Seizures and Epilepsy: Frequently Asked Questions

Recently I've been "spacing out" more than often, my words have become more slurred, great muscle "limpness," very frequent memory lapses, and very agitated.

I fractured my skull when I was a couple of weeks old, but I got cleared.

Surely, there has to be an explanation behind it all right? Or am I just going insane (Which would not be surprising...)

Has anyone ever had a seizure while they were alone and no one to help?
I find that thought very scary.

I had my first seizure in November 2016, so I would have been in 7th grade. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. Such a fun title right. I used to always think of myself as an epileptic but to me that title made it seem like that was all I am. I am a person with Epilepsy. Person is the key word. Getting diagnosed help with so many things in my life. It helped me get rid of toxic friends, build better relationships with others, and love life a bit more. I can remember waking up, morning after morning, being just thankful that I did wake up. After November 11, 2016 I had another seizure then March 29th 2017. Then I made two whole years seizure free and was so ecstatic. Then it came for the two year seizure free EEG. I stayed overnight at the hospitals hotel thing and took the test the next morning after having been up all night. I remember doing the test and feeling so confident because I didn’t shake, convulse, or feel any symptoms. I thought I was finally free of this burden, but then saw my neurologist who told my I did have seizure activity and that the only reason I didn’t have a full blown seizure was because my meds were working, Third med’s the charm, eh? I was so devastated but now realize I am Epileptic. But that doesn’t define me in the slightest. I am an A honors student, I want to be a cardiovascular surgeon or a medical malpractice lawyer, I try my hardest, I have a job at 14, and I am a kind person. So no I am not an Epileptic.

I started to get grand mal seizures when I was 16 so back in 2006 first it started out as one every 6 months than I got on dilantin and it became 2 to 3 a week and some I had 2 seizures in a row one after the other just kept getting worse I thought that they would never stop I was afraid to leave my house in fear of having one out in public I would have an aura before hand that I started uncontrollably looking up at the ceiling and falling backwards felt like that feeling when you go down a roller coaster only it wasn't a good feeling to me. While I was unconscious having the seizures every time I would see myself on an ambulance and I was dying from the seizure which made me panic every time I woke up on an actual ambulance after a seizure I would flip out on the paramedics and demand they let me out I was still out of it but I was panicking because I thought I was going to die. Eventually in 2013 I told my doctor that dilantin did nothing for my seizures but make them worse so he put me on Keppra 500 mg two times a day and I got off the dilantin since doing so I have not had a seizure in almost 6 years though recently this past year I've been having the aura feeling's but I haven't went into a full blown seizure yet I still don't like that feeling though because i am just waiting for the seizure to happen.

I started having seizures December 2010 that I know of, at least gran mal. I was serving at the the time and having a smoke. I went to stand up, and another server came out and saw something was wrong. I immediately fell over peed my pants and just thought I was in 2007 back in Sarasota in my senior year, when really was living in 9am beach at FAU with a full sholeralship. I hate hospitals but went bv this had never happened. I was born in February 15, 2089. I had a very very abusive more so mentally however, who told me if I left he would feed me to to the gators and no one would find me. I was locked up and my seizures continued when when I finally got away to Sarasota I fractured skull while working. My eegs still have never never done back normal. They even did a 72hr regs which I thought was going to be ok when I returned it, they immediately made me come in stating I was always having petite seizures and 2 gran mals. Some days I can feel something is wrong and I need to be careful. Stress is my main trigger and I'm always stressing out for any reason I don't know why and I have to remind myself to breathe plus my neck down to my back is always stiff. I could do on an on about what I have gone through especially 10days of not be able to walk. It's just so frustrating. I get yelled at by my mom mom mostly bc it "hurts and scares them"" I just want to cry yes I know I have repeated myself but don't really realize it. Just needed to vent I guess to others that understand.... the gran mals are somewhat getting better however I was extremely stressed the week before July 4th and had 5 within 7days. Other than that I have doing better than before just told however I'm always having petite seizures even when I don't know it. I'm happy that things are better I just got a MRI and it came back good. :)

Hi in 2008 was involved in a car accident had a head injury was diagnosed epileptic 2009 but i had mild seizures nothing scary or life changing happened i did not take any epilepsy medication,excercised daily and never had any epileptic problem,i had my first born 2012 i was still ok even years later and sudden change was 2018 around July i fell pregnant,it started 1st time around November 2018 i had what is called tonic clonic seizure and it also happened few months after giving birth.i dont have any trigger signs that i know of,what could be the problem and how do i treat it.thank you

When I was 2 I had four seizures in a year. Would that cause me brain damage as I grew up??

