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Simple partial aware seizure?

Thu, 01/24/2019 - 15:19
Hope someone can help me understand concerns i have. Last year (around 6 months ago) i was shopping with my daughter when suddenly i felt a strange aura pass, a pulling sensation down my right side - i felt like the electricity cut out down my right side. I couldnt move or speak but was aware it was happening. I was very frightened and remember saying in my head “ i need to tell my daughter im ok” repeating that over and over again in my head. This lasted around 1 minute. I was shaken up afterwards and thought it was a mini stroke due to the one side paralysis and was unable to speak - i had an ECG - was normal and no follow ups. Yesterday whilst driving to work i was pulling up to traffic lights - i was a few meters away from where i was parking up. I first had this really strange rush travel up or down my body - the kind you get on a roller coater - a sort of adreniline rush - it was really powerful (not painful) but significant. Then my right eye sight cut out, it looked black (a third of the vision) i felt a strange aura and was talking to myself again in my head - telling myself to observe what was going on as i knew i would have to repeat this to my doctor. I felt as though i was watching myself and my right hand side on my face felt completly numb. I was able to drive - i was aware but felt strange as though i was watching myself - i was in control and drove and parked up. My eye sight returned within 1-2 minutes and the feeling passed too within that time. I was able ring the doctor when i parked up - get out the car and carry on my morning as usual. I spent the day in hospital after a telephone apointment whilst they ruled out stroke. They thought perhaps migrane but werent sure. I have since read about partial focal aware seizures. In particular the fairground sensation in stomache and the de ja vu symptom - they exactly describe what happened. The type of migranes ive looked at do not describe anything i have experienced and i did not have a headache plus they both lasted between 1-2 minutes. I have an appointment tomorow to request a referral to neurology and im wondering if anyone has any advice or experienced anything similar - were they a seizure? Any info appreciated especially from people with similar experience if this sounds like a seizure.

Comments

Great to know you are

Submitted by Jazz101 on Thu, 2019-01-24 - 18:39
Great to know you are following up with a neurologist. I say that because what you described does fall in the range of simple partial aware seizures or maybe even complex partial (notice I said maybe).I say maybe because in my case a seizure doesn't interfere with me totally in terms of awareness. I'll explain mine because it's amazing to see how the brain works.The interference in my case is me being able to tell you everything that went on during the seizure. That said, it doesn't interfere with many of my abilities.For example, when I was undergoing the video EEG prior to surgery, the neurological team was in the room when I felt an aura. I do remember telling them I felt the aura and that I needed a time out. The next things I knew is I was back in the chair telling the guys I am good to go, aware that I had had a seizure, but just couldn't tell them what it looked like.In totality, according to them, what happened is that when I told them I needed the time out, they said I got up, carefully stepped over the lengthy wire used during the video EEG, and calmly walked to the bathroom, closing the door in a rather calm manner.They said I then returned after about a minute or less in the bathroom to the point where I can remember saying I'm good to go.The fact that the activity, while odd still didn't totally shut down your awareness or your ability during that drive is similar to how my seizures play out, except in your case you are still fully aware of what is going on. That said, given driving is quite unique, involving so many other things, I think it's probably a good idea to ease on driving until you meet with your neurologist.They are probably going to suggest and EEG and an MRI as the start to see if they notice any unusual activity or other issues. My advice to you? Try not to guess what the tests will say because many of us with Epilepsy walk away with EEGs and MRIs that are pretty normal. In other cases the EEG and MRI does display things to take note of that might be a bit off. So, again, try not to guess the results until they let you know what they show.In the beginning you noted that you kept saying; "I need to tell my daughter  I'm  ok." The fact that you said that a few times also makes it seem like some anxiety showed up. It's not unusual for many of us to feel that sense of anxiety during auras, the activity that precedes the seizure. Auras by themselves are considered seizures. Just not a seizure where you lose significant awareness. The brain is amazing. Unusual neurological activity (interference) in one area and affect others yet, depending on what those areas are, well, you can still be to exercise certain functions many would assume you might not be able to. In my case, whether it's walking or any other activity, they only part that is really lost for me is knowing what I was doing during the seizure. Other than that, I can walk down the stairs or do certain other likes just like I am aware of what I am doing; sort of like sleep walking. If you are still interested in a hospitals with good ratings in neurology and neurosurgery (that's how they categorize the area) and you are in the United States, US News and World Report does a great job at rating hospitals. In your case this will be your link:https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/neurology-and-neurosurgeryLet us know what the neurologist says Einahpets. Best Regards

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