Pseudoseizures/Epilepsy

[firetyrant]

I had a grand mal seizure a few day's ago and I decided to do some research on my condition. This isn't my first one and have been diagnosed with epilepsy since I was 16 (now 25). I was reading something online about pseudo seizures and epileptic seizures and how they are very similar. I'm still having a hard time finding out what my triggers are, but I think I figured out. I get them when I don't have ample sleep and if I'm under a lot of emotional stress. I was trying to also find out what were the "signs" of when I was going to have an episode. and the only one I can think of is I get more irritable a few days prior. All my seizures happen within the first 2 hours of waking up. I'm not trying to self diagnose myself into thinking I have something else, but even some of the dr's I've been to are stumped. I've alway's been an emotional person, never knowing how to vent or release my stress properly, I alway's shut down mentally when I'm in an argument and kinda just give up on the situation. When my grandparents died I didn't really cry, I was just kinda like "whatever things happen" about the situation. I guess what I'm looking for is some more information on psuedo seizures signs, symptoms, treatment, anything you can give me. I'll be happy to answer questions to help you give you a better understanding about me.

[rich7292]

I have dysautonomia. I have epileptic seizures and  what some doctors call psuedoseizures. I have had 2 strokes and have bad vertigo, and syncope. This can cause seizure like activity and is definitely not psychological. It would be nice if doctors who think they are no it alls would do more research into seizures due to autonomic dysfunction before they classify everyone not having epileptic seizures as having psychological problems.

[Dr Rajgopal]

Hi,
"Pseudoseizures" refer to events that appear to be seizures from epilepsy, but  the patients  are not epileptic. Instead, these seizures are caused by abnormal psychology or emotional disturbances and as such are often thought to be a type of conversion disorder. Conversion disorders are disorders in which the patient suffers from symptoms of diseases that he does not actually have. The symptoms of a pseudoseizure are almost same as those of an epileptic seizure, but their origin is psychological, not neurological. One of the characteristic differentiating feature of an epileptic seizure is that there is an abnormal discharge of electricity from the brain during the seizure whereas there is no such electrical discharge during a pseudoseizure.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) can be done to rule out epilepsy in  persons experiencing pseudoseizures. Another differentiating feature is the release of a hormone known as prolactin, which is present in the blood after the true epileptic seizures . Pseudoseizures do not show any rise in blood prolactin. Hope this helps you . Take care and regards !