Frequent Epilepsy-like symptoms

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Hey all, this is my first post here although I have been looking through this forum anonymously for a while now, trying to see if I could find any answers to my questions through other peoples' stories. And well, I just figured it'd probably be better to say what's going on with me so I can get some real advice for myself. First of all, I am a 17 year old male, I am active (run for my high school), and I have a relatively standard diet for an American (high carb, low fats). Overall, I would say I'm fairly healthy, in fact, I would say I am the healthiest I have ever been, and yet I've been having some strange things going on for the past 7-8 months or so. I have these really brief yet disorienting and startling moments where I experience Deja Vu, usually not too extreme but it may last a while. (15-20 seconds) Sometimes the Deja Vu is extremely strong, though this happens a lot less frequently. It feels like it throws me out of reality completely and it is extremely confusing. It feels like my brain is trying to remember something extremely deep but can never quite get it. It's like a bad dream really. Along with these more intense episodes I tend to pick up an awful smell, only for a few moments though. Usually Deja Vu wouldn't concern me, but it just happens so frequently now (usually a few times a week) that it's starting to get me a bit worried. It's important to note that I also experience migraines, which is just another layer of confusion I know, but they are rare and are always started with a visual aura, in case that helps anyone understand. Another note, I do have a history of childhood neglect, an alcoholic father. I've read in a few places that that sort of thing can affect a bunch of weird neurological stuff and yada yada, but I'm not sure how true that is. Figured I ought to throw that out there just in case. So, any advice?

Comments

Hi, Thank you for posting. We

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2019-11-26 - 16:00

Hi, Thank you for posting. We cannot determine if these episodes you describe are seizures, or not. It's important that you’re following up with your healthcare provider to express your concerns and to further describe these episodes you’ve experienced, as well as any changes in behaviors, symptoms and side effects. For assistance finding an epileptologist (epilepsy specialist) near you, please visit: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/find-epilepsy-specialist Seizures can take on many different forms and affect different people in different ways. Learn more about seizures, here: https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/about-epilepsy-basics/what-happens-during-seizure You may want to consider keeping a journal or a diary. My Seizure Diary: https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diaryis a great tool for tracking episodes,setting reminders, recording your medical history, managing medication & other therapies, recognizing triggers, side effects, behaviors, moods and other health events that may affect wellness, which can be shared with your healthcare team. Additionally, you may always contact our Epilepsy and Seizures 24/7 Helpline: epilepsy.com/helplinewhere trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer help, hope, support, guidance, and access to national and local resources. 1-800-332-1000, contactus@efa.org.

ahead,WOW! Thanks for

Submitted by birdman on Tue, 2019-11-26 - 20:32

ahead,WOW! Thanks for sharing your story; it is hard to tell about such unusual sensations and experiences. Your description of symptoms sounds just like what I went through as a child. As an 8 yr old boy I had never heard of the term deja vu. I felt so foolish telling others and even my doctors that I had sensations where I smelled a sour smell and had a feeling like I had been in the same place and situation before. Later I had seizures where I became blank and didn't remember anything that went on during the spell. By the time I was in my mid teens I started having the convulsions. In my teens I came to understand that the sour taste and deja vu were auras that warned of a possible seizure. I think I was 25 or so when a clearer understanding was given to me that these odd sensations were seizures themselves. Seizures can start in a small region and remain there, or they can spread and effect a larger portion of the brain and become what most would recognize as grand mal or convulsion. The Epilepsy Foundation gives good information about these at https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/focal-onset-aware-seizures-aka-simple-partial-seizuresThe migraines are probably related to what you are experiencing with the smells and deja vu. Many of the drugs that work to control seizures also help with managing migraines. I used to have migraines after my generalized seizures. Once in a while I have a mild headache after one of my focal seizures. Do you know if those visual auras proceed into any stronger seizures perhaps where you lose awareness? Your doctor will want to know.It's unfortunate that you had the neglect as a child but it's good that you acknowledge this. Maybe alcohol or abuse could have played a role in you having epilepsy seizures. More than that there is concern that psychological trauma can cause persons to have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or PNES https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/imitators-epilepsy/psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures-pnes-cause-diagnosis-and I'm not experienced with PNES but I have read that it takes a very different treatment (psychological or psychiatric) to manage these. But whether they are epileptic seizures or PNES they are real and it would be good to seek treatment. Mike

