Unusual Postictal State

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Hi,

I have been having seizures since I was about 15 years old (I am now 27) and I have them very frequently... like twice or so a month. I have tried several different medicines but nothing has worked for me, but what is the worst part about my seizures is my postictal state.

When I wake up from a seizure it is like I have regressed in time. Sometimes I wake up believing that I am 10 years old, and I can't ever get back to normal until I sleep it off. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I am lucky enough to have a friend who really understands me and cares for me when I have seizures, but sometimes I am awake for quite a while before I will go to sleep. I know I wake up exhausted (I have grand mal) because even after I sleep and I come back to my normal state... I can feel the effects of the seizure.

It is so frustrating because in addition to being worried about having a seizure, I know that is I have one in public I am going to look like I am crazy when I wake up! They happen so often too, and I have been to doctor upon doctor and neuropsychogists and had every test possible. Surgery is not an option for me... but mostly I was wondering if there is anyone out there who experiences the same thing when they wake up. My postictal state goes way beyond normal confusion.

Comments

Hi Mc If you really want to

Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2014-08-06 - 21:06

Hi Mc If you really want to lnow why you are tired after a seizure you need to understand what your body is doing while in the convulsion. In a tonic clonic seizure (grand mal) all of your muscles are jerking with all their strength. Not the strrength you think you have but all their strength. Ever hear of a person picking up a car while pulling someone out from under it? I am talking about that kind of strength. I have focal seizures which can and have gone into convulsions. Thiose convulsions look like grand mal but the difference is in that seizure I was concious. In one such seizure I was on my back in it but rather then moving the coffee table my step father tried to hold my arm down. That was the wrong move. I litterally picked him up with my right hand and tossed him across my body. I kid teen picking up a Marine who weighed 215 lbs generally can't be done. What a seizure is is an electrical impulse going off wrong in the brain causing a chain reaction.. Your body is run by electrical impulses. Everything you do all comes from your brain all impulses movement,your sight, touch, feeling everything. Basically your brain is a computer. Have you ever had a computer crash on you? If you have then you know it takes time to bring it back up. SO there yo uhave the reason for your post ictal state. Sleep helps but at times it takes time. In my convulsive seizures I could lay down and sleep for about 30 minutes and then go back to class. At times it took going home and crashing and picking up the next day. As for having a seizure in public you do need to stop stressing yourself. Take things one day at a time. Do you worry about going out the door tomorrow and getting hit by a car? There are things yu can not control and one of thoise things is when you might have a seizure. If you really want to protect yourself and what some people will think wear a bracelet or neckless they do have a variety of them and they can help in several ways. Some even have the ability to have your medical files with your doctors and medication information. 2 seizures a month is pretty good for some people. While I haven't had a convulsive seizure since 1970 I was still having 2-4 a week. With newer medications and adjusting and coupling with another medication. They are now down to 1 every 8-14 days. You posted you have tried several medications and nothing has worked for you. I would be questioning that post. Have you ever thought the medications have been controling seizures since you do not know the number of seizures you might be having if you were taking NO medications. Several medication can be tried in less then 12 years. A questions to ask is When yo uhad your last appt with your neurologist did you ask him any questions? Or have you ever asked him questions? The only way I have gotten a reduction in the number of seizures or a reduction in the time I have been in them is by asking questions. Why am I still having X number of seizures a month? Is there a better medication that can control my seizures better? Dies my dosage need to be raised or lowered to get better control? Could adding another medication to this one control my seizures better? If you take meds 2 times a day please make sure those times are 12 hours apart. Generally dosages are set so levels are still strong enough to ocntrol seizures at those times.. If taken at 7 am and 10 pm the 3 hour difference at night could mean you might have a break thru seizure. Those break thru seizures might be the seizures you have been having. I hope this helps and you do get seizure free

