Any relationship to automobile accident and non-epileptic seizures?

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I think I must be going crazy! Well...maybe not crazy, but that's how I feel!

I was in an automobile accident on January 9, 2008. My car was T-Boned and the side that took the main impact was my side of the car. I was bounced about and smashed my head onto my passengers shoulder blade. I didn't break any bones! Thank goodness, but I've ended up with post-traumatic pain syndrome and fybromialgia. My hips are always in pain are my shoulders and neck. You'd think that I'd be better by now...at least the insurance company says that I am, but I'm not. I hurt so much that I cannot think at times! And to top it off, now I'm having seizures!

In January 2009, I started having difficulties with my eyes. Everytime I went into a location with florescent lighting, I ended up loosing my eye sight! My eyes would flicker and then after a few monments, they wouldn't even open!

I was sent to numerous specialists and no one could figure it out.

My mom and I thought that it looked like a form or seizure, but no one believed us!

Four months ago I ended up having my first of many seizures. My eyes rolled back and my body started spasming. My arms and legs jerked erradically for over 45 minutes. The seizures seemed to be rolling over me...one would stop and another would start within a few minutes. I was extremely hot and thirsty. My throat was so sore that I could barely swallow any water. Then I started to freeze! Several blankets couldn't keep me warm. I fell asleep and woke up over an hour later. Nothing has prepared me for something like this!

We contacted the doctor who put me into the hospital for observation. Ten days later they let me out and said that I didnt' have real seizures. They didn't tell me anything except that I wasn't epileptic. Talk about frustrating!

He set me up with an appointment for an EEG....four months away! So I got on the internet and started to search. I located one where I could get in within two days!

The EEG came back as 'Normal'.

I have continued to have these seizures almost on a daily basis for four months now. Sometimes I have between two and five a day! My body is exhausted! I'm in so much pain from these 'non-epileptic' seizures that I can barely get anything done! Plus I still cannot go into any area with florescent lights as it causes an immediate seizure.

During a seizure, my hand twitch, my body spasms, it stiffens and convulses. My throat swells and I have a hard time breathing. I become extremely hot and afterwards very cold. My eyes swell and twitch. The spasms have done so much damage to my previously healing body that I don't know what to do.

Is there someone out there with knowledge about this type of seizure? and could it be a result of the car accident?

I know that I'm not going insane, but somedays I feel like I am!

I have had a past history with severe Panic Attacks and Iritable Bowel Syndrome. Both of these I have found our have been associated with these types of seizures. But, is it possible that the car accident has brought this new problem on me?

I would really appreciate some help here if possible!

Mona

Comments

Any relationship to auto accident and non-epileptic seizure?

Submitted by mattshelley on Tue, 2009-09-01 - 17:14

Dear Mona,

You're not epileptic.

You're just nuts.

Just kidding.

Whenever I have a seizure and get dragged to the ER I always get the same response "Well we know you have epilepsy, but we're damned if we know why.". "You had a seizure, go home and go to sleep." I could have told you that! Then I get a bill for fifteen hundred dollars for a piece of advice that I could have gotten from my next door neighbor.

Talk to your doctor and don't let him/her brush you off. There are about a bazillion causes of seizures and the car accident, of course, could be one of them. It certainly sounds like you share the same irritation that we all have. Look into some anti-epilepsy meds. Anti-seizure medications really s*ck, but they are a little better than the alternative. You may have to try a few different ones to find out which one you can put up with. Dilantin (phenytoin for those of us cheapskates) seems to work best for me these days.

I know this might not sound too thrilling, but you may want to consider giving up driving. I am not very interested in the thought of plowing into a light pole, or anyone else for that matter. Lack of fresh sweet corn in the big city is a problem, but it's a tradeoff for the access to easy public transportation.

Only one in twenty of us is photosensitive, but I must say "Welcome to the club!". In my case, a flash of light feels like a lightning bolt going off in my head. It's not an immediate trigger, but it can set one off in a couple of hours. I have to cover my eyes every time a firetruck goes by.

