seizure

My cat has seizures and I know how scary that is, so I can only imagine what it would be like to see a person have one!

My ex-boyfriend had them though, but I never saw one. As he (and the vet) explained it, epilepsy or seizures isn't a disease but a symptom of something else. They traced his back to a brain injury cause by using forceps (sp?) while he was being born but the damage didn't start causing problems until he was in his 20s when he started having them. But, a lot of things can bring them on...medication, dehydration, stress, etc.

I had a small one when I was little. I was playing outside for too long in the middle of summer in the hot sun. I remember walking in the door and the next thing I remember is laying on the floor twitching and my mom trying to hold me still. It only lasted a few seconds but it really scared her. We didn't go to the emergency room, because I seemed fine after that and dad was out of work so no health insurance. But, she called her best friend who is a nurse and she said it was probably the heat and dehydration. Maybe the beginning of heat stroke. I haven't had any problems since.

Many going out to your friend. Let us know how she's doing after you see her. Oh, and wish Oliver a happy b-day for me!

I remember very clearly when my father had it, we went to the doctors a few hours before hand because I was sick, he insisted to give my dad a check up he was a substitute doctor about 70 years old. My father said no, we went back home not even an hour later i saw my dad having a fit, he was on the couch and he was kicking the coffee table to high up, I hid behind the other couch, when he stopped i went to look at him, he was drooling and his face was purple, I called my mum over and she started screaming OH MY GOD!!!
As my parents are deaf i had to call 000 at the time, they didnt believe me because i was underage *thank kids for prank calling!* I ran over to my neighbour and she called for me.
Dad was in hospital for two days, the following week we learnt about epilepsy at school. He was on medication for a few years, and every three months he would go in and have a cat scan in the hospital. When we moved to germany he told me not to tell the doctors he had epilepsy.

To this day he hasnt had another seizure that i know of. Touch wood he wont have one while he is driving or another time in the future.

If you can, go to a class where they teach about it, so just in case your friend or any body else has it again then you can assist them.

You friend will be fine

I hope they can find the trigger - could it be something she took? If they can find a direct cause like that they may not take her license, or at least not for as long.

I worry, that with my autonomic issues that I may be at risk for or eventually have an autonomic seizure. Apparently these are harder to figure out and treat as well since they arise from the ANS and not the brain? The last time I fainted, forced on the tilt table, I woke up very very confused and was sore. That alone worries me a bit as the other times I've fainted I have never been that confused or sore (even after falling on stuff), but surely with a doctor right there if something happened other than normal syncope he would have said or done something...
Another thing that spooks me is my occasional memory gaps - up to 15 minutes where, luckily, I seem to be on autopilot. A member of the dysautonomia forum I'm on had similar incidents and it was determined she was having seizures. Can't afford a neurologist and a battery of tests at this time, but I will probably have to check into it eventually to get full diagnosis and better treatment.

Witnessing a seizure can be very frightening.

When I was in junior high a girl had epilepsy and would have the occasional seizure.

The best thing to do is not restrain the person and don't put anything in their mouths.

That fact that these are happening out of the blue is concerning. Have they done a brain scan to check for tumors?

Whoa how scary..I am praying that its nothing serious.

I was diagnosed with Epilepsy when I turned 30. Out of nowhere I had my first seizure, grand mal, on our bathroom floor. DH apparently found me there and called 911. When I "came out" of it I can sort of remember that the paramedics reminded me of dwarfs for some reason, I told them the year was 1968 instead of 1999, they took me to the er and ran all sorts of tests then sent me home telling me to see a neurologist. I did but he basically said he didn't know why I was had the seizure. I had another one about a month later. They put me on Tegretol and Topomax, The second one to control the headaches I get alot now. I had a seizure in my sleep, I had one at Petsmart, and one at work. (5 in the last 9 years that I can remember.) It's a scary thing to have someone talking to you and you don't even know why you are where you are, how you got there or anything. I cry afterwards, I loose time, I can't function correctly for at least a day and feel like I've been hit by a truck. All my muscles hurt from being tense and I feel just all sorts of out of control, emotionally physically, in everyway.
Please be a friend to your coworker, she needs all the support she can get. It's a scary feeling to have seizures and not know why. Lots of people shy away from things they don't understand and seizures are one of those things unfortunately...

