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Was it some kind of subconscious seizure control?

Mon, 01/15/2007 - 06:05
Some people may or may not know about this but I was thinking about it recently and decided to try and put it into words. About 5 years ago my tonic clonic seizures were getting worse and more frequent, all this was despite a massive lifestyle change, no more booze, drugs, 3/4 day benders. I had put all that behind me and I was sticking very strictly to my ever changing meds regime but things were getting worse not better. Most of this period and the things that were going on are in my blog so I won't bother going into more detail. The one thing that changed radically though was my seizure pattern, I was having a seizure at the same time on the same day once a week. The only way to describe it was to say that it was as if my mind had taken over and said ''right this is the situation, it's going to be a seizure a week so let's try and work something out''. OK writing that down now and reading it to myself it just sounds crazy but that's how it felt at the time. The day was a Wednesday evening, my first day back at work after 2 days off. I was working nights so this is when I was at my lowest energy wise as I had a different sleep pattern for the previous 2 days and now I was going back to work knowing I wouldn't be sleeping that night. The first couple of times I woke up face down on the floor at home but thought it's just a coincidence but when it happened a couple more times I thought this isn't coincidence it's a pattern. It was as if my brain had found the most convenient time, place etc for me to have my seizure, get it out of the way, almost as a minor distraction and then get on with my life. I got to the point where I could get myself at home and sat in the chair and comfortable and my brain did the rest. It was a very strange period in my seizure history because although it sounds like an ideal situation for an epileptic, a grand mal seizure but without the troubles usually involved, in reality it was a kind of hell because I was locked into it and the truth was my seizures were getting worse despite trying lots of different meds. What I'm trying to say was does anyone else think there was an element of ''control'' being exercised by my brain in regard to my seizures in that I had conditioned myself to expect a seizure there and then or that the anxiety, stress or whatever associated with the situation was an element in me having the seizures as well, a kind of trigger in itself if you like. I shouldn't really dwell on it as the story has a happy outcome but I just wanted to post and maybe get some opinions and find out if anyone had experienced anything similar. I know I've read quite a few posts/blogs lately in which stress, anxiety and sleep issues seem to be a factor. Thank You Andy

Comments

Hey hon, I know exactly what

Submitted by aquila316 on Tue, 2007-01-16 - 13:31
Hey hon, I know exactly what you’re talking about. First of all, as you well know, I also have done the days of 3 and 4 day binges and benders, and have also straightened up my act for the good of my physical and emotional well-being. To my surprise, I actually had no major occurrences during that phase, even though I was not on any kind of medication during that time nor was I under the care of a neurologist. It wasn’t until long after I had cleaned myself up that I began having simple and complex partials day and night, at least once or twice a week. As some of you might already know I was recently hospitalized for 3 serious tonic-clonics (each lasting 30-45 minutes)that also caused a very serious concussion and kidney failure, and I am still recovering and resting as much as possible while working full time, moving, looking for my own apartment, and trying to maintain a social life. I am now under the care of an excellent doctor, and I am also back on Depakote, which I have taken from the age of 13 and has worked very well for me to control my 4 different types of seizures. However, I am also experiencing the same weird patterns with my simple and complex partials. I have noticed that I have been starting at around 3:30 or 4:00 P.M. each day and having 3 or 4 of them daily. Unfortunately, this was my usual naptime, but I have an 8-5:00 job, and don’t get to lie down until 5:30 or 6:00. My dad says I’m really pushing myself, but I don’t have much choice because I need money in order to move the rest of my stuff (and have somewhere to put it). If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated. Like Andy said, I know it is probably a combination of stress, being tired, anxiety, and overexerting myself, but I guess there’s only so much I can do at the moment. Hugs, and smiles, Susan

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