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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Epilepsy / September 2004First Seizure in middle age male
Hi everyone My husband, aged 41, has just had his first seizure, and is awaiting further tests -an EEG and MRI. CT Scan showed nothing, bloods showed no infection. He needs to drive for his job, and we are both absolutely poleaxed by this event. He had been in very close contact with two very friendly parrots 7 days before, who licked the inside of his ears for about 20 minutes. Does anyone think that this could have introduced bacteria which could have caused this seizure? Would that have shown up in the blood tests? I am going mad watching him, waiting for the next episode. I love him so much, and want to help him regain confidence. Thanks Cathy I'm sorry. The fear doesn't exactly pass, but you learn to live with it pretty quickly. The driving will always be a big pain, and (this is sexist) I think it's probably worse for a man, ecspecially one whose livelihood depends on it. If his seizures are controlled for a length of time, chances are he will be able to drive again. As for the parrots, no I don't think that would bring on seizures, but like yuck. :) > I'm sorry. The fear doesn't exactly pass, but you learn to live with it > pretty quickly. That's true. > The driving will always be a big pain, and (this is sexist) No it isn't. It's just as hard for men not to drive as it is for women. > I think it's probably worse for a man, ecspecially one whose livelihood > depends on it. What on Earth makes you say that? > If his seizures are controlled for a length of time, chances > are he will be able to drive again. Or she ... Mary Hi Cathy - my first seizure came at that same age and all the tests were normal. It happened to be three months following the death of my younger brother - who was my closest family member. I understand that if one is able to control the seizures, through medication, for a certain amount of time, that driving priviledges can be restored. Most people have a very negative view of seizures. Despite all of the down sides, I recommend that during the 24 - 48 hour period following seizures, one keeps an open and receptive mind, and allows awareness of any new thoughts or visions which may arise. Best wishes for your future. Tim > Hi Cathy - my first seizure came at that same age and all the tests were > normal. It happened to be three months following the death of my younger [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > keeps an open and receptive mind, and allows awareness of any new thoughts or > visions which may arise. That's very wise advice. Don't panic. Mary > Best wishes for your future. Tim Thankyou all for your comments. At this stage of complete shock and ignorance it is brilliant to speak to people who actually have experiece on their side. Perhaps he will not be diagnosed as epileptic, but if he is, hopefully he will be controlled with drugs and will keep his job. It is all a tremendous trial for us both. I am not used to him being dependant, and he is not used to me being kind to him! I will keep you all posted! Cathy > Thankyou all for your comments. At this stage of complete shock and > ignorance it is brilliant to speak to people who actually have experiece [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > dependant, and he is not used to me being kind to him! > I will keep you all posted! Please do. If he is diagnosed with a form of epilepsy his and your experiences will be worth sharing with others. Mary > Cathy Does anyone know if there is an absoltely definitve test for epilepsy, or is it mostly "wait and see" and guesswork? Thanks again Cathy > Does anyone know if there is an absoltely definitve test for epilepsy, I don't believe that there is. But what do I know ... Mary > Does anyone know if there is an absoltely definitve test for epilepsy, or > is it mostly "wait and see" and guesswork? > Thanks again > Cathy Several of the main seizure types produce a recognizable waveform on an EEG (Electroencephalogram), or specific Damage from an infection or accident might show up on an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) -- like a 3D X-ray of the inside of the head. Some types of seizures may not show up as easily on the EEG, although many do. Many of the main seizure types also have some recognizable behaviours or symptoms that might suggest where the seizure is originating. (If you have an older post from Julie on your reader, the Idaho Epilepsy Support site is listed at the end, (I forgot to bring it 'in here' with me) -- if you click to that site and look at the First Aid for Seizures, that page describes 'how we act' from an observer's point of view to several of the Main seizure types. /G. (I'll post the address later, if some older posts of Julie's aren't still up on my server.) > > Does anyone know if there is an absoltely definitve test for epilepsy, or > > is it mostly "wait and see" and guesswork? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > X-ray of the inside of the head. > Some types of seizures may not show up as easily on the EEG, Quite. That means that it's not definitive. Mary You help her. ****************8 > > > Does anyone know if there is an absoltely definitve test for epilepsy, > or [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Mary > Many of the main seizure types also have some recognizable behaviours or > symptoms that might suggest where the seizure is originating. (If you have [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > 'how we act' from an observer's point of view to several of the Main > seizure types. Here it is! http://www.epilepsyidaho.org/seizure.htm Bob I did not finish reading all the the postings, however, I would like to share my husband exp. w/szr. He has had 4 szr. in his entire life: 1 - when we where first married, 2- our first child born, 3-sold business stiffed $$, and 4 - building house and starting a new business. Notice that they are all STRESS related. My husband only took szr. at night after he went to sleep; all times I called rescue because I was scared. The other thing I notice is he cannot sit still and he breath has a tin or iron smell before he has a szr. Please continue chat about it..it is very hard to go through. Best wishes Thanks everyone. Now another question! Do epeleptic fits always cause the sufferer to be very sleepy after? My husband was NOT sleepy when he came round. He also didnt become incontinent - although I know this isnt always the case. Sleepiness is not a definite outcome, nor is pant's peeing. I've had some of each. Post seizure dreams can be extraordinary and I again stress the value of keeping an open awareness following seizures for new perspectives. Tim I always need to sleep for at least 2 hours after a seizure, but I have never been incontinent (thank God!). But every person is different. > Thanks everyone. Now another question! Do epeleptic fits always cause the > sufferer to be very sleepy after? My husband was NOT sleepy when he came > round. He also didnt become incontinent - although I know this isnt always > the case. Welcome to our group. I'm sure it is a frightening situation to try to cope with, but you are