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any help please?

Thu, 11/25/2004 - 19:01
hi, i'm 17 and i've been reading up on epilepsy and everything. i'm not sure what i have, and i was hoping maybe someone could help... i get this thing, usually when i'm about to fall asleep, or when i'm sleep deprived. it doesnt necessarily happen at those times though. its when my whole body starts shaking really violently, usually throwing me out of bed. i stay fully conscious during it, but cannot control it.. i can hear everything around me and see everything, though i'm shaking too much to be able to make stuff out. when this stops, i end up just lying there paralysed. after a few seconds (but it seems like longer) i get my breath back, and soon begin to be able to focus my eyes. it takes a while for me to be able to speak, and even longer to be able to move at all. feeling and ability slowly returns to each of my limbs one after an other, but takes me longest to be able to walk.. even when i can walk, my legs would give way every now and then. i know when its going to happen, so i can scream out to anyone there. it puts me into a state of panic when i know its going to happen, and afterwards, i panic incase it happens again.i went to the doctor, and ended up in hospital, but still no one could tell me what it was. they just said i would grow out of it, and i'm glad to say that they died down, and i didnt get them soo much, but it seems to be flaring up again. the good thing is that sometimes, i'm able to stop it before it starts.if anyone knows anything about this, i'd be very grateful for any information at all.thanks for your time.

Comments

RE: any help please?

Submitted by theresab72 on Sun, 2004-11-21 - 09:13

You might want to check out information on simple partial seizures.  I am just learning about them too.  From what I've read, they count for less than 4% of the seizure population so maybe doctors don't know too much about them (?).  I can relate to many of your symptoms and am going to an epilepsy center in December to get checked out.  They also (from what I've read) are likely to be from unknown causes.

During simple partial seizures, you remain conscious, unlike many other seizures.  I also know the feeling of feeling paralyzed and sometimes my legs will give out for the next couple of hours, or even into the next day.  I describe the paralysis feeling as a "total body weakness" where I cannot even begin to get off the couch, let alone lift my head up off of my shoulders, or raise my hand 3 inches above the place it is resting.

And I also feel the breathlessness.  I feel like I can breathe in but cannot not exhale.  Very strange feeling.  It takes a while for that to work itself out.

Have you seen a neurologist?  If not, try seeking one out that is an expert in epilepsy.  Don't be afraid to ask.  If you are in a group of doctors, ask the person who answers the phone, who is the seizure specialist.  Or contact the hospital you stayed at and ask them for a referral to a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy.  I saw a neurologist for 5 months who didn't even mention this type of seizure to me.  His colleague assumed because I was conscious during my seizure that is was a pseudoseizure (made up seizure) and referred me to a psychotherapist while I was on a 8 day hospital stay.  Imagine my horror!

Good luck.

Try this link for info on simple partials--it helped me a lot:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/partialSeizures/simple.cfm

You might want to check out information on simple partial seizures.  I am just learning about them too.  From what I've read, they count for less than 4% of the seizure population so maybe doctors don't know too much about them (?).  I can relate to many of your symptoms and am going to an epilepsy center in December to get checked out.  They also (from what I've read) are likely to be from unknown causes.

During simple partial seizures, you remain conscious, unlike many other seizures.  I also know the feeling of feeling paralyzed and sometimes my legs will give out for the next couple of hours, or even into the next day.  I describe the paralysis feeling as a "total body weakness" where I cannot even begin to get off the couch, let alone lift my head up off of my shoulders, or raise my hand 3 inches above the place it is resting.

And I also feel the breathlessness.  I feel like I can breathe in but cannot not exhale.  Very strange feeling.  It takes a while for that to work itself out.

Have you seen a neurologist?  If not, try seeking one out that is an expert in epilepsy.  Don't be afraid to ask.  If you are in a group of doctors, ask the person who answers the phone, who is the seizure specialist.  Or contact the hospital you stayed at and ask them for a referral to a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy.  I saw a neurologist for 5 months who didn't even mention this type of seizure to me.  His colleague assumed because I was conscious during my seizure that is was a pseudoseizure (made up seizure) and referred me to a psychotherapist while I was on a 8 day hospital stay.  Imagine my horror!

Good luck.

Try this link for info on simple partials--it helped me a lot:

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/Medical/seizures/types/partialSeizures/simple.cfm

RE: RE: any help please?

Submitted by shay on Sun, 2004-11-21 - 18:20
hey thanks a lot... thing is i live in a small area so the nearest neurologist is probably reeeallly far away but i'll check it out... it's nice to know that i'm not the only one who has this though... and its nice to know that theres actually a name for it.that must have been horrible for you.. having people accuse you of making up a seizure... i hope people don't do that to me, though a few of my friends usually don't belive me when i tell them what happens.thanks a lot for your help though!

RE: RE: RE: any help please?

Submitted by Marla on Tue, 2004-11-23 - 06:55

I was about your age when i had my first few seizures.  My doctor asked me what drugs I was taking, "Advil" I said.

 

He asked my parents to leave the ER and had a talk with me about illicit drugs, what they can do to a young woman and yadda yadda yadda.   I can see the frustration involved with a doctor who doesn't seem to understand your problem.  I went to see a neurologist a few months later and was finally diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy.  Haven't had a seizure in six years now.

 

I was about your age when i had my first few seizures.  My doctor asked me what drugs I was taking, "Advil" I said.

 

He asked my parents to leave the ER and had a talk with me about illicit drugs, what they can do to a young woman and yadda yadda yadda.   I can see the frustration involved with a doctor who doesn't seem to understand your problem.  I went to see a neurologist a few months later and was finally diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy.  Haven't had a seizure in six years now.

 

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