What is Epilepsy Seizures

Epilepsy (often referred to as a seizure disorder) is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures. The condition is named from the Greek epileps...

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Scared & confused
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Hi I am new to this. I have quite a few other diseases/conditions & now it looks like I may have seizures/epilepsy. For about the last 12 months I have been having "blank outs" where I just stop what I am doing & stare vacantly. I get a jolt/shake feeling through my body & then confused about where I am or what I am doing. I have told Dr's & they have not seemed concerned & don't investigate it.
I also do things like I just typed up this with details, didn't click submit & then must have clicked x to close without saving. Hubby said I looked like I had fallen asleep.
Anyway I was ignoring these blank outs as Dr's didn't seem concerned & too much else going on health wise ESP with ms.

Wednesday I was at work & had the worst one ever. I had felt a bit out of it before lunch but after I ate felt fine. I remember about 2pm thinking I am going to take a break soon & get a drink etc. Next thing was a colleague came up to me & started talking, I could hear the voice, see she was talking but not understand anything. I suddenly jerked a lot & asked what she wanted. She said I had been staring at computer then her. She takes over from me when I finish as I am part time & she works the days I don't so we usually tell each other what we are up to workload, I looked at the work on my desk & some was face up, some face down & out of order, on the screen some had been completed & some hadn't. I was totally confused, didn't know what I had done & hadn't. I almost cried. It was 3pm which is my finish time & I don't know where that time went or what I did, It was a very scary feeling.
When I went to stand up I felt like I was out of my body or out of control of it. I struggled to walk as my legs would not move when I told them to. I thought that was ms but I still couldn't put two thoughts together or make sense when I spoke. That night I could not stay awake & kept dozing off all the time. I was totally exhausted.

The next day I got up & it took me forever to get organised to go to physio, I got there & was ok, it is a group for people with ms. We have coffee after in the coffee shop & I was talking to a couple of them about the previous day & they said it sounds like epilepsy. My foot/leg/arm/hands also jerk, numb etc which I thought was ms. One of them has epilepsy & said it is the same as what happens to her. Later as I was chatting to one of the others I (apparently stared blank, ) at her, then I shook myself & went to continue our conversation form a few minutes before. She stopped me & told me what had happened, exchanged a look with the girl opposite me who then said I had just had another seizure & told me what I had done.
This is getting very scary as I don't know its happening & get very confused & it is happening more often. I spoke to Dr who was not concerned. I am seeing my neurologist on 22nd so will ask him about them.

I know you aren't Dr's but does this sound like epilepsy to any of you & what should I do when I go to the neurologist, like ask etc.

Any & all help or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks, Sue
Posted on 10/10/09, 07:10 am
18 Replies | Most Recent Add Your Reply
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Reply #1 - 10/10/09  1:20pm
" Hi Sue,

Keep a detailed diary noting when you have the seizures and the form they take. Your Dr will then be able to see any links between them and it may make it easier for him/her to make a diagnosis. Mr seizures are complex partial - different from yours - but it sounds like epilepsy to me. I'm no expert though. Best of luck. "
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Reply #2 - 10/10/09  2:59pm
" Wow I am with tattyhead184 on this one. Try to keep a journal of your day. If something doesn't feel right then write it down. The time date what you were doing and what happened. Then take it to the doctor and let him see what is happening. Good luck! "
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Reply #3 - 10/10/09  8:12pm
" I agree with both of them. You may also may want to keep track of when you eat. If it has been a while since I have eaten, after I eat I may go into a seizure. I have already been tested and am not diabetic. "
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Reply #4 - 10/11/09  3:54am
" Thanks for your advice & I will include this in my diary that I keep for ms symproms etc, will add when I have had anything like this & how long since I ate. Hubby said I did the same last night when we were watching tv, just staring but I shook myself (like you do when someone has walked over your grave- saying) & then could not pick the show we were watching which we watch often. Scary that its happening more or maybe that we are more aware of it.
Thank you all so much for opening up to me & helping me know what to do. "
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Reply #5 - 10/15/09  2:42am
" I have been keeping a diary & wrote down in detail what happened last wednesday. Thanks for that advice. I have had more of the short time few mins, ones & cant seem to work out any pattern yet.
Today I gave myself the biggest scare ever (I think). I had gone into the local health centre & got new hearing aids then on to get new glasses.
Somehow when I parked at the back, I reverse in I hit the accelarator instead of brake & went into the back of the building. A lot of damage to the car & also looks like some damage to the building. I was scared & shaking afterwards. I went & got my gllasses & had them fit them (I am going to have to go back as one arm is hurting).
I was ok till I got home & rang hubby & told him. Then I started shaking & crying more (had been since I got home & looked at the car). I rang several friends & got one home who came over & sat with me for a while & made coffee etc.
I am afraid I may have had another blank out as I dont remember how I did that as thought I had parked & then bang very loud. Is it possible that I could have had a small fit of some description?
I am too scared to drive now which is really going to limit me getting about. At least it is only next week I see neurologist.
Thanks for listening. "
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Reply #6 - 10/17/09  11:42pm
" Hoping for some advice. When I had the accident which I cant remember, just the bang & then standing looking at the car & building, I am wondering if I could have blanked out & that caused it.
By the next day my back has been hurting & my left hand is very swollen & painful. Ended up at the hospital yesterday & had hand xray from what they can tell under swelling nothing broken just badly sprained. had to take all my rings off & one got cut off. I put wedding ring back on last night but it was painful this morning so i got it off & put on neck chain. I am wearing a stretch type bandage & splint type protector from hospital. hand has swollen more overnight too.
I dont remember banging hand at all.
Could this have been a blank out/seizure? Should i drive as i am scared of something happening again, what if i hit someone, that would be the worst.
Sorry if I keep asking same/similar but I am scared & dont know who else to ask.
Thanks in advance "
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Reply #7 - 10/22/09  7:57am
" I did keep the diary what happened each time, before - how I was feeling (if could rememberwhen I came out), how I was after & what I had done etc. Also about car accident (where I reversed instead of breaking & hit a wall). He kept stopping me to talk into his dictaphone This he uusually does at the end. I am booked in for eeg next thursday & results 2 weeks later, no bkgs avail so dbl booked but I dont mind waiting. He said it could be epilepsy but also maybe not (tia's).
He also checked my ms stuff & concerned about right side problems now too.
Thanks for the hints on what to write down.
Hugs to all, Sue "
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Reply #8 - 10/23/09  7:05pm
" I think it's best you give up the driving if you can until you've had a diagnosis. It is against the law to drive with epilepsy in the UK. "
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Reply #9 - 10/24/09  3:41am
" Thanks all for your comments,
Got a phone call yesterday & my eeg has been moved fwd to this coming Thursday, unheard of that quick, & results 2 weeks later.
I used my scooter to get into where my dr & physio etc are & that will take me about 1sunbhr each waeamy so that is doable insd of driving. Forgot sunburn cream so got burnt arms, will have to get them all out again as it is spring, only 20'c too but sun was nice. "
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Reply #10 - 11/02/09  12:35am
" Hi Sue

The same happens to me....seizures aren't just the grand mal episodes that I always thought they were.

My heart goes out to you because I know how you feel and I know how people sometimes don't understand.

Hopefully you can find something that works for you.

I had a bad experience with meds so I just deal with the seizures and the confusing moments.

It helps to have support and I'm glad I have it from my family and the few friends I have left.

I'll be thinking about you and I hope everything works out well

*hugs* "

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