what is her perception of this... how does she become aware of it... does she "lose time" or... ?

this sounds consistent with simple partial szs, as Sue (Porkette) suggests...

simple partials can manifest in infinite ways and everyone experiences them differently. Precisely BECAUSE a person is conscious through them and because of the diverse manifestations, they can be trivial or they can be extreeeeeeeemely unpleasant.

doesn't sound like your daughter is losing consciousness at all, but it would be hard for her to tell if she were for a few seconds. in absence seizures (also called petit mal), the person is not aware of the seizure. if they have a great many, they may be aware of losing concentration or losing time... in between the events, but not aware of the events themselves.

Sounds like you've read mostly about what is known as a grand mal (also called tonic-clonic) seizure. That is the kind where body cycles alternating between tonic (tensing/rigidity of muscles) and clonic ("thrashing") phases. In this type of seizure, yes, consciousness is completely lost and there is no memory of the seizure itself. The person will most likely be aware they have had one due to feeling badly afterwards (postdrome phase) and also physical evidence such as having fallen to the floor and/or sustained physical injuries. This type of seizure is what is often depicted in movies... for better or for worse. But it is by far not the only type of seizure. This is not the kind your daughter is having.

However in some cases, seizures can progress and "generalize". Grand mals are one type of "generalized" seizure (as opposed to a "partial" type seizure). a "generalized" seizure involves the entire brain. It is a good idea to get your daughter diagnosed and treated to avoid any possible worsening, and eventual generalization - involvement of more of the brain - over time.

Already you are one step ahead because you are recognizing that your daughter is having seizures (you'd not believe the parents that just do not deal with this!) May I suggest that you keep a log of your daughter's seizures, the types of experiences she has... any possible triggers which can include
- specific time in her menstrual cycle
- foods she eats (dairy, gluten, wheat, alcohol, caffeine are some frequent culprits - really better avoid alcohol and caffeine if she does not already)
- weather changes - temperature and barometric pressure, especially abrupt. in retrospect, has she seemed to have more seizures with chane of season?
- other neurological symptoms - photosensitivity, visual anomalies, migraine....
- mood and stress
- amount of sleep
- hydration - considering salt intake and diuretics as well

report all this to her neuro/epi (recommend she see an epileptologist rather than regular neuro if possible)... can help to "tailor meds" according to changing needs. clearly, if some foods seem to be triggers - avoidance is best.

also, for further reading may i refer you to the following two threads on this forum:

(sticky thread) Types of Seizures

(sticky thread) Useful Sites & Resources

and finally a wonderful Canadian site chock full of ALLL kinds of information...

http://www.epilepsyontario.org/

hope you will continue to post... things are a little slow right now (holidays) but i will be looking out for you and looks like Sue is popping in too...

take good care. best wishes to you, your daughter, and all your dear ones for a marvelous 2010.



~ waves ~