I am 42 now but i had my first seizure when i was 41. The hospital said all my test came back good and took me off my prozac and put me on effexor and said that was the cause of it. Now im 42 and just had my 2nd seizure. Spent 4 days in hospital still test came back good except now they are saying i have a prolong qt and abnormal ecg. And this time they put me on Keppra. I still feel weird. My legs get tingling and my eyes flutter and i feel like i can have one at anytime. And when i do have one i black out and remember nothing and coming too in the ambulance throwing up. I alot questions but no answers.

Epilepsy affects people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. According to the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS), about 2.3 million adults and more than 450,000 children and adolescents in the United States have epilepsy. Some people with epilepsy stare off into space or make strange sounds during a seizure. Some people may undress, laugh, or walk in circles. Read this article and would like to share with the visitors

I’m 21 years old and I have been having seizures for the past 6 months and the neurologists that I have gone too have both said my eeg are normal. I have been having multiple a day and sometimes I will go a few days without one. I have gone thru 4 different types of medicine so far and none of them seem to work and besides that I do not like any of them anyways. I have mostly the full blown fall on the ground shaking and twitching ones but yet I am able to hear everything from that is going on even tho I can’t see or control my body and it is the most scariest thing in the world. To lay there and hear the scared and panicked voices of those that love you and care for you saying “come back Gavin, come on Gavin, wake up Gavin, come on baby,” even tho they are trying to stay calm and be there for you. I just scream in my head to wake up and I get so mad at my self cause I feel so hopeless and just feel awful that I’m putting everyone thru this. It breaks my heart to hear my mother break down in tears or my wife crying over me begging me not to leave her as I lay there having 11 quick seizures back to back. I pray that none of my future children will have to go thru this. I really hope this isn’t a genetic trait. Neither one of my parents or grandparents have them so I hope for the best. I love life and I am thankful everyday that I wake up cause you never know when it will be your last day. Peace, Love, and positivity is my mind set and my focus to get thru this setback in life and in life it’s self.

I’m 21 years old and I have been having seizures for the past 6 months and the neurologists that I have gone too have both said my eeg are normal. I have been having multiple a day and sometimes I will go a few days without one. I have gone thru 4 different types of medicine so far and none of them seem to work and besides that I do not like any of them anyways. I have mostly the full blown fall on the ground shaking and twitching ones but yet I am able to hear everything from that is going on even tho I can’t see or control my body and it is the most scariest thing in the world. To lay there and hear the scared and panicked voices of those that love you and care for you saying “come back Gavin, come on Gavin, wake up Gavin, come on baby,” even tho they are trying to stay calm and be there for you. I just scream in my head to wake up and I get so mad at my self cause I feel so hopeless and just feel awful that I’m putting everyone thru this. It breaks my heart to hear my mother break down in tears or my wife crying over me begging me not to leave her as I lay there having 11 quick seizures back to back. I pray that none of my future children will have to go thru this. I really hope this isn’t a genetic trait. Neither one of my parents or grandparents have them so I hope for the best. I love life and I am thankful everyday that I wake up cause you never know when it will be your last day. Peace, Love, and positivity is my mind set and my focus to get thru this setback in life and in life it’s self.

Ever since I started having seizures I'd always have this sight of a young blonde haired girl holding out her hand trying to keep me from falling right before I black out. Id always reached for it but my hand would just go through hers. It happened every single time I'd have a seizure. I just want to know if there's a reason to it. I asked my neurologist once, but she didn't understand what I was talking about. Curious if anyone else has seen something like that consistently whenever they'd have a seizure.

Just over 3 weeks ago, I had a seizure in my boss' office at work just as we were starting a meeting. It was Tonic-clonic, bit my tongue etc,. Back and ribs are still sore now almost 4 weeks later-which is frustrating. Feeling quite tired still in terms of energy levels particularly when I am at work. I hadn't had one for 18 years.