Hi, I'm new here and am desperate for ideas, advice, etc.

I feel like this situation is unique but hope someone has expirenced something like this and have some advice to offer.

My boyfriend of 10 years started having "episodes" 4 years ago. When it started is was just hallucinations- he'd see a beam of light or something of the sort. Then it became brief episodes of him losing touch with reality and twitching.

Sometimes he will go a few months with no problems. It always starts with him being off. He'll be grumpy or he'll see stuff and just be generally different. When it happens he becomes very scared, doesn't know me, doesn't know where he's at, precieves himself in a nightmarish landscape, twitches, makes repetitive movements, smacks his lips, doesn't make any sense and will draw up so bad he'll slide off the chair. He often tries to hide under pillows or blankets. He cries and is terrified. It will last for under 3 minutes then he'll come to and be SO thirsty he'll drink a whole bottle of water in a few gulps. He'll be a little wierd the rest of the day and is fine again.

It looks like a seizure but I didn't know siezures caused hallucinations. He says he feels like he goes somewhere else.

We are seeing a neurologist. So far testing has come back normal. I feel like we aren't being taken seriously- he doesn't have another appt. until August! I can't do this! I'm so scared, I don't know what's happening. Can anyone help?

I just noticed there were more appropriate areas to post this type of questions- mods, please move this if nessesary.

Hi,

Welcome to our community.

I don't have much experience with hallun...s but I do believe both of you.

Maybe our moderators will move your plea for help to a better place for advice. I'm sure he's not the only one with this condition.

I do know August it too far away for your problem to go undiagnosed and uncontrolled. If these episodes are getting worse you may need restraints or knock out meds, injectables, available to you so he doesn't injure himself or someone else accidentally.

You need to get him a firm diagnosis so you can get him treatment and prepare for these episodes.

Chemicals of some kind introduced into his body in some way could cause these symptoms.

I would think a good psychological evaluation wouldn't hurt. Could explain a lot about the hall...s.

Hope you find answers soon.
(Broken Wings)

Thanks for your support.

Sometimes a mental illness problem may not show "hard" data, (Testable) and behavior must be evaluated and a physical doctor (neurologist) may not have the skills to see otherwise. See someone in Mental Health area, a psychiatrist (versus a psychologist who has none) holds a medical training license that makes him a medical doctor. An August appt. is too long to wait!! Maybe a good psychiatrist can help see if it is neurological/physical or in mental health area.

Hi I'm Donna and my son Derrick has seizures.

And he had hallucinations at one point. The things you describe can
also be complex partial seizures. Which means that he is alert, but
not there. He is not exactly with you.

My son has CP seizures, and they present in many forms. One form
will even have him having a complete conversation with someone, and
say 10 minutes later not knowing he had it. Or at times knowing the
person was in the restaurant with him. And that he already talked
to them.


Another one he has will make him walk like a drunk, slur his words and
then pass out. He will need to sleep after most of his. He is off most
of the rest of the day after a seizure, but its not always easy for
someone that doesn't know him to realize this.

Also with CP seizures its not always possible to see seizures on the
EEG or the abnormal activity. So one of my suggestions would be
to see if there is anyway you can get him to a ER to be seen during
or after one of his episodes. It might help or it might not. There
is no way of knowing till you try.

Also some are now saying you can draw blood and tell someone had
a seizure this I am not sure of.

Please private message me if you need anything else.

Epilepsy foundation of america has a lot more information too. So please check out there website also.

It will explain the different kinds of seizures.

And even though you can't get in till August that technically is good in
lots of areas, it takes 6 months or longer to get into a neurologist.

Donna

Hello Iris, and welcome to NeuroTalk! You will find that there are a great many caring, helpful, and very nice people here.

I can't answer any of your questions, because I don't have any experience with hallucinations.

But if you guys aren't satisfied with your doctor, find another one. Sometimes you have to really shop around until you find one who believes you and who you can believe in, and who you can grow to trust.

Hang in there.

Thanks everyone, it is very difficult to get into a doctor we prefer. We have no insurance and are both in college. We can't see a doctor in our area b/c we can't afford it. We have to go two hours north to a clinic willing to help us out. He may be getting accepted as a case study.

Hello Iris and welcome.

Sorry that you are dealing with this

You know, those symptoms could be many things...

I have had panic attacks that have made me feel out of this reality, do and say things that, later on, after the attack, I dont remember or that simply make me laugh like saying, "did i do that ?", if you know what I mean...

It can be a seizure too like Donna explained you...

And many more things come to mind but Im not a doctor so Im not sure ops:

I hate to read you dont feel comfortable with your doc I have been in that situation and it sucks...

You are in my prayers and hopefully all your problems will be better soon

welcome iris

there are many things that can trigger an altered state

it is important to identify the trigger event, so your doctors can pinpoint the possible causes

eg
past event PTSD

LSD psychosis flash backs

light patterns epilepsy

food allergy epeilepsy

sleep deprivation altered state

psychological trigger

its interesting you mention thirst, has your BF been checked for diabetes, is hydration a factor

thirst is governed by the automatic nervous system centered in the brain stem there is a condition known as POTS that can cause this system to be effected

because this happens so infrequently its important to find the trigger so the doctors can image the event

try to push for an earlier appointment

it may be none of the above

best wishes

http://home.att.net/~potsweb/POTS.html