ahead,WOW!  Thanks for sharing your story; it is hard to tell about such unusual sensations and experiences.  Your description of symptoms sounds just like what I went through as a child.  As an 8 yr old boy I had never heard of the term deja vu.  I felt so foolish telling others and even my doctors that I had sensations where I smelled a sour smell and had a feeling like I had been in the same place and situation before.  Later I had seizures where I became blank and didn't remember anything that went on during the spell.  By the time I was in my mid teens I started having the convulsions. In my teens I came to understand that the sour taste and deja vu were auras that warned of a possible seizure.  I think I was 25 or so when a clearer understanding was given to me that these odd sensations were seizures themselves.  Seizures can start in a small region and remain there, or they can spread and effect a larger portion of the brain and become what most would recognize as grand mal or convulsion.  The Epilepsy Foundation gives good information about these at https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/focal-onset-aware-seizures-aka-simple-partial-seizuresThe migraines are probably related to what you are experiencing with the smells and deja vu.  Many of the drugs that work to control seizures also help with managing migraines.  I used to have migraines after my generalized seizures.  Once in a while I have a mild headache after one of my focal seizures.  Do you know if those visual auras proceed into any stronger seizures perhaps where you lose awareness?  Your doctor will want to know.It's unfortunate that you had the neglect as a child but it's good that you acknowledge this.  Maybe alcohol or abuse could have played a role in you having epilepsy seizures.  More than that there is concern that psychological trauma can cause persons to have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or PNES    https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/imitators-epilepsy/psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures-pnes-cause-diagnosis-and       I'm not experienced with PNES but I have read that it takes a very different treatment (psychological or psychiatric) to manage these.  But whether they are epileptic seizures or PNES they are real and it would be good to seek treatment.  Mike

ahead,WOW! Thanks for sharing your story; it is hard to tell about such unusual sensations and experiences. Your description of symptoms sounds just like what I went through as a child. As an 8 yr old boy I had never heard of the term deja vu. I felt so foolish telling others and even my doctors that I had sensations where I smelled a sour smell and had a feeling like I had been in the same place and situation before. Later I had seizures where I became blank and didn't remember anything that went on during the spell. By the time I was in my mid teens I started having the convulsions. In my teens I came to understand that the sour taste and deja vu were auras that warned of a possible seizure. I think I was 25 or so when a clearer understanding was given to me that these odd sensations were seizures themselves. Seizures can start in a small region and remain there, or they can spread and effect a larger portion of the brain and become what most would recognize as grand mal or convulsion. The Epilepsy Foundation gives good information about these at https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/focal-onset-aware-seizures-aka-simple-partial-seizuresThe migraines are probably related to what you are experiencing with the smells and deja vu. Many of the drugs that work to control seizures also help with managing migraines. I used to have migraines after my generalized seizures. Once in a while I have a mild headache after one of my focal seizures. Do you know if those visual auras proceed into any stronger seizures perhaps where you lose awareness? Your doctor will want to know.It's unfortunate that you had the neglect as a child but it's good that you acknowledge this. Maybe alcohol or abuse could have played a role in you having epilepsy seizures. More than that there is concern that psychological trauma can cause persons to have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or PNES https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/diagnosis/imitators-epilepsy/psychogenic-nonepileptic-seizures-pnes-cause-diagnosis-and I'm not experienced with PNES but I have read that it takes a very different treatment (psychological or psychiatric) to manage these. But whether they are epileptic seizures or PNES they are real and it would be good to seek treatment. Mike

Thank you so much for the

Submitted by ahead on Tue, 2019-11-26 - 21:02

Thank you so much for the detailed response! The migraines I've had we're always related to intense physical exertion. I think they're completely separate but I figured I would mention it. I do think I will go to see a neurologist and discuss these episodes, but before I go I want to journal some of these experiences. I tend to forget what I was thinking/what it felt like while it was happening, so I want to come in with some useful information in the journal. See, for once I actually want them to happen, that way I can have evidence in the journal haha, but I suppose I'll have to wait it out.