Pre seizure feeling.: Hello, First of... - Epilepsy Research...

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Pre seizure feeling.

Ynwa92 profile image
5 Replies

Hello,

First of all I want to apologise for barging in on your group as I dont have epilepsy (I don't think so anyway!). Also if my question seems stupid or offensive in anyway, sorry again, I'm just trying to find some answers.

I had a seizure when I was 18, it was closing time at a quiet bar, I'd had a few drinks but not much as I'd arrived late after travelling. I was tired, had been a long few days. I remember sitting speaking to my friend then feeling strange, very difficult to explain but I just knew something wasn't right.

The next thing I knew I was coming round having apparently had a 30 second seizure, I'd wet myself and to be honest that was all I was concerned about at the time. The medics arrived and I was checked over and due to living very rural I was sent home for the next two days before going to the hospital for all manner of checks.

The next two days I was beyond exhausted, I mean really really drained. I think I slept more that two days than I do in a week.

Anyway, my GP having looked over tests told me that having a seizure at my age isn't that unusual that these things can happen for no apparent reason and it's no reason to believe they will happen again.

So, here I am 10 years later and I'm trying to put in to words something that has happened many times since that day.

Maybe 6 times a year or more I have experienced the exact feelings I had before the seizure. I dont know how to explain it other than some thing isn't right, my head feels wrong, I need to stop what ever I'm doing and slow things down, breathe carefully, try to stop working my brain too much and just very slowly and carefully wait for it to pass. Sometimes its followed by a loud ringing noise and sometimes the world begins to go black as if I'm about to faint, but it's more than that, something other just feels wrong.

I'd only once had that feeling before my seizure, I was with people and didnt want to say but it was building up so I said I was just nipping to the toilet and tried to get out of the room, I made it halfway up the stairs and had to stop, a friend found me and I was sweating profusely and though i was going to pass out, we just joked it was a hot flush and that was that. Other than that I'd never ever had that feeling before the time I had a seizure.

With that feeling It feels like I'm on the verge of another seizure, I dont know if that is just me panicking because of having had a seizure or is this something other people experience? Is there really pre seizure feelings? And if there are, is it really possible I'd be able to prevent a seizure by taking the calming steps I do?? Maybe I'm going mad! :)

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Ynwa92 profile image
Ynwa92
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5 Replies
schultzmiel7 profile image
schultzmiel7

You have Epilepsy. Anxiety and panic attacks can lead to a seizure, but not always. And sometimes you can get control of it, but not Everytime. My seizures are all different. The initial feeling is the same, I know when it coming. But I do different things with each seizure. And then I'm ruined for the rest of the day. It's like the seizure takes a bit of your mind away. I take Keppra, and Ativan, but I still get them. They don't happen regularly and I can't control them. It's a very insecure feeling, knowing that one can strike at anytime. You'll need to speak to a Neurologist asap. Good luck.

jmancometh777 profile image
jmancometh777

i no longer have seizures...primarily due to medications seem to hold them off anyways....but i remember when i was a kid, i remember when one was always coming on....my body would just freeze up on me and i couldnt move, i knew right then and there what was about to happen....and next thing i know i regained consciousness, knowing full well what occured. FYI i have grand mal seziures...

treds87 profile image
treds87

Sounds like you have epilepsy to me.

That pre seizure feeling is called an Aura. Lots of people with epilepsy get them.

I've described mine in a very similar to how you have before, it's hard to explain it, there's just a weird sort of disconnect from your brain and body and you can feel there's something wrong. Sort of heavy but my head is floating away at the same time, and there are some visual and auditory disturbances as well.

I had big -grand mal- seizures, like what you had at the bar, when I was younger, up until I was a teenager.

Now I have something called focal/partial seizures.

When you have a big seizure the abnormal activity starts on one side of your brain and moves from one side to the other, and you to lose consciousness.

But the seizures I have now, they start and stay in the same half of my brain, so I no long black out, but I can feel still it. It feels a lot like an Aura, but it lasts much longer, and also there are visual hallucinations (which actually helped the doctors find where abouts in my brain they where coming from), and numbness in my face and hands.

And afterwards I feel like I've run a marathon, I'm so tired I don't even wanna talk. And usually it's a longer sleep than usual, sometimes 10 -12 hours to sleep it off.

I'd talk to a doctor about it. If you are having 6 a year I think a diagnosis is in order. And something to stop or minimise the seizures sounds good right?

Good luck 🤞

helga13 profile image
helga13

My granddaughter used to hit her head,and say her head was tingling,

Lovingdean profile image
Lovingdean

It sounds like Epilepsy although getting a diagnosis isn't that straight forward. You could do with an EEG to see what is going on. Or at least getting a referral.

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