I wish I could offer you something that would make this new problem easier, but it's new, it's a problem, and you will need to learn to adjust to it.

A seizure is not as much fun as it looks like. Huh?

Matt

Dear Mona,

You're not epileptic.

You're just nuts.

Just kidding.

Whenever I have a seizure and get dragged to the ER I always get the same response "Well we know you have epilepsy, but we're damned if we know why.". "You had a seizure, go home and go to sleep." I could have told you that! Then I get a bill for fifteen hundred dollars for a piece of advice that I could have gotten from my next door neighbor.

Talk to your doctor and don't let him/her brush you off. There are about a bazillion causes of seizures and the car accident, of course, could be one of them. It certainly sounds like you share the same irritation that we all have. Look into some anti-epilepsy meds. Anti-seizure medications really s*ck, but they are a little better than the alternative. You may have to try a few different ones to find out which one you can put up with. Dilantin (phenytoin for those of us cheapskates) seems to work best for me these days.

I know this might not sound too thrilling, but you may want to consider giving up driving. I am not very interested in the thought of plowing into a light pole, or anyone else for that matter. Lack of fresh sweet corn in the big city is a problem, but it's a tradeoff for the access to easy public transportation.

Only one in twenty of us is photosensitive, but I must say "Welcome to the club!". In my case, a flash of light feels like a lightning bolt going off in my head. It's not an immediate trigger, but it can set one off in a couple of hours. I have to cover my eyes every time a firetruck goes by.

I wish I could offer you something that would make this new problem easier, but it's new, it's a problem, and you will need to learn to adjust to it.

A seizure is not as much fun as it looks like. Huh?

Matt

automobile accident and non-epileptic seizures?

Submitted by mclicky on Tue, 2009-09-01 - 21:14

Thanks for the information! Fortunately, I live in Canada and I don't have to worry about expensive hospital bills. but I have to keep fighting against my insurance company....they say 'I'm nuts!" to think that these non-epileptic seizures could be caused from the car accident!

I hate the fighting...it just triggers longer seizures.

But my lawyers say that I have to have proof...and I still am looking for it!

I too have to cover my eyes when any emergency vehicle goes by. As of January of this year, I gave up driving. Funny thing is that my doctor said that since I'm not have epileptic seizures, I can still drive! LOL! Since these things happen to me any time and anywhere, I don't think that this is a good idea!!!

My doctor says that he cannot put me on any medications until I see a neurologist...and that can take up to a year up here! I can't think about going through another year of these seizures.

Thanks for the help....hopefully I'll get some more information as time goes by!

Mona

Thanks for the information! Fortunately, I live in Canada and I don't have to worry about expensive hospital bills. but I have to keep fighting against my insurance company....they say 'I'm nuts!" to think that these non-epileptic seizures could be caused from the car accident!

I hate the fighting...it just triggers longer seizures.

But my lawyers say that I have to have proof...and I still am looking for it!

I too have to cover my eyes when any emergency vehicle goes by. As of January of this year, I gave up driving. Funny thing is that my doctor said that since I'm not have epileptic seizures, I can still drive! LOL! Since these things happen to me any time and anywhere, I don't think that this is a good idea!!!

My doctor says that he cannot put me on any medications until I see a neurologist...and that can take up to a year up here! I can't think about going through another year of these seizures.

Thanks for the help....hopefully I'll get some more information as time goes by!

Mona

Re: Any relationship to automobile ...

