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Neurology (Expert Forum)
What is this?
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
What is this?
by headproblemz, Apr 21, 2002 12:00AM
A couple of months ago I had a seizure, and ever since then, my head hasn't been the same. I have these strange occurences approximately 1-3 times a week. This week, I didn't have it at all. It's a type of feeling when you cover your ears, which makes the room sound hollow, and all the voices in the room sound loud and jumbled. During this, I have difficulty hearing, and walking. The room becomes quite fuzzy. During the occurences, I used to be able to talk a bit, but now I am hardly able to. After the attacks, the words that come out of my mouth do not make sense. They are slured. I don't understand what I am having. Could I be having a Trensient Ischemic Attack? Could it be a sign of a stroke? I realize that I am very young, and I don't know if TIA or a stroke would apply to me. Could they be just Aura's? Or could they be psycological problems that resulted from the shock of having a seizure? Ever since the seizure occurence, I have been quite nervous, and very figity. I hope you can help me in solving my problem. Thank you in advance:)
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Apr 21, 2002 12:00AM
Your symptoms are worrisome for a certain type of seizure called a complex partial seizure. Although you don't lose consciousness, it becomes impaired and you are unable to communicate effectively throughout the episode. A TIA is also a possibility as is complicated migraine, but these are less likely given the fact you just had a seizure couple months ago. Talk to your neurologist ASAP for appropriate management. An EEG is necessary and you may need an MRI (if one hasn't already done) and adjustment of your seizure medications. Good luck.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsychat/message/3561
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/epilepsysupportgroup/message/5974
I just want to point out that IF (and that's a big if since you'll need to undergo more testing to sort this out -- as the neuro here suggested,) Um... where was I? Oh yes, anyway...
If it turns out that you ARE experiencing repeated complex partial seizures, then, by defintion, that would mean that you have epilepsy. As someone who has epilepsy (mine are simple partial and complex partial seizures) I agree with the doctor that this may very well be what you, too, are experiencing -- especially in light of your previous seizure and the fact that your symtpom profile "fits like a glove" with how a partial seizure would present itself.
About your nervousness, being fidgity, etc. since having your first seizure: it's worth mentioning that depending on what part of the brain that one's seizures originate, feelings of anxiety, depression, agitation, (or what have you,) are often associated with epilepsy due to the abnormal electrical activity going on (sometimes fairly chronically and subclinically) in the area of the brain where the problem is.
In addition to the on-line forums that Jan has mentioned, I wanted to mention www.braintalk.org. If interested, you can go to the Epilepsy section and pick our brains. (Er... so to speak.) Or, if you don't want to go so far as to visit an epilepsy forum, know that Braintalk has TONS of forums for just about any neurological condition there is. So, browse around. You may get some of your questions answered. There are even support sections there for emotional problems, etc.
But, for what it's worth, if I were to put down some cash and place a bet, I'd put all my money that you have a seizure disorder (a.k.a. epilepsy.) Take care. I hope you find relief and answers soon.
I have been to brainchat and just recently, too. It's funny, but I went there and to the 2 forums I mentioned, they were telling me it sounded like seizures. Actually they were saying, it was seizures, I just KNEW I wasn't having seizures, I just wanted to compare notes since dr's were considering that diagnoses. LOL I have simple and complex partials, too. After the first complex partial my head was messed up for MONTHS!!!! It was incompacitating (sp)! Even after the last pronounced simple, (one similar to aura to the complex)my head was messed up for weeks. How I hate that.
Maybe I will see you in brainchat, Search.
Anyway, good luck headproblemz.
When I was first told that I was having seizures, I, too was a bit skeptical. I had no idea that seizures could have such different presentations than the more "obvious" generalized seizures. It wasn't until I found Brainchat 2 years ago that I fully started to understand my diagnosis and how it did truly explain what I had been going through for so many years prior to my diagnosis.
I'm glad you got your diagnosis sorted out, too! :o) It helps to know what it is, huh?
I, too, feel "off" in my head for quite some time after my seizures (and for a day or two before I have one...,) espeicially if I'm going through a stint of having clusters of daily seizures. The spacy, "off" feeling drastically affects my ability to think clearly and function normally. So, needless to say, I'm always relieved when the fog clears for a while. ;o) And, so, I understand when you say that you hate that feeling! Me, too!
Well, take care, Jan. See you at Brainchat.... um... but, how will we "recognize" each other?
I will try and visit brainchat a bit more.
Check out those groups I listed and see if you can find out more that may help you.
I have had so many different feelings with simple partials, buzzing in head,buzzing with blackness and feeling like I was going to fall or blackout, dizziness and nausea, things seemingly moving closer over and over, a room full of people talking going to a cartoon like chatter and making me dizzy, goosebumps in one limb, etc, etc.
The complex, from what I remember...I had a buzzing feel'g and sound in the rt. side of my head, hallucinated a bee, felt like a darkness was overcoming me and felt fearful. This part I don't remember, but friend witnessed, I was staring ahead and waving my arms over my head as if fighting something off. I felt embarrassed as I came to. That is all I remember now. It was quite fascinating to be honest.
Hope that helps.