Blue

I'm going to suggest you specifically sit down the two people you talked
about that were friends. Explain to them what is going on. Let them
know its just starting to dawn on you that they could be seizures.

Let them know that its scary for you too. And you would really appreciate
it if they would help you keep a diary of what they see, maybe even
give them each a book to keep. Ask them to please be your friends
who are your eyes when you can't be.

Also I went and put the words alice in wonderland syndrome in the search.
It brought up, a area for the epilepsy foundation. It was were I had
been reading the stories of children. You might want to go read
through that. It also has some in Neurology Now, which I've read too.

And when it comes to Derrick, I have always been his champion. But
I really believe the reason his classmates were his too. Was the teacher that set the plan in place so he wasn't isolated in childhood. See she was both his 1st and 2nd grade teacher. And then the plan was carried through grade school.

Donna

Thanks Donna ~ WOW, I like that teacher that helped Derrick in 1st and 2nd grade. I remember my third grade teacher, in front of the whole class, said she wished she could break open my head and pour some common sense and knowledge into me. I was called stupid by my classmates as my teacher set the example, put in the back of the classroom and never called upon to answer any questions. I got F's and almost failed 3rd grade until I told the Principal what happened. Mrs. Cook, was her name. I remember exactly the scene, how she sat, what she looked like and what she said and how the students responded. But that was back in the early 50's.

I will think about what you suggested. One of my closest friends, whom I helped daily with her mobility issues and care of her cats for two years, found out I was taking an anti-psychotic and told me she never wanted me near her again, in her home, etc. She said she had never seen any evidence I was psychotic but it scared her. I tried to explain to her that it was being used off-label and not for psychosis, but it didn't matter, the damage was already done. So, I am a little leery of informing anything else about myself. I will just hope that, with time, the Lamictal will help me in that respect. I will continue to stay away from the residents that live here for the time being.However, if the subject ever comes up again, I might talk about it, will see.

This is not a caring group of women I live with and I have seen what they will do to those less fortunate here. The gossip is cruel. The two friends that are avoiding me are in their late 80's, so will leave it be for now and see what happens. It was a helpful suggestion, Donna, if I lived in a more caring group of tenants, it might work. In two years after my bankruptcy discharge, I will be leaving here for a fresh start in another county far from here.

Blue

sending hugs
bobby

Sending hugs right back to you Bobby ((( Hugs )))

Blue

Donna ~ Thank you for looking up the Alice and Wonderland syndrome in the Epilepsy Foundation and Neurology Now. I'll go and read, especially the children stories. Thank you for looking on my behalf *smiles*

I know Louis Carroll who wrote Alice and Wonderland was thought to suffer from either Epilepsy or Migraine.

This is how my life has shaped over the years.

Hugs,

Blue

Downloaded the Epilepsy Foundation recommended App on my iPhone and filled out the requested data and will let it track me on my watch. Then found a BiPolar mood app that will let me put in specific information and it saves it and I can send it to my psych doc. I think these both will be a helpful tools.

Monday morning woke up after sleeping for 1 hour and felt really awful with mood. This is the day I lost 2 hours.
Tuesday morning woke after sleeping 12 hours and felt very rested
Wednesday morning (this morning) woke after 7.5 hours and felt a mood shift occurring: irritable, spaced out, paranoid, edgy. Now feeling like things are settling a bit for the better, but still irritable, paranoid and restless - can't settle down.

Interesting, this morning I think my cat picked up on my mood as he was also very restless, yowling and staring at me.

Blue

Blue

Please also keep the changes with your cat in the diary too.

Many say that a dog or cat can alert to seizures. Derrick had
a dog who would come running down my stairs especially at midnight
to get me, barking away. Till I would go up stairs with him. To see
what was going on. He was the brother to our 21 year old dog Nipper.
But when Derrick had a seizure yapper, this dog wouldn't go far from
his side, nipper would hid from derrick. He seemed to feel the electricity
and wouldn't want around derrick. Then when Yapper died about 4 to
5 years later. When Derrick got his vns a year later, nipper started
staying with Derrick a lot more. And started sitting with him after
a seizure. He seemed to not be electric as much.

no other way to explain. His present dog can tell when Derrick is
off. He has been with Derrick since we came home today, he isn't
wanting to leave him.

Wendy the one between the two was a lot like a alert type dog
just not the best of it. She was just a good sweetheart.
DOnna

Thank you Donna, just added that comment about my cat to the new App and also in my Excel spreadsheet.

That would explain alot then. My cat carries on right before a migraine, when my tinnitus is loud. He will do a low constant whine and it goes on a long time, so much so, that I have to leave my home to get away from it. Then when I come back, I find him on the other side of the front door and his whining starts up again. When he whines, he sits and stares right into my eyes. If I get up, he will follow me everywhere, whining. After the migraine, he stops.

Like today, after I felt the symptoms pass and was able to settle down, so did he. He's been sleeping all afternoon. I am ultra fatigued and have a bad headache (not migraine type) so something might have happened. The problem with Absence Seizures is when I am home alone, I have no clue unless I notice a significant amount of time as passed. Usually during that lapsed time, I might find my deodorant in the freezer, or something else wacky that has occurred that I can't explain. I am pretty good putting things back where I find them, but I have lost alot of things with no explanation what happened.

Since you brought up the thought that when I was seen at that community gathering and I have absolutely no memory of this, I am trying, for now, to do an hour by hour accounting. I used to do this when I was given this in the trauma hospital to help with dissociation and triggers. For now, trying to stay away from my neighbors.

My 14 year old cat, sniffed out my breast cancer. If it hadn't been for him, I would have put off my mammogram another year, and not be here today. After the radiation, he left me alone.

The special needs cat I now have is my Therapy Cat, as designed by my county. My psych doc wrote in a letter about my cat so I could keep him and take him out of the apartment for walks. Now, I have to take care of him. Oh well. But you know what? I have no children and every cat I ever owned was a special needs cat, thinking they all come to me because I will take care of them, no matter what. I remember my vet saying to me "It can happen to only you". So, I had to give up searching for a healthy cat, lol, as I always end up with a cat that has alot of health issues to deal with.

Have to close for now, a storm is rolling in.

Thank you for keeping an eye on me Donna and helping me navigate thru seizure issues ((( appreciation hugs )))

Blue

just incredible animals. you two are very special people!
fondly
bobby

Sorry, I had to race off due to the storm approaching, but wanted to comment on what you shared about your dogs and Derrick.

I didn't read this until recently, so I asked in your own post about the VNS surgery asking if you stayed overnight. Now that you are home, you are saying that your current dog is posted beside Derrick. Is there any danger since the surgery that he could have another seizure until he has stabilized? When does he go back to see the neurosurgeon?

Now, is your current dog trained to be alert for this, or is this picked up naturally? I looked into getting a therapy dog, but they are ultra expensive and there's quite a wait list.

Animals are soo intuitive and sensitive and have a special place in our hearts and lives.

Hugs,

Blue