Dont know if I have epilepsy

Re: Dont know if I have epilepsy

Submitted by caradee on Tue, 2006-12-05 - 09:42

Welcome Rachti. I certainly could not say for sure if what you're experiencing is E, but I can tell you about my experience. I was not diagnosed with E until I was 22, and that was after a public display of a full blown, obvious seizure that started a series of seizures lasting three streight days in the hospital and very testable. That was when my mother told the doc that she had witnessed these episodes all my life, but never sought medical attention because she thought I was a drama queen looking for attention. I, of course, could not defend myself, because I never have any memory of the grand mal (of tonic-clonic, as they are called today) seizures. But I do have other kinds of seizures also. Seizures that I recognize now, but did not back then. I remember parts of these seizures, and like you, I feel as if I am not participating, I am only watching myself with others. For example, I can remember a day in Highschool when I went to the wrong class. The teacher told me I was in the wrong class, but when I sort of laughed, said something odd, and did not leave, he just went on with his class. I remember parts of that, and can only believe he must of thought I was on drugs or something. Also, I went to the store one day (back when I was still driving) with $20 and a very short list for dinner. I don't remember shopping at all. But I do remember putting a very full cart of groceries on the moving belt, and I remember the clerk asking for more than $160. I remember handing him the $20 that I had, and I remember his puzzled look, waiting for the rest of the money. The next thing I remember is the next day, realizing that I had left the groceries in the car all night, there was only $20 worth. I have no idea what that poor guy did to get me out of his store...or who cooked dinner! I have seizures every single day. I spend most of the day alone, as my family works and goes to school. So, how many is impossible to say. Some are obvious, like when I wake up on the floor, or get a black eye, and have even broken my elbow. But alot of them are not so obvious. I watch the clock like I'm waiting for the Grim Reaper to show up, and I know sometimes when I have lost part of the day, but I have no idea what I have done. My suggestion to you would be to ask your doctor very specific questions. My primary doc thought I was just stressed out when I told him the grocery store story. He said we all forget things. It's hard to explain to him what I could remember and how I felt, but after so many years of doing this, I knew it was a seizure, so I asked him to schedule an EEG...sure enough, it showed seizure activity, and that was 7 days later. Ask your doc for an EEG. Try to figure out if anything in your life has changed. Head trauma? How old are you? Alcoholism? Keep a diary, if you have to. Get your husband involved. Seizures are testable, though, so start with an EEG and maybe an MRI if the doc thinks you should. I'd love to hear more. I hope you write again soon. Call your doc today for another appt.