Submitted by seakats on Wed, 2009-09-02 - 16:11

I had an automobile accident in 2000. I was told I was having panic attacks. This continued for 5 long years until my husband left the military and we saw a different dr. He IMMEDIATLY sent me to a neurologist. When the results came back, I found that I WASN'T crazy. Those feelings of being in a combination of dream/reality with an inability to respond and fixed staring wasn't panic attacks but temporal lobe epilepsy. I'd stop breathing and became very aggressive if toiuched. Afterwards I can sleep for up to 12 hrs, eat, and sleep at night as well. I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally know what was going on. I identify with you. My head was slammed on the right side (which had crumpled inward) and the left and finally on the airbag. I was in ICU for 4 days and in the main hospital for 10 days. I was lucky, as the EEG showed abnormalities, but don't be put off if it's normal. Sometimes that happens with folks w/epilepsy. My MRI showed scar tissue in the frontal lobe (seizure activity - not seizures), seizure activity in the occipital lobe, but I was having seizures from the left temporal lobe. The brain doesn't like to be shaken...or stirred! From what you are describing it sounds like seizures. There are many kinds of seizures. Here's a good article on causes, types, etc. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/sites/epilepsy/files/leaflets/pdf/epilepsyaction_seizuresexplained_0.pdf It has credit card/membership sections but keep scrolling down. It's publication based in the UK. I don't have photosensitive seizures, but I HATE flashing lights, flourescent lights (I wear sunglasses in this situation), bright lights, red lights in particular, and flickering lights. If you are experiencing longer seizures than 5 min. or no break between seizures, this is called status epilepticus. The definition is: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18360338 This is a serious condition and should be treated as an emergency. Some studies show that a seizure lasting more than 5 min. can start to damage neurons. I've never had it. They try to get it stopped w/aeds (anti epileptic drugs). Another piece of advice. Start a seizure diary. List when, how long, and what the symptoms are. If you can't remember, ask your mom to obsrve. This will help the drs with the diagnosis. Try to stay away from those lights, stress, caffiene, other drugs (the illegal kind...if you take them), and sleep deprivation. Get plenty of rest as this is one of my triggers. When I get sick, this is prime time for seizures. These things are called triggers - things that might/do trigger seizures. There are many triggers and it's different for each person. I would recommend NOT driving. I can't drive (until this month...6 mo w/o seizures!! That's never happened before!) You don't want to hurt yourself or others.Don't let drs dismiss your symptoms. Get an MRI. It helped show what was going on w/my brain (scar tissue, malformed temporal lobe). Some people have epilepsy with an undefinable reason. Like I said, advocate for yourself. I hope the info helps. Good luck!

I had an automobile accident in 2000.  I was told I was having panic attacks.  This continued for 5 long years until my husband left the military and we saw a different dr.  He IMMEDIATLY sent me to a neurologist.  When the results came back, I found that I WASN'T crazy.  Those feelings of being in a combination of dream/reality with an inability to respond and fixed staring wasn't panic attacks but temporal lobe epilepsy.  I'd stop breathing and became very aggressive if toiuched.  Afterwards I can sleep for up to 12 hrs, eat, and sleep at night as well.  I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally know what was going on.  I identify with you.  My head was slammed on the right side (which had crumpled inward) and the left and finally on the airbag. I was in ICU for 4 days and in the main hospital for 10 days.  I was lucky, as the EEG showed abnormalities, but don't be put off if it's normal.  Sometimes that happens with folks w/epilepsy.  My MRI showed scar tissue in the frontal lobe (seizure activity - not seizures), seizure activity in the occipital lobe, but I was having seizures from the left temporal lobe.  The brain doesn't like to be shaken...or stirred!  From what you are describing it sounds like seizures.  There are many kinds of seizures.  Here's a good article on causes, types, etc. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/sites/epilepsy/files/leaflets/pdf/epilepsyaction_seizuresexplained_0.pdf  It has credit card/membership sections but keep scrolling down.  It's publication based in the UK.   I don't have photosensitive seizures, but I HATE flashing lights, flourescent lights (I wear sunglasses in this situation), bright lights, red lights in particular, and flickering lights.  If you are experiencing longer seizures than 5 min. or no break between seizures, this is called status epilepticus.  The definition is:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18360338   This is a serious condition and should be treated as an emergency.  Some studies show that a seizure lasting more than 5 min.  can start to damage neurons.  I've never had it.  They try to get it stopped w/aeds (anti epileptic drugs).  Another piece of advice.  Start a seizure diary.  List when, how long, and what the symptoms are.  If you can't remember, ask your mom to obsrve.  This will help the drs with the diagnosis.  Try to stay away from those lights, stress, caffiene, other drugs (the illegal kind...if you take them), and sleep deprivation.  Get plenty of rest as this is one of my triggers.  When I get sick, this is prime time for seizures.  These things are called triggers - things that might/do trigger seizures. There are many triggers and it's different for each person.  I would recommend NOT driving.  I can't drive (until this month...6 mo w/o seizures!!  That's never happened before!)  You don't want to hurt yourself or others.Don't let drs dismiss your symptoms.  Get an MRI.  It helped show what was going on w/my brain (scar tissue, malformed temporal lobe).  Some people have epilepsy with an undefinable reason.  Like I said, advocate for yourself.  I hope the info helps.  Good luck!