Hi Mc If you really want to lnow why you are tired after a seizure you need to understand what your body is doing while in the convulsion.  In a tonic clonic seizure (grand mal) all of your muscles are jerking with all their strength. Not the strrength you think you have but all their strength. Ever hear of a person picking up a car while pulling someone out from under it? I am talking about that kind of strength. I have focal seizures which can and have gone into convulsions. Thiose convulsions look like grand mal but the difference is in that seizure I was concious. In one such seizure I was on my back in it but rather then moving the coffee table my step father tried to hold my arm down. That was the wrong move. I litterally picked him up with my right hand and tossed him across my body. I kid teen picking up a Marine who weighed 215 lbs generally can't be done. What a seizure is is an electrical impulse going off wrong in the brain causing a chain reaction.. Your body is run by electrical impulses. Everything you do all comes from your brain all impulses movement,your sight, touch, feeling everything. Basically your brain is a computer. Have you ever had a computer crash on you? If you have then you know it takes time to bring it back up. SO there yo uhave the reason for your post ictal state. Sleep helps but at times it takes time. In my convulsive seizures I could lay down and sleep for about 30 minutes and then go back to class. At times it took going home and crashing and picking up the next day. As for having a seizure in public you do need to stop stressing yourself. Take things one day at a time. Do you worry about going out the door tomorrow and getting hit by a car? There are things yu can not control and one of thoise things is when you might have a seizure. If you really want to protect yourself and what some people will think wear a bracelet or neckless they do have a variety of them and they can help in several ways. Some even have the ability to have your medical files with your doctors and medication information. 2 seizures a month is pretty good for some people. While I haven't had a convulsive seizure since 1970 I was still having 2-4 a week. With newer medications and adjusting and coupling with another medication. They are now down to 1 every 8-14 days. You posted you have tried several medications and nothing has worked for you. I would be questioning that post. Have you ever thought the medications have been controling seizures since you do not know the number of seizures you might be having if you were taking NO medications. Several medication can be tried in less then 12 years. A questions to ask is  When yo uhad your last appt with your neurologist did you ask him any questions? Or have you ever asked him questions? The only way I have gotten a reduction in the number of seizures or a reduction in the time I have been in them is by asking questions. Why am I still having X number of seizures a month? Is there a better medication that can control my seizures better?  Dies my dosage need to be raised or lowered to get better control? Could adding another medication to this one control my seizures better?   If you take meds 2 times a day please make sure those times are 12 hours apart. Generally dosages are set so levels are still strong enough to ocntrol seizures at those times.. If taken at 7 am and 10 pm the 3 hour difference at night could mean you might have a break thru seizure.  Those break thru seizures might be the seizures you have been having. I hope this helps and you do get seizure free

Hi Mc If you really want to lnow why you are tired after a seizure you need to understand what your body is doing while in the convulsion. In a tonic clonic seizure (grand mal) all of your muscles are jerking with all their strength. Not the strrength you think you have but all their strength. Ever hear of a person picking up a car while pulling someone out from under it? I am talking about that kind of strength. I have focal seizures which can and have gone into convulsions. Thiose convulsions look like grand mal but the difference is in that seizure I was concious. In one such seizure I was on my back in it but rather then moving the coffee table my step father tried to hold my arm down. That was the wrong move. I litterally picked him up with my right hand and tossed him across my body. I kid teen picking up a Marine who weighed 215 lbs generally can't be done. What a seizure is is an electrical impulse going off wrong in the brain causing a chain reaction.. Your body is run by electrical impulses. Everything you do all comes from your brain all impulses movement,your sight, touch, feeling everything. Basically your brain is a computer. Have you ever had a computer crash on you? If you have then you know it takes time to bring it back up. SO there yo uhave the reason for your post ictal state. Sleep helps but at times it takes time. In my convulsive seizures I could lay down and sleep for about 30 minutes and then go back to class. At times it took going home and crashing and picking up the next day. As for having a seizure in public you do need to stop stressing yourself. Take things one day at a time. Do you worry about going out the door tomorrow and getting hit by a car? There are things yu can not control and one of thoise things is when you might have a seizure. If you really want to protect yourself and what some people will think wear a bracelet or neckless they do have a variety of them and they can help in several ways. Some even have the ability to have your medical files with your doctors and medication information. 2 seizures a month is pretty good for some people. While I haven't had a convulsive seizure since 1970 I was still having 2-4 a week. With newer medications and adjusting and coupling with another medication. They are now down to 1 every 8-14 days. You posted you have tried several medications and nothing has worked for you. I would be questioning that post. Have you ever thought the medications have been controling seizures since you do not know the number of seizures you might be having if you were taking NO medications. Several medication can be tried in less then 12 years. A questions to ask is When yo uhad your last appt with your neurologist did you ask him any questions? Or have you ever asked him questions? The only way I have gotten a reduction in the number of seizures or a reduction in the time I have been in them is by asking questions. Why am I still having X number of seizures a month? Is there a better medication that can control my seizures better? Dies my dosage need to be raised or lowered to get better control? Could adding another medication to this one control my seizures better? If you take meds 2 times a day please make sure those times are 12 hours apart. Generally dosages are set so levels are still strong enough to ocntrol seizures at those times.. If taken at 7 am and 10 pm the 3 hour difference at night could mean you might have a break thru seizure. Those break thru seizures might be the seizures you have been having. I hope this helps and you do get seizure free

Unusual Postictal State

Comments

Hi Mc If you really want to

Submitted by just_joe on Wed, 2014-08-06 - 21:06

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