Sometimes when I'm speaking I'll completely blank out for maybe 30 seconds or so. Usually right before it happens (and it almost always happens while speaking) I get a very rapid tremor in my jaw, stutter and my tongue will go rigid. After it happens, I am usually pretty confused, have difficulty recalling what I was talking about or what happened, and I might blank out again. Usually the time surrounding the episodes will be difficult to recall, and I'll feel as though some time is missing from my day. Originally when I brought this to the attention of my neurologist, he suspected that they were seizures (especially after witnessing one himself). Fortunately, they aren't as I've had 4 EEGs, one of which being a 4 day stay in an epilepsy monitoring unit. While in the EMU, they observed one of those episodes, but said it was not a seizure on the EEG.

So, it's good I'm not having seizures, but it's frustrating that I don't know what those episodes are.

My job requires a lot of public speaking and presentation, so I'm hoping someone here might have some ideas.

Also, before these episodes, I'll usually get an upset stomach, and a total hot flash over my body.

Thanks

It's hard to believe these aren't seizures, especially given that you even seem to have a preceeding aura.

Anyway, I have a lot of speech issues. I often freeze up because I can't think of a word (apraxia) or say the wrong word (aphasia). However, while I do stutter, I don't become disoriented or experience rigid tongue.

That said, I do have these super wierd moments when I can't make my body do what I want. For example, I can suddenly not be able to put on my left shoe (I know what I want to do, but can't do it) or climb a step. Maybe something similiar is happening with your speech.

Sometimes I'll just freeze up for a few minutes and be incapable of any movement or speech. This is more likely to happen if I'm in an over-stimulating environment. Do you find speaking to others stressful?

Have you had a neuro-psych to access your brain damage? If so, which lobes are showing the most impairment? Perhaps, as my neuro says, this is a wiring problem.


Cheers

Yeah it usually seems to materialize in overstimulating environments. As they've taken me off Tegretol, the episodes seem to be less frequent. Perhaps it was a reaction to that medication.

I'll do some reading on apraxia. Thanks.

This could be some weird for of an anxiety attack. The over-stimulation can cause anxiety attacks which can use up all of the brain's available functional capacity.

Those of use who have experienced anxiety attacks know how diverse they can be. They can be paralyzing or they can cause a flood of overreacting/over-activity or a combination of both.

The side effects list for Tegretol sounds like it might include your symptoms. Some of the side effects are opposites. Hypotension vs hypertension, etc.

Sounds like a vacation from the Tegretol is worth trying.