Thank you all for your kind words, suggestions, thoughts and prayers.

I have an update. Last night at around 11:30 the neurologist came in and had her do a series of exercises, but didn't order any new tests. Is a brain scan different than a CT scan? She needs to make an appointment with him. Maybe he will do some more tests then.

The general physician finally showed up at 1:30 am. He asked her a few questions. Her husband added some additional info (like that she takes a lot of Tylenol for headaches) and the doctor told him that he did not want to hear from him. That kind of gets me mad. You would think that any info has potential for being helpful. He happens to be my Dad's doctor and I know he has way too many patients. I think she will be finding someone different.

She was told that she was staying until Monday, but I guess the doctor changed his mind. The nurse said the doctor called a little while ago and said to discharge her. She was getting out when I arrived at the hospital today.

Anyway, she had been perscribed an antidepressant a few weeks ago. My research indicates that it could be the cause. The doctor has not said that though. He has taken her off of those and perscribed Ativan.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Is a brain scan different than a CT scan?

Anyway, she had been perscribed an antidepressant a few weeks ago. My research indicates that it could be the cause. The doctor has not said that though. He has taken her off of those and perscribed Ativan.

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Yes, a CT scan is the test I was referring to.

Do you know the name of the medication she had been prescribed a few weeks ago?

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Yes, a CT scan is the test I was referring to.

Do you know the name of the medication she had been prescribed a few weeks ago?

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Yes, Wellbutrin.

I really don't have any advice to offer, but I just wanted to say that your friend was blessed to have you there when the seizure occurred, and I hope it's nothing serious.

~KK~

It sounds like she's going to have to shop around for a better neurologist. One that won't listen is dangerous to her health. That she has a lot of headaches, and subsequently taking a lot of Tylenol, isn't good and should be checked into as well. The headaches need to be under control and/or the cause of them found.

Something you should tell her - she pays for that doctor's services, if she doesn't like him then find another! No need to waste money.

My sister had seizures as a baby and after she turned 6- she stopped having them.....

Until she was 26. She had while teaching her sixth grade class. She was diagnosed with epilepsy as a baby and just kind of grew out of the seizures. But they did come back and are now controlled with medicines. She has an "Aura" before she has a seizure so she knows that if she's driving or anything to stop what she's doing. She hasn't had a seizure since she has started taking the medications.

I hope nothing serious is wrong! How is your friend feeling?

PS One of my friends in high school had a seizrure in front of me. I know how scary it can be

Originally Posted by strange_wings

It sounds like she's going to have to shop around for a better neurologist. One that won't listen is dangerous to her health. That she has a lot of headaches, and subsequently taking a lot of Tylenol, isn't good and should be checked into as well. The headaches need to be under control and/or the cause of them found.

Something you should tell her - she pays for that doctor's services, if she doesn't like him then find another! No need to waste money.

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There's 2 doctors involved. The neurologist seemed to be ok. It was the general physician who needs to be replaced. He's my dad's doctor too and my dad loves him, but I have a hard time with him. Patients at his office regularly wait hours, he usually gets to the nursing home to see his patients there after 11pm, and then his hospital patients after that. IMO, that is just plain greed. Waaaay too many patients. I don't see how they can be getting the care they need.

I suggested to her and her husband that they find someone else. They already have every intention of getting her records and finding another doctor right away.

Originally Posted by Oscarsmommy

My sister had seizures as a baby and after she turned 6- she stopped having them.....

Until she was 26. She had while teaching her sixth grade class. She was diagnosed with epilepsy as a baby and just kind of grew out of the seizures. But they did come back and are now controlled with medicines. She has an "Aura" before she has a seizure so she knows that if she's driving or anything to stop what she's doing. She hasn't had a seizure since she has started taking the medications.

