I know that I have epilepsy. That I have struggled for a long time excepting my limitations etc.
My odd question is this. I keep a journal of seizures. Thanks to years of family training me that "oh that was just a symptom" "oh just take your pills and you will not have seizures" "Oh you are fine"

Even to this day I sometimes either do not want to except or like to minimize That I had a seizure. Fort years I never labeled it complex or simple partial it just was a seizure or a sypmtom

But now I feel I ma needing to know.
I am aware of my surrounding even if a bit foggy. I can almost always tell you 98% of what has occurred and even the things I did or happened during the seizure.
So I am needing to give it a label and my question how do we know for sure?

So any tips or thoughts would be great. Do others go through this also?
Thanks, Cedar

Hi Cedar,
What you are describing sounds like a simple partial sz. If I may ask do you see any colors in your eyes. get a nervous feeling in your stomach, or hear word(s) repeated over and over again that sounds like an echo, or do you notice strange odours during the time that you are having the sz. If you notice any of the things that I've mentioned it's a aura (simple partial) sz. Sometimes I will have a simple partial sz. that will lead into a complex partial or absence sz. I can tell if it's been a cp sz. because I will often wander around the house or work and when I come out of the sz. I'm in a different area than where I was when the sz. started. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

Thanks Porkette. I just had another seizure this am. I felt it comeon very subtle. I was a counter and put what I was doing, stared off, got a bit stiff then slowly returned over a 2-3 minute period. My partner said they asked me a question and I never responded, nor did I hear it.

Yet it is different than years past when it was clear that I was having complex seizures.

I quess I worry as I do not want to think I am having complex seizures , as this means the meds are not working. I am kinda at the end of the list of options. Thanks for the name of the meds Lyrica, having read the side affects I have no interest. However, what do we do?

I fel fusturated right now. Thanks for listening. Cedar

Hi Cedar,
I'm sorry to hear that you had another sz. Maybe your drug level is a little low you might want to get a blood test done a.s.a.p. to check your drug levels.
What you are describing sounds a lot like my complex partial sz. Ask your family and friends to watch you and tell you if they notice that you are smacking your lips during the sz. if you are that's a sure sign of a complex partial sz. I just hope it never happens to you again. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

(((((((((((((Cedar)))))))))))))).

Yeah, those are simples. Anytime your awareness leaves you but you appear to be conscious, i.e. "the lights are on, but nobody's home," those are CPs. SPs are also referred to as "auras," or warnings/intros to larger szs, such as grand mals (or a term I hate, "tonic-clonic"). They can occur alone or before larger szs.

Your family is probably unaware that these are szs themselves. Getting some lit from EFA might help. You can write them at www.efa.org.

Good luck...

LIZARD

Hi, I have both partial and complex partial seizures. Most time with the complex-partials I get a warning in the way of an odd smell, strange feelings, seeing colored spots. Then I have a period of like being stuck on the wrong side of a mirror unable to interact with anyone around me, then amnesia, then as I come out of it I am very confused and tired.
With the partial's I just get funny feelings or numbness in my face, or a funny smell like a dead mouse, rotten eggs, or smoke, or burning rubber. Other times my sense of taste is altered and I taste metal where there is none. Or I see things that are not really there, unable to speak or hear. Seizures can bring on a wide range of symtoms. I have one about once a week. Just because you are still having a few seizures does not mean your meds are not working. Sometimes, yes, more meds can stop them, but also too much medication can cause worse problems. I would say talk it over with your doctor. Medication does not stop all seizures but it can make life more bearable.

Cedar,
you and I pretty much might have the same ones. I have simple partials and complex partials, but last year grand mal started up too.
Now for simple partial seizures that's one where you're having one, but are still conscious during the seizure. For the simple partial i have deja vu. Then for the complex, I end up totaly unconscious. Then when i'm conscious again I'm 100% confused. I don't know who, what, where, when, or why. I also hallucinate half the time. Being unconscious is the seizure. But being confused and hallucinating is the electrical activity in your brain trying to get back to normal. After one of the complex seizures i have noticed myself looking all around the house for my grandma that's passed away 8 years ago. So I'm confused, but not enough to forget doing that.
Some people have an aura, a feeling telling them that a seizure is on the way. An aura is also a simple partial seizure. But an aura can warn you anywhere from minutes to hours that a seizure is coming. I hope that your neurologist is helping you well.

Sincerely
shawn33

Having read everyones replies to (((CEDAR))) I am beginning to wonder if I am experiencing sp szs. I dont have an odd smell, i did have a time a little over a year ago I recall tasting a metallic taste in my mouth, quite frequently, and wondered if it was a vitamin definciency, i have always experienced deja vu on a regular basis, and sometimes just stare off into space, although IM conscious and seem to "snap" out of it.

Lately, alot of nausea, and an odd, uneasy feeling, like something awful is getting ready to happen. Typically if I stop, lay down and breathe deep the sensations will go away. Then there is all the jerking of my head to the left, my hand to my face, and my entire body when im in bed. are these just symptoms? or is it possible I am having another type of sz?

Cedar...I am sympathize with you so much, and I hope you find the answers you are seeking as well. Having just started this journey, I realize how difficult it is, and how much harder it is bound to get....I would not wish it on my worst enemy. God bless you Cedar, and I hope everything works out for you.....


Amanda