Seizures

What exactly is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is sometimes called a seizure disorder. It is a chronic medical condition produced by temporary changes in the electrical function of the brain, causing seizures which affect awareness, movement, or sensation.

Why is it, that if I stand or sit too long I have a seizure. Also, why am I so tired after a seizure?
If you have not done so already, you may want to discuss this with you physician, who may be able to determine why this is occurring, as well as try to explain the feeling of tiredness you experience following your seizure.

Are twitches the same as seizures?
There are many different types of seizures and some may involve twitching movements; for other disorders and/or illnesses, twitching may also be a symptom. It will probably take a careful medical examination to determine the underlying cause of the twitching movements and then, to determine what specific medical condition(s) may be involved. If this is a concern, the individual should consult with a physician and describe the symptoms, when they tend to occur, describe anything that may seem to trigger this movement, how long it lasts, and how s/he felt following the twitching. Providing as much information to the physician as possible, may help him/her determine what might be happening, which diagnostic procedures to pursue, and what treatment protocol (if any) might be most appropriate.

I was always curious as to what state of mind I am in before, during, and after a seizure. Like, when I had my second Grand Mal, it was in front of my class, and they said that I was talking to them, and telling them that I was okay, and that I was even laughing some. I don't remember it, so was I actually unconscious and talking or was I actually conscious and talking? Another part of my question is, is why can't I recall most of the day of a seizure and even some of the things in the days that follow?
It seems that the experiences you described while in class was done while your consciousness was impaired. Laughter, for some people with epilepsy, may actually be part of their seizure activity.

Having a seizure can often be an exhausting experience and may cause the person to be very tired, confused and disoriented following the seizure. Because, in your case, your consciousness was impaired during the seizure, you are unable to recall what actually happened, which is not uncommon. Many people experience altered consciousness or awareness with certain seizure types.

I have grand mals and today i learned that they might have gone away, but now i have myoclonic seizure and would like to know about them.
Myoclonic seizures are brief episodes of muscle jerks that may involve the whole body or parts of the body. These seizures may cause person to spill what they were holding or fall off a chair.

Loss of consciousness occurs in all generalized seizures such as grand mal seizures, except for myoclonic seizures.

What exactly is a seizure to begin with? How does a person feel before, during, and after one? I've never personally experienced one before and I was just curious on how it feels for the person who is having the seizure.
A seizure occurs from unusual bursts of energy in the brain. Sometimes this may affect a person’s consciousness, bodily movements or sensations for a short time. To find out how a person feels during a seizure, go to the Message Boards to post a message in the forums. Someone with epilepsy may be willing to describe their experiences to you.

Whenever I go to gym I'm afraid of having a seizure, why?
Many people with epilepsy live with the fear that they may have a seizure, anytime/anywhere, and that others may witness the seizure and respond inappropriately. If you've actually experienced a seizure while in gym class then, you may be apprehensive about going to this class, feeling that you're sure to have another seizure. If you continue to experience this apprehension, you may want to discuss your feelings with your physician, who may be able to offer suggestions or refer you to an appropriate counseling situation.

I have epilepsy and I want to know how I can tell when a seizure is coming on.
Some people have auras. An aura is warning or "funny-feeling" before a seizure occurs. There are different types of auras; for example, sudden nausea or stomach sensation, ringing in the ears, a strong odor, deja vu, or a sudden feeling of fear.

What are pseudoseizures?
Pseudo-seizures are events that resemble seizures but are not caused, as a seizure is, by electrical abnormalities in the brain. Pseudo-seizures may be a child's conscious imitations of a seizure, a way of coping with stress, or may be subconscious. Pseudo-seizures often occur in persons who also have true seizures and may be difficult to differentiate from true seizures (Seizures and Epilepsy in Childhood: a Guide For Parents, by John M. Freeman, MD, Eileen P.G. Vining, MD).

More information about pseudoseizures, or nonepileptic seizures is available on the Epilepsy Foundation website.

Can you have seizures in your sleep?
Yes, it is possible for someone to have a seizure in their sleep. Some seizures are most likely to occur when the person is sleeping or drowsy. These are called nocturnal seizures, even though they may occur during daytime sleep as well. People who have seizures only during sleep may experience few restrictions on employment and driving.

Can a person die from epilepsy?
A seizure is very seldom a cause of death, although there is a greater risk if the person has a seizure in water, or near heights, or while driving a car. Rarely, a person may fall in such a way that breathing is blocked, or may suffer a heart attack as a result of the stress of the seizure. In very rare cases a person with epilepsy dies suddenly for no apparent reason. If breathing does not start again when a convulsive seizure is over, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) should be started. Most cases of death involving epilepsy happen as a result of a series of untreated nonstop seizures. People suffering repeated convulsive seizures over a short period of time should receive immediate medical care.

I have been told i had rolandic epilepsy in childhood. Will i just simply grow out of this after puberty?
In some forms of childhood epilepsy the chances of outgrowing the disorder seem to be quite good. This is true especially in absence (petit mal) epilepsy and a condition known as benign childhood (Rolandic) epilepsy. However, there is no way to tell in advance whether an individual child's seizures will disappear in later life.

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