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Friend suffering from unknown "seizures"
Mon, 06/07/2010 - 14:38
Good afternoon... I am new to epilepsy.com, but I figured there might be someone who has the issues my friend is having, if it may or may not be epilepsy.
Now, all the information I have is from first-hand accounts, as well as text messages from his girlfriend.
First of all, My friend Chaz has lived a normal life. He has two pretty decent parents and lived with them until he was in his mid-twenties when he met my best friend. His mother has epilepsy.
He joined the Navy, and in 2002 had a sudden seizure while studying for a test. I asked if he considered the navy to be a traumatic event, but according to Anna (his girlfriend) he claims he loved the Navy and did not want to leave, but was discharged due to the seizure.
Here are the "attacks" as described by Anna.
- shaking (even in his sleep)
- light/sound sensitivity
- slight mood changes
- depression
- convulsing so badly sometimes he can't walk
After the seizures calm down, the residual effects of the attack remain for up to 4 days as I've seen. He is able to speak, but only with a very bad stutter (L-like v-verry b-bad st-stuttering l-like th-this) and sometimes he'll suddenly twitch. He notices his stutter and will try to get out what he wants to say, but then give up and lower his head in defeat if unable.
Some things interesting to note:
- during full attacks, he is completely alert, which is why doctors have ruled out epilepsy.
- No traumatic events in his life according to Ana, which ruled out PNES
- Although he had been stuttering for days, one night we went to a bar and he was able to karaoke without stuttering. And on-key, but I don't know if that has any weight on things.
- Anna says sometimes he does not have attacks for months.
- He has been tested and given scans of his brain but the doctors have not found anything.
I know I'm playing a bit of Dr. House here, but I did not realize the severity of Chaz's problem until being there while it happened. If anyone has any ideas in what I can do to help him, or any suggestions on what doctors could look for, it would be great. Chaz is a very smart, articulate person, and I have never heard of anything like what he's dealing with.