Seizure/Epilepsy fears

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi, I am hoping that people can hear my story and help me which I am really struggling to describe so please bear with me. Basically ever since I have know I have been suffering with this fear which has plagued me for most of my life. I am 37 and for the last five years things have gone progressively worse for me. In 2012 I started getting these fairly frequent episodes of deja vu which could be related to dreams/flashbacks of my life which at times could happen on a daily basis and numerous times. Accompanied by this I had on numerous occasions these unexpected feelings of fear and unreality like dreamlike situations where i started to experience the rising stomach feeling and pressure up into my head. I googled this which sent me into panic and all my symptoms identically match temporal lobe seizures which can spread from partial to generalised. At this time my anxiety levels are through the roof with googling constantly and me thinking their is no way anxiety can create these real physical symptoms. 

This could happen anywhere at anytime.

Moving forward It got to the point in 2014 I went to be referred by my GP to see a neurologist who sent me for an EEG and MRI scans which came back completely normal and they were happy to rule out seizures/epilepsy which in one way I was relieved to hear it all came back normal but it didnt relax my mind as I have read so many things online and so many websites/forums stating that scans and tests are usually normal and you can still have seizures/epilepsy. Anyhow things slightly improved and moving forwards to 2017 and over the last 6 weeks things have returned and much worse and the symptoms have intensified which has sent me into right panic that this is it the seizures are going to start for definite now. I have been the doctor who has put me on an anxiety medication but I have convinced myself I have temporal lobe epilepsy and I am scared so much as its my biggest fear. All the epilepsy websites are identical to my symptoms. 

I am going to ask to see if I can go for tests again as their is no way anxiety can create these really weird seizure symptoms. 

I dont no what to do I cant live like this living in fear of epilepsy.

P.S. If anyone can help me or explain what they think this is or can advise me.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jonny 

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    As well as the deja vu's have you ever had 'absenses' where you are unaware of what has gone on around you for 5 minutes or so?  someome may have asked you a question and you don't answer because you are unaware of the question.  Anyone close to you would have noticed this over a period of 6 months or so.  Another type of simple seizure is an 'aura' where you know something is going on in your head but no-one else would.

     

    • Posted

      Hi David, My main symptoms are sudden panic and hazy vision and all of a sudden feels like everything around is dreamlike which sends me into panic and makes my heart race and I feel sick in put of my stomach. Then I will also get random dream or memory flashbacks pop into my mind from nothing which again creates the panic and sick stomach with a rising feeling to my head. 

      I am scared this could be my biggest fear of epilepsy/seizures event though a few years the tests comes back normal. I don't have staring spells or not that I am aware of or no one has told me. I am sorry but my biggest phobia is epilepsy and sezures and no disrespect to people that have this I am scared in case I got diagnosed with it even though my neuro says its not epilepsy. 

  • Posted

    You could be having really bad panic attacks and not on the right medication. I have panic attacks myself and more so when i go into a big store. I am on medication for grand mal seizures , have been on for 50 years and i know the feeling. I still get panic attacks and the doctor put me on a anti depressant which made things a lot worse. Now i am on carbitrol which helps out a little but not much. Also my EEG's always come back as normal so they don't always tell the right thing. i have been seizure free for 35 years but on medication.

    Good luck and i hope i helped even a little bit.

    • Posted

      Hi Kenny My main symptoms are sudden panic and hazy vision and all of a sudden feels like everything around is dreamlike which sends me into panic and makes my heart race and I feel sick in put of my stomach. Then I will also get random dream or memory flashbacks pop into my mind from nothing which again creates the panic and sick stomach with a rising feeling to my head. 

      I am scared this could be my biggest fear of epilepsy/seizures event though a few years the tests comes back normal. I don't have staring spells or not that I am aware of or no one has told me. I am sorry but my biggest phobia is epilepsy and sezures and no disrespect to people that have this I am scared in case I got diagnosed with it even though my neuro says its not epilepsy. My neuro also said that if I did have TLE then it would be strange that I havent had a grand mal seizure yet in all these years

  • Posted

    Anxiety compounded by panic attacks can causes issues you are having. Wondering big time what you meant by partial goes to generalized, which is seizure termonology. Next time you have the mental issue, do technique I use. Smle, than force yousrself to remember a time in your past when you made a jerk of youself, which you ca look back and smile about. Research panic attacks. LoL at least you don't have Mary O's problems. She was a amious Freud Patient

  • Posted

    Hi Jonathan,

    I've had Epilepsy since 14 and I am now an old Dear ..As others have said it sounds like panic attacks.  Does your mouth go dry and heart beat race and you work yourself into a state of panic.  If so when you get these fears suck a mint and carry water with you.  Always see a Doc to confirm what you have is panic attacks firstly. Try not to panic and keep away from stress.  My Daughter gets Panic attacks and they play havoc with her.  So remember calm, no stress, water and mints to keep a moist mouth xx Now get yourself sorted and go live a happy life xx Get heart tested first and when you know you are healthy you will overcome this  