Hi lucy,
What you are describing sounds like an aura seizure also known as a simple partial sz. whrere you smell different odours which aren't there and then the simple partial sz. may be leading into a complex partial sz. where you see different colors in your eyes, have a wicked migraine headache and often the short term memory goes down hill over time either do the the seizure meds a person takes or because the hippocampus in the brain is beginning to shrink. This is what happened to me and my neurosurgeon removed the right hippocampus of my brain. Check out this website for more info.
Be sure and write down each time this happens on a calender along with a discription by doing this the neuro may see a pattern in the time of day/night you have any sz. and what days of the month.
http://www.emedicine.com/neuro/index.shtml#seizures

www.epilepsy.com

Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

thanks sue


the surgery sounds scary! am still hoping it will be diagnosed as migraine aura!! fingers crossed!

Hi lucy - I was diagnosed with epilepsy (mostly complex partial seizures) when I was 46/47 years old.
I went through lots and lots of the "weird" things you are going through now and I understand just how awful it can be.
I remember sitting in the back seat of a moving car, watching my right arm turn neon blue, growing longer, longer and longer, pushing the windshield out into space. aaaaaaggggggghhhhh. I just sat and watched it in stunned silence and horror.
I remember the smells ....... body smells that I thought were coming from me ---- hideous sickening smells.
I remember thinking I was being hung by my hundre ......
Now I'm bawling again - and this was years ago.
Epilepsy medications turned me into enough of a zombie that I lost those auras and I just 'blacked out' during my seizures.
BUT -- all of those seizures lasted just 30 -45 - 60 seconds.....not hours like yours. (The migraines last for hours) It did take maybe 10-15 minutes for everything to 'clear-up' after each seizure.

As it turned out, a tumor was causing my epilepsy and it was removed in 2006 and because the seizures continued I had more surgery May 18,2007 and I haven't had a seizure since then.
I hope and think Sue will keep talking -- she's the dear, smart person to listen to. Bless her heart.

Hi Lucy,
One thing I forgot to mention is that a change in the hormones could be causing all of the problems for you. When I went through my change I had a lot more sz. than usual but that's because the estrogen level went up at certain times of the month and estrogen can cause more excitment in the nervous system. While the estrogen level was up the progesterone level was low and progesterone helps calm the nerves. Take note if all these possible sz. are happening a week to 10 days before your monthly cycle and then when you go through ovulation because that what can trigger sz. for many women. These sz. are known as cateminal sz.
As far as the surgery it helped reduce my sz. from an average of 300 sz. a yr. to 108 sz. last yr. I had surgery done twice. The first time it was a video e.e.g. where the put 7 depth electrodes directly on my brain to pinpoint the area of my brain that was triggering sz. and the 2nd surgery was ultra sound surgery where I had to be awake for most of the sugery so they could test me doing an e.e.g., having me read index cards, and pricking me with a pin. All this had to be done to make sure I didn't lose my sight or become paralyzed. Take my word you will get the best help going to an Epilepsy Center and seeing and Epileptologist-a Dr. who specializes in Epilepsy. I've found that an Epileptologist is way ahead of any neuro I ever saw and they have had me on the least amount of meds. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

P.S. Wren has a heart of gold and has been a great help to others here.

hi wren and sue


thanks again for the replies, i really appreciate it!

you both seem to think that my symptoms are definitely seizures , are you sure because i have seen some of these symptoms described on migraine aura foundation website and my first diagnosis was that it was complicated migraine. i came onto this forum because someone mentioned that there was a type of epilepsy that resembled migraine aura but i HAVE NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH EPILEPSY AT ALL!! yet and dont want to be, you all seem to suffer greatly both with the condition and treatments necessary to control it. it doesn't seem to be related to the time of the month but strong light and having an argument definitely triggers it! i dont have these sympotms all the time, might have 2-3 a month then nothing for months.

Hi Lucy,
Before I started to have sz. I started having wicked migraine headaches. There is often a contection between migraines and epilepsy. You mentioned that certain colors can cause the problem. This happened to me and I found out that I was photosensitive which means certain colors can trigger sz. for a person when they are photosensitive. I found florescent green, amber, and bright white the 3 main colors that caused me to have a sz.
Arguments can lead to stress and stress can lead to sz. for people. The 2 main things that can trigger sz. the most is stress and lack of sleep. Here' are the main things that can cause epilepsy:
inherited from family genes, trauma, lack of oxygen, a bad scare, tramatic brain injury, drug or alcohol abuse, or a bad blow to the head. Brain tumors can also cause sz. for people. Sometimes video games have also.
My advice is for you to see a neuro and take it from there. Here's wishing you well and May God Bless You!

Sue

again many thanks!