Re: symptoms

Posted By CCF neuro MD* on October 25, 1998 at 16:40:13:

In Reply to: symptoms posted by Sara Randolph on October 25, 1998 at 15:56:58:






I just wanted to make another comment.  I posted a message on 10/24 or 10/23 under "many symptoms, no answers - sara."  As I was reading through some of the other Is it possible that some of my symptoms are related to auras?  I started off experiencing these things around my menstrual cycle.  I have heard seizures can be caused by the hormonal change during the menstrual cycle.  Is this true?  When I have these "drunk" feelings is when my mind wonders and I focus on every abnormality in my body.  Every feeling scares me and I feel compleelty out of control.  I feel like my mind takes over and I can't control it - it just goes haywire.  I feel like I am going to die and I don't feel like my normal self.  Once I calm down a little it takes me days or even a week to convince myself I am okay and to feel back to my chipper old self again.  I have been told I am having panic attacks, but something is causing me to feel drunk and so out of control of my thoughts.  Please help!
Dear Sara,
Auras are typically viewed by patients as a warning of an impending seizure, however, they are actually a simple form of a seizure. During "simple" seizure there is no loss of consciousness.  Auras can manifest in several different ways and help to localize the problem in the brain.  There are well documented cases of auras that manifest as a deja vu, sense of impending doom, and  sinking feelings in the abdomen etc.  The auras only last for a few seconds.  Catamenial seizures refers to seizures that occur around the time of a womens menstral cycle.  A hormonal link is hypthosized but not proven. If you are concerned that the spells are seizure, you may want to pursue getting an EEG. Discuss this with your doctor.  If ever you are interested in getting evaluation at CCF, call 1-800-CCF-CARE.  Good Luck.