taking the first steps by asking questions. Let me ask you some questions. If you saw your husband's seizure. What did he do before the seizure, during the seizure, and after the seizure. We have a wide range of experience here, people who have epilepsy and people who have loved ones with seizure disorders. People from many countries. Tonic clonic seizure are convulsions. They used to call these seizures grand mal seizures. Usually after a tonic clonic seizure a person is very exhausted and we ache all over because our body is tensing up and convulsing. We are unconscious during the seizure, but when we regain consciousness we feel drained of our energy and that is when I need to rest. I go to bed and sleep. It usually takes several days to recuperate. Take care, Julie Walton, Volunteer Webmaster Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho http://www.epilepsyidaho.org > Thanks everyone. Now another question! Do epeleptic fits always cause the > sufferer to be very sleepy after? My husband was NOT sleepy when he came > round. He also didnt become incontinent - although I know this isnt always > the case. > We have a wide range of experience here, That's my point, in reply to the original question. There IS no absolute, no definite, no regularity. We're all different in our experiences of and our reactions to our various types of seizures, that's why it's dangerous to tell people what to expect. If someone doesn't have the same experiences as us they might think that they are not experienced an epileptic seizure so not seek help. > Tonic clonic seizure are convulsions. They used to call these seizures grand > mal seizures. Still are in some places. > Usually after a tonic clonic seizure a person is very exhausted > and we ache all over because our body is tensing up and convulsing. Not in my case. > We are > unconscious during the seizure, but when we regain consciousness we feel > drained of our energy and that is when I need to rest. I wasn't drained of energy. I slept afterwards for my normal span and was perfecly normal thereafter. If my seizure hadn't been witnessed I wouldn't have known about it. > I go to bed and > sleep. It usually takes several days to recuperate. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > round. He also didnt become incontinent - although I know this isnt always > > the case. Everyone is different. It might take time for your husband to be treated in the best way for him. Don't be impatient, follow the advice of the medics and if one treatment doesn't work be prepared to try another. It might be that there is no 100% side-effect-free and 100% control treatment, as with all things in life we have to accept compromises. It's nothing to do with epilepsy, it's about my cancer. I keep reminding myself that while I hurt I live. Make the most of it. Hugs, Mary Howdy! Here's my 2 p. > > We have a wide range of experience here, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > > Usually after a tonic clonic seizure a person is very exhausted > > and we ache all over because our body is tensing up and convulsing. > > Not in my case. > > > We are > > unconscious during the seizure, NOT NECESSARILY.. (ON 2 COUNTS!!) 1: When I have simple partial seizures I am conscious by all defenitions of the word. I am aware of my surroundings, I can think, I can communicate. I just FEEL it. 2: How are we defining "unconscious" here? When I have a complex partial seizure I appear to be aware of my surroundings and can respond to questions (some of the responses may not be 100% coherant, but I can still respond to questions.) HOWEVER If by "conscious" you mean aware of my surroundings, then I am - according to that definition - unconcious. It's closer to amnesia than non-responsive. (A chunk of time will just dissapear from my life without my being aware of it.) > > but when we regain consciousness (see above) > >we feel > > drained of our energy and that is when I need to rest. > > I wasn't drained of energy. I slept afterwards for my normal span and was > perfecly normal thereafter. If my seizure hadn't been witnessed I wouldn't > have known about it. In MY case I don't sleep afterwords and I usually don't get any sleep at all that night. (My sleep schedule gets thrown out of wack for a few days.) > > I go to bed and > > sleep. It usually takes several days to recuperate. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Mary  SignatureDave ???? http://www.howdydave.com > > I wasn't drained of energy. I slept afterwards for my normal span and was > > perfecly normal thereafter. If my seizure hadn't been witnessed I wouldn't > > have known about it. > > In MY case I don't sleep afterwords and I usually don't get any sleep at all > that night. (My sleep schedule gets thrown out of wack for a few days.) No, but mine was in my sleep. I was asleep before, possibly during and certainly afterwards. I wok up as normal, Spouse asked if I were OK, I said yes, why? And he told me. I felt no different from any other morning. Mary It was first thing in the morning, Ian was brushing his teeth. He had absolutely no warning and just crashed backwards into the bath -the noise of which alerted me - and lay face up, legs relaxed stretched out draped over the end of the bath, arms and shoulders jerking, foaming at the mouth, and he had bitten his tongue. He was breathing very heavy - like his usual loud snore!. This stage went on for a few minutes, then he lay still, snoring loudly, then he started to come to and was very confused, didnt know where he was, arms flailing, trying to argue with the medics which were trying to get him into the ambulance. He realised where he was about 5 minutes later, then next time he remembers was about 15 minutes later in hospital. We are in England, now awaiting an MRI scan and EEG. He has had blood tests, CT scan and liver/kidney function, blood pressure, heart tests and everything is fine. Thanks again everyone. Some of the things you say are a comfort - most are very frightening, but I need to find out as much as I can in order to accept this and move forward. Cathy > Thanks again everyone. Some of the things you say are a comfort - most are > very frightening, but I need to find out as much as I can in order to > accept this and move forward. Please don't be frightened, we're all proof that seizures don't mean the end of the world. Look after him ... Hugs, Mary > Cathy People react to epilepsy and seizure disorders as if it were the end of the world. You will find, as Mary said, there are many people coping with epilepsy and leading very fulfilling lives. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for the next seizure. Your husband may come to recognize the signs (for him) that indicate a seizure is near. In that case he needs to lay down right away. If he is laying down and isn't getting hurt he won't need to go to the emergency room. Be careful not to hold him down. That is when an arm can get dislocated. Take care, Julie > > Thanks again everyone. Some of the things you say are a comfort - most are > > very frightening, but I need to find out as much as I can in order to [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Mary > > Cathy |
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