*** G. **  I don't know what above means.  If a seizure generalizes
(spreads)  it can lead to loss of consciousness.   It would rarely be Fatal
?? or you wouldn't be able to report that? / G.

G.-  The Deja Vu described above is a very strong feeling that this has
happened before, we said this already, or we could tell what would happen
next. It's a strong illusion produced by seizures that are starting in the
Right Temporal Lobe. The feeling they're describing (if that's what you get
too) are part of the aura of that type of seizure.  Symptoms might be listed
either under Temporal Lobe Seizures (an older term that's still used on some
sites), or Complex Partial Seizures (a term used on many sites to describe a
group of seizure types, one of which can be either Left Temporal Lobe based,
or (our) Right Temporal Lobe type).   Aura of the Left side T.Lobe seizure
is a Jamais Vu feeling where your own place might feel temporarily like
you're at a stranger's house. The Right side T.Lobe ones produce a Deja Vu
sensation, if the electrical firing starts there.

   The Right T.Lobe auras can also include a taste or aroma that's Sour or
like Lemon, while the Left T.Lobe ones, the taste or aroma (if there is one)
is an Eggy or Sulphur type aroma or taste?  I've only had the first aura
type, so latter type is from U.S. Ep. Foundation site or other locations
around the internet.    (General US Site is at http://efa.org  if you
haven't seen that one before.  )    G./

I have these episodes at about the same intervals. I take nothing, I just
live with them.

Mary

If you do any searches, look for Deja Vu under either Complex Partial
Seizures (more current term) or Temporal Lobes Seizures (older term).
Usually the Deja Vu 'Aura' is a warning (Simple Partial Seizure), and can be
followed by a stronger seizure if that leads to loss of consciousness.
That's usually what happens if the full CP sets in.   The Deja Vu indicates
the Seizure Focus (Start place) is in the *Right Temporal Lobe.
   If the sensation was a Jamais Vu (never seen --where your home might
feel like a stranger's), that could indicate the Seizure Focus was starting
in the Left Temporal Lobe.

  *If all you are having any Complex Partial seizures (your Doctor would
know),  I had poor control with Dilantin (one of oldest meds),  but got
better control with Tegretol CR (Time Release) -- it's called Tegretol
Retard in UK? and XR in another formulation.  I've only used the first
version.
    That gave control, with occasional 'breakthroughs'  (seizures), about
each 3-6 months as we upped the dose of the AM or Night dose.  After about 3
years, and still with some seizures, my Neuro slowly removed the *night dose
but added Frisium (Clobazam) that had just been approved for use in Canada
(this was about 1996).  Later we added it to the Morning Dose *with the
Remaining Tegretol CR, left at dose it had been at since 1995.
   Last 2 seizures I had were Dec. 1997,  June 1998.  That only is of
interest (to me anyway) as my Neuro said in 1993 that, based on EEG and
MRIs, I might hope for 1-2 seizure per Month.
   There are others around here somewhere who also have Complex Partial
(Temporal Lobe) seizures who use other Medications, but I haven't seen them
post for a while.
   If you're having 'Absences' as one poster below suggests, driving is an
issue the Doctor should have discussed with you.    Until those are
controlled, you could put others at risk if you lost control of the vehicle
during that part of the Simple Partial.
   The sensation is an Illusion because of electrical activity happening in
that part of the brain, and 'looking for something new'  won't usually help
as it's occurring while you're inside the Illusion phase, and you're not
fully consciousness (thus my comment earlier about driving).   hth.     G./

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