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Posted 4/6/2006 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, guess what? I was posting a reply in the epilepsy forum a minute ago - and I had a seizure in the middle of doing so! Only a petite mal 'pause for a minute and wait for the darn thing to pass,' but still. Do I win a prize?

Andrew

Posted 4/6/2006 9:26 PM (GMT 0)

Oh my GOSH! I guess you were responding to mine??? redface   Have you had seizures all your life? Do you feel yourself having  one, is it painful? WHen people have seizures during the day, do they remember going through it? What does it feel like? Maybe that is why the idea scares me- I don't want to have any pain (if I have another one!) Does everyone work and carry on 'normal' lives? Thanks for the help...

So anyway, I hope you are ok! Does it take long to recover?

Posted 4/7/2006 1:16 AM (GMT 0)

Dimples83-

I have had four seizures in my life, first one when I was 9 yrs old and the last one 2 wks ago at 32 yrs. old.  For a few minutes before the seizure I feel very disoriented, confused.  It is definitely a scary feeling.  In may case, each time an ambulance has been called (cracked my head open twice when I fell), and I usually do not come around until I am in the ambulance.  For me, the scary part is trying to remember, what people where saying to me, what if anything did I say to them.   The fact that I completely do not remember about 30 min scares me.   It's scary when you start coming around and the EMT's are asking you what your name is, what day it is, ect.  and it is difficult to wrap your brain around what is going on. 

As far as seizures being painful, I would have to say no.  Although this last one was a grand mal, for a few days afterward my legs, arms were very sore.  Hope this helped :)

Stacey

Posted 4/7/2006 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
I was responding to your post when it happened, Dimples. Maybe it was cosmic revenge for rather clumsily labelling you 'an epileptic'. Apologies for that, it was just a sloppy piece of writing. And I'm glad to read, by the way, that you're easing back into your daily routines - it's the only way to go. To answer a few questions: You definitely feel yourself having a seizure though for the first few times you might not understand what's happening. And in the case of a grande mal, you might be a little confused for a while afterwards. I don't think most people find them painful in any way unless you pass out and fall. (Totally empathise, Stace: one gaping head wound and two sets of harmless but disfiguring facial wounds is my count to date). I've been having seizures for six years now and have continued working and having a 'normal' life - though whether my life was normal before or afterwards is open to debate.

Drew Boy cookies - an intriguing idea, Mandi. I suspect they'd be an acquired taste and rather indigestible, though probably non-fattening. And you're right. Anything's useful to get us through this condition - humour, irony, sarcasm. Especially sarcasm, actually, which works a treat with anything.

Regards,
Andrew
Posted 4/9/2006 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Stacey! Thank you for your response! I was the same way when I came out of my seizure. My boyfriend carried me down 3 flights of stairs and the whole time I thought I was being kidnapped. He kept asking me who he was and I had no idea! It was like I had no brain! The hospital staff was EXCELLENT and that was great b/c I was very scared and confused. I am glad to hear seizures are not painful, although I was sore after my second one. Maybe b/c I had one 2 days in a row! I bit 2 huge holes through my tongue...the seizures were not violent though and no bowels were lost...Anyway, I hope things are good with you...Is life easier to handle now??

Hi Andrew, I hope this color is better and you will not have another seizure while reading my post to you! nono   I wasn't insulted by being deemed an 'epileptic'...my doc told me having a seizure and epilepsy are one and the same... You and Stacey both have calmed my fear about being in pain if I experience another seizure...

 

Something weird though...I need to throw it out here, maybe someone can relate....The other night I was about to fall asleep and I went to move my arm. It was like de ja' vu, but not like you remember SEEING something before, it was that I remembered a FEELING! I remembered part of my seizure BEFORE I went into it, (I think). I remembered saying 'Help me, help me' and not being able to pull my arm out of that position. So I was freaked out, but i told myself to go to sleep, that does NOT mean I'm about to have a seizure...It was scary though. (I had to imagine being held by God and He would take care of me...I was scared b/c I was alone, but once I pictured myself with God, I remembered I am never alone! Ok, guys, I need to get ready for church...talk to you soon! EVERYONE is in my prayers by the way- whether you like it or not! tongue

Posted 4/9/2006 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Never quite experienced that, Dimples, and couldn't say whether it was the start of a seizure which then went away or not. But it's perfectly normal to feel frightened if you think you're getting the same symptoms. Quite a lot of people have panic attacks of one sort or another. I'm glad it wasn't a seizure and you found a way to calm yourself. I suppose prayer's another good way of coping, and probably better for your soul then sarcasm. Is there a way of combining the two? Have many sarcastic prayers been written?

Regards,

Andrew
Posted 4/9/2006 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Dimples,

   I have never had that happen to me, but I'm sure it's very possible.  I was at the grocery store today and felt a little light headed and started to panic.  Not sure if you read the post about my seizure 2 1/2 wks ago, but I was by myself at the grocery store.  My Sister was with me, so that was comforting, but still scary!!  I have never lost bladder control in any of my seizure, thank goodness.  I didn't realize that could happen unitl at the ER when they asked me, then the nurse explained that it happens alot in seizure patients. 

    I have never been diagonsed with epilepsy, but what would be the difference between having epilepsy or not?  Maybe because I'm on seizure meds my Neuro never felt that he needed to explain it.  I'm not bothered by anyone saying I have epilepsy, but for some reason I'm very disturbed with people say "you had a fit".  Is it just me, or is that make anyone else a little upset?

 

Every take care :)

 

Stac

Posted 4/9/2006 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Andrew,

  Forget to mention, sarcasim is also good for the soul :)  I work with more men than women and I'm definitely used to the sarcasim.  I love it though :-)

Stac

Posted 4/10/2006 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was never 100% diagnosed with epilepsy either, Stace, I kind of got it by default. The symptoms seemed to fit and though the specialist couldn't find any trace in my brainwaves (which is fairly common), he couldn't find anything else either. And since some of the meds sort of work I suppose he was right. Probably. Personally I don't mind the attacks being called fits. I've read the word might be insulting because it's generally associated with anger. But since I'm rather angry that I have them, that ties in nicely. It's all a matter of personal choice though. I don't get the loss of bladder control but I tend to drool a bit when I'm having a serious attack. Which can be embarressing when I get one at my desk at work, as happened this morning.

Take care all,

Andrew
Posted 4/10/2006 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Andrew,

   I am sorry to hear that you had one this morning.  So, are you on meds and they don't totally control your seizures?  If you don't mind me asking, are you allowed to drive? 

Hope you have a good day :)

Stace

Posted 4/11/2006 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Stace,

I'm on Keppra and Tegretol. The Tegretol stops me entirely losing consciousness when I have a serious attack, which is handy, but that's about the best you can say for the lot of 'em. I wouldn't be allowed to drive but luckily I never learned anyway. Even before getting epilepsy I decided that if any man shouldn't be in control of a large and incredibly fast piece of metal, that man was me. There seemed a chance for a while of getting a free bus pass because of my 'disability.' But it involved entering a labryinthe of York City Council regulations and I never emerged.

Incidentally, interesting you implied earlier that men were more sarcastic than women. My own mother taught me sarcasm, though probably not deliberately. I've surpassed her since but it gave me a good grounding in life.

Take care,

Andrew
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