speaking troubles...

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Hello everyone: I am new to this but am wondering if anyone out there is experience the same thing as myself. I was diagnosed with eplipsy last year. I am 32 now. I feel very badly for you who have had to deal with this your whole life. I have had 5 seizures so far. 4 of the 5 have been when I was sleeping. The one awake happened at work and I could feel it coming on. I was able to call for help before seizing. Occasionaly while talking I cannot finish sentences. I can't think of words or make myself say the correct words. I don't know if people notice or not. Twice I became paralyzed where I couldn't talk. I could eat, drink, and do everything physical but talk. This last 15-30 seconds. Do other people have this happen? Am I having whatever causes the seizure in my head and the medication preventing me from actually seizing? I try not to live in fear of seizures but it is hard especially when things like this happen. I always make sure I'm safe though when it does. Craig

Comments

Re: speaking troubles...

Submitted by dmh on Wed, 2006-12-06 - 16:04

Hi Craig, When this happens to you, you are actually having a seizure. Even when it is just the "aura" that you feel come on, that is a partial seizure. I started having these when I was 8 years old. They didn't diagnose me until I was 19 (I am now 45). I have partials and complex partials. What you are describing can occur even without being treated (believe me...I remember). When I get the aura (partial seizures) as you describe, I get a feeling of fear, and then I would go into a complex partial and I used to speak incoherantly and it would only last for about 15 to 20 seconds like yours do. They now last about 5 minutes. When I come out of it, I don't remember anything.

Hi Craig, re: "I feel very

Submitted by solis on Wed, 2006-12-06 - 17:57

Hi Craig, re: "I feel very badly for you who have had to deal with this your whole life." Nice thoughts; but, having had uncontrolled E (simple and complex partials) since I was 3; as one who (finally) gained controlled then lost it, I can 'assure' you that losing something is worse than having E all your life as that (while a drag we learn to cope with) is what you kow as 'normal' = no loss exists. However, after I gained then lost E control, I was in a terrible psychiatric mode as then I 'knew' what I was missing. In fact, I then knew what I'd missed all my life. Depression was an understatment; and, despite having E since age 3, I had NEVER been in a depressed state like that before. You see, there is a lot of truth in the statement: "You can't miss a thing you never had." dmh is right, what are often regarded as just auras are ,in fact, simple partial seizures when they occur before another seizure. However, simple partials also occur alone. And, there are many, many variations of simple partials - depending on the part of the brain that's affected. Now.. sounds like you might want some pages: Symptoms of a seizure.. http://www.epilepsy.com/101/ep101_symptom.html Simple Partials http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/seizure_simplepartial.html (look under motor seizures) Many think primary generalized seizures are the worst type of E as , often, there is an external 'show', but all types of seizures can potentially have have a huge 'emotional' effect on a patient. Even if one doesn't have seizures often; you live 1) either scared of then they will occur or 2) think things are fine .. only to become severly depressed when 'out of the blue' a seizure occurs. (usually at the worst moment). Of course how easlily we cope has a lot to do with the societal understanding of E.. which, sadly, is almost almost non-existant. What meds are you on? Today there are far more meds than when I was a child.. many new ones have appeared recently. (So don't dispair.) If you cannot get controlled via meds, if you have just partials, you also might explore the possibility of surgery. A higher % of other types of seizures are more easily controlled via meds. take care & know I wish you the very best ~sol

Re: Hi Craig, re: "I feel very

Submitted by craigory8 on Thu, 2006-12-07 - 17:16

I am on Depakote ER. The first year I was on it I did not have another general seizure for a year. Then at work I had one which resulted in a trip to the ER. My Depakote levels were low. They upped the meds back into the bottom of the effective range. Three months after that I had another sleeping. They upped it again to get it in the top of the effective range. I am now four months since that. Of my five seizures. Four have been while sleeping. The one while awake I felt the aura or partial ahead of time. Since then when I feel what you are identifing as a partial, I focus on relaxing and willing my brain to grab control. It sounds weird doesn't it? However, it gives me comfort. I never thought about the spin about losing something you had. I am determined not to let this affect my life. Don't get me wrong I was very depressed when I first diagnosed. I know it is stressful for my wife especially with two young children. It tramatized my coworkers when I had one at work. The one consession I have made is I no longer drive if I have any alcohol at all. It is much better that way. Craig M.