously you're an intelligent caring person, call his doctor, make an appointment, don't talk on the phone you can get blown off that way and see what he tells you. He might not tell you anything due to confidentiality of medical records but he might be able to help you establish communication with your father too. You deserve that. All do who live with an epileptic. Two of my children have epilepsy too as well as my DOG! It wouldn't help my fear level when I see one of them seize if I didn't understand their epilepsy as well as I do. I needed education, support. So do you.
Gretchen
Re: Is my Dad ok?
Submitted by ladybug on Fri, 2006-06-16 - 08:53
Hi Emma, First, I'm sorry to hear that this is happening to your dad. It's hard to see your parents suffering like that. Second, sounds like he needs to go see a neurologist. He's having seizures and needs to be treated for it. You probably need to go with him, so that you can explain to the doctor what the seizures look like and how long they last. Good luck and take care, Ladybug