I hope nothing serious is wrong! How is your friend feeling?

PS One of my friends in high school had a seizrure in front of me. I know how scary it can be

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Thanks! I don't think she has any warning. She's feeling fine though. Hopefully the Ativan will do the trick.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

I suggested to her and her husband that they find someone else. They already have every intention of getting her records and finding another doctor right away.

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That's great! No one ever needs to put up with how her husband was treated, and frankly were I in a similar position and concerned about my husband I'd tell a doctor to go take a flying leap.

Best of luck to them for find the cause and a proper treatment for her.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Yes, Wellbutrin.

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Yeah, there is a small risk of seizures with that medication. The risks increase with the dosage taken. So it's quite possible that the seizures were drug related. But she should still have the CT scan anyway, to rule out a brain tumor.

That sounds really scary. I've never seen someone have a seizure, but I'm sure it's quite frightening. I really hope they found out what's causing them. From what I've learned, they can be caused by so many different things, I'm happy to hear her CT scan was clear and didn't show any tumors.

I do know that the antidepressant Wellbutrin can lower the threshold for seizures, especially if the person is not eating enough. I have been on antidepressants throughout my life and I also have eating disorder issues (I have been anorexic, but am doing okay now), and they said they couldn't give me wellbutrin because of the risk of seizures, which was more risky if I didn't eat well.

I hope the Ativan helps, I take that as well, as it is an anti-anxiety medication. I hope it helps her feel less scared and anxious about this whole thing, it sounds really scary.

I'm glad she's going to find another doctor. Having a good doctor is SO important, that one sounds like he's too busy and would not provide the proper care.

Sending lots of vibes to you and your friend! I hope this is just a one-time occurrence and nothing life-long or serious.

Oh and happy birthday to your kitty!

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Yeah, there is a small risk of seizures with that medication. The risks increase with the dosage taken. So it's quite possible that the seizures were drug related. But she should still have the CT scan anyway, to rule out a brain tumor.

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She had one after the 1st seizure and it was clear. the nurse said that they may give her another one, but that didn't happen.

Originally Posted by KristyKitty

That sounds really scary.

I've never seen someone have a seizure, but I'm sure it's quite frightening.

I really hope they found out what's causing them. From what I've learned, they can be caused by so many different things, I'm happy to hear her CT scan was clear and didn't show any tumors.

I do know that the antidepressant Wellbutrin can lower the threshold for seizures, especially if the person is not eating enough. I have been on antidepressants throughout my life and I also have eating disorder issues (I have been anorexic, but am doing okay now), and they said they couldn't give me wellbutrin because of the risk of seizures, which was more risky if I didn't eat well.

I hope the Ativan helps, I take that as well, as it is an anti-anxiety medication. I hope it helps her feel less scared and anxious about this whole thing, it sounds really scary.

I'm glad she's going to find another doctor. Having a good doctor is SO important, that one sounds like he's too busy and would not provide the proper care.

Sending lots of vibes to you and your friend! I hope this is just a one-time occurrence and nothing life-long or serious.

Oh and happy birthday to your kitty!

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Thank you!

Oliver had a great birthday. He opened his presents after I got back from the hospital. Psjauntie gave him this cool ball that flashes different colored light when it rolls and some catnip toys. She sent 2 of everything so Tripod wouldn't be jealous. . We gave him a remote control mousey, but the steering doesn't work right. It just goes in circles.

Originally Posted by Rockcat

Thank you!

Oliver had a great birthday. He opened his presents after I got back from the hospital. Psjauntie gave him this cool ball that flashes different colored light when it rolls and some catnip toys. She sent 2 of everything so Tripod wouldn't be jealous.

. We gave him a remote control mousey, but the steering doesn't work right. It just goes in circles.

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Glad he had a good birthday! I wish I knew what day my kitties were born, then I could do that to!

That's so cute that Tripod got toys too so he wouldn't be jealous

Hope everything is going okay for your friend.

(I hope it is okay to bump threads from the 2nd page...I know some forums don't like that )