I had an automobile accident in 2000. I was told I was having panic attacks. This continued for 5 long years until my husband left the military and we saw a different dr. He IMMEDIATLY sent me to a neurologist. When the results came back, I found that I WASN'T crazy. Those feelings of being in a combination of dream/reality with an inability to respond and fixed staring wasn't panic attacks but temporal lobe epilepsy. I'd stop breathing and became very aggressive if toiuched. Afterwards I can sleep for up to 12 hrs, eat, and sleep at night as well. I can't tell you how relieved I was to finally know what was going on. I identify with you. My head was slammed on the right side (which had crumpled inward) and the left and finally on the airbag. I was in ICU for 4 days and in the main hospital for 10 days. I was lucky, as the EEG showed abnormalities, but don't be put off if it's normal. Sometimes that happens with folks w/epilepsy. My MRI showed scar tissue in the frontal lobe (seizure activity - not seizures), seizure activity in the occipital lobe, but I was having seizures from the left temporal lobe. The brain doesn't like to be shaken...or stirred! From what you are describing it sounds like seizures. There are many kinds of seizures. Here's a good article on causes, types, etc. http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/sites/epilepsy/files/leaflets/pdf/epilepsyaction_seizuresexplained_0.pdf It has credit card/membership sections but keep scrolling down. It's publication based in the UK. I don't have photosensitive seizures, but I HATE flashing lights, flourescent lights (I wear sunglasses in this situation), bright lights, red lights in particular, and flickering lights. If you are experiencing longer seizures than 5 min. or no break between seizures, this is called status epilepticus. The definition is: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18360338 This is a serious condition and should be treated as an emergency. Some studies show that a seizure lasting more than 5 min. can start to damage neurons. I've never had it. They try to get it stopped w/aeds (anti epileptic drugs). Another piece of advice. Start a seizure diary. List when, how long, and what the symptoms are. If you can't remember, ask your mom to obsrve. This will help the drs with the diagnosis. Try to stay away from those lights, stress, caffiene, other drugs (the illegal kind...if you take them), and sleep deprivation. Get plenty of rest as this is one of my triggers. When I get sick, this is prime time for seizures. These things are called triggers - things that might/do trigger seizures. There are many triggers and it's different for each person. I would recommend NOT driving. I can't drive (until this month...6 mo w/o seizures!! That's never happened before!) You don't want to hurt yourself or others.Don't let drs dismiss your symptoms. Get an MRI. It helped show what was going on w/my brain (scar tissue, malformed temporal lobe). Some people have epilepsy with an undefinable reason. Like I said, advocate for yourself. I hope the info helps. Good luck!

Any relationship to automobile accident and non-epileptic seizures?

Comments

Any relationship to auto accident and non-epileptic seizure?

Submitted by mattshelley on Tue, 2009-09-01 - 17:14

automobile accident and non-epileptic seizures?

Submitted by mclicky on Tue, 2009-09-01 - 21:14

Re: Any relationship to automobile ...

Submitted by seakats on Wed, 2009-09-02 - 16:11

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