[Sitke]

Hi,

Have posted before about the "episodes" I'm having.

Had a sever concussion and physical injuries from car accident last year and since then have had awful cognitive problems including periods where my brain feels like it "shifts" and everything slows down, arms feel tingly, screamed out once saying the same words over and over again, felt like a robot...for a few minutes then return to normal.

The other night I suddenly had a massive headache and my brain shut down, my head fell forward and I closed my eyes, everything felt slow in my brain like I was almost asleep, it felt as though I wanted to shout out but kept thinking I can't speak, then I opened my eyes and looked at my daughter who said I was staring weirdly at her, I could feel my stare was weird if that makes any sense, then I felt normal again.

One thing that seems to be a common thread with all these episodes are bright lights, in stores, on the computer etc.

I was diagnosed with migraines last year and was told these symptoms are similar to complex migraines?? another Dr said absence seizures?? very frustrating.

Has anyone experienced these things? I can also walk in somewhere and feel my brain shifts and even though I should know where I am it's not familiar to me, well...kind of if that makes any sense, I can also be doing something and suddenly realize I've just done it, eg the other night, I reached up in a cupboard, got my meds out, opened bottle and put them in my hand then realized, oh what am I doing... don't remember doing it.

This is rambling but it's scaring me a lot, I do see a neurologist next month.

A brain MRI showed at least 7 subcortical white matter lesions (could be from accident) and a 50% stenosis in the ICA but was told this is not what's causing these episodes.

I don't always have headaches when these spells happen, it's the brain shift that happens.

Thank you for any advice.

[Porkette]

Hi Sitke,

I'm no Dr. but I've epilepsy for 42 yrs. and what you are describing sound like you are having absence (petit mal) seizures (sz.) and that's when a person stares and has a daydream look on their face for a few seconds and then they don't remember anything that has happened. I've had this type of sz. since I was a kid. When you are on the computer and start to see colors that trigger a possible sz. that's because you may be photosensitive which means certain colors can cause a person to have sz. I had a special e.e.g. done a few yrs. ago where the Dr. had different color strobe lights flashing at one time and by doing that they found out what colors were triggering sz. for me.
If you have lesions there's a possibility that this is what is causing your sz. I have 2 bi lateral lesion on each temporal lobe and that's what is causing my sz. Before my sz. started I got migraine headaches and that in turn led to my epilepsy. My advice to you is to start taking vitamin B12 1000 mcg. for adult 500 mcg. for kids once a day this helps calm the nerves down. Also cut back on the starch and carbs and stay away from anything with nutra sweet in it like diet soda because it has been proven that NutraSweet can cause more electrical activity in the brain and sometimes trigger sz.
Also get a calendar and write down any time you may have had a sz. along with a description of what happened by doing this your Dr. may see a pattern in the sz. Stress and lack of sleep are the 2 main things that trigger sz. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

[Sitke]

Hello Porkette and thank you so much for your reply and advice, greatly appreciated.

Am going to write all this down on a calendar, good idea, that's if I remember as my short term memory is completely shot!

[Porkette]

Hi Sitke,

When you write things down on the calendar take note also if there's a low pressure in the weather or if you are sick or really tired not to mention stressed out. My Dr. told me to do this yrs. ago and I see a pattern in my sz. where I have them either early in the morning or late afternoon and they always seem to happen on the 1st or 2nd of the month and then again between the 24th and 27th of the month. It's weird how the brain works but it has been a great help to me and my Drs. seeing the pattern in the sz.
Wishing you only the best of luck and May God Bless You!

Sue

[Sitke]

Hi Porkette,

I have noticed I get the severe headaches when the weather is nicer, last summer they were terrible but can't remember having many of them during the winter.

When I'm tired or stressed the spells can happen (also light sets me off) that's when my brain shifts, confusion, feels like I'm in a dream, jamais vu a lot...I stay still and feel I can't speak then after maybe between 45 secs to a few minutes I come out of it but still feel off, other spells are where I do something and not realize I did it so they can be different.

Another thing I have put together is afterwards I am extremely exhausted for about 3-4 days, like I've not slept in days.

Thank you for all your help and advice, now I'm wondering if these are complex migraines as one Dr thinks they might be or some kind of seizure activity, I'm worried as I just hope a neurologist can find out which one it is!

Hope you are well

[Porkette]

Hi Sitke,

I'm wondering if the amount of serotonin that's out there is causing the possible sz. and headaches. I told my Dr. that I have more sz. in the fall and winter compared to the spring and summer and he told me it was do to the amount of serotonin. Some people have fewer sz. and headaches when there's more serotonin while others have a lot of headaches and sz. when there's more serotonin it just depends on the person and their body chemistry. My Dr. calls this "seasonal sz."
From what you are describing to me it sounds like you are having possible absence sz. (petit mal) and I've had this kind of sz. for 42 yrs. I will feel tired and confused for a few seconds after the sz. is over and it's hard for me to remember what happened or what I was doing after the sz. is over but then it all comes back to me after a few seconds. The best way to describe it is someone whose had a few to many drinks and they don't remember driving home. It's like amnesia.
If you have a hard time sleeping you may want to ask your Dr. to do a sleep study on you along with an e.e.g. by doing this they can tell if you are having sz. in your sleep or if you have a sleep disorder which can sometimes cause epilepsy like sleep apnea does. As I mentioned in an earlier post if you have noticed colors are triggering your sz. it tells me you are photosensitive and certain colors are triggering the sz. Just try and get some rest and if you feel stressed out but you like music listen to some music they have found that music calms the nerves. I love the 1970's and early 1980's those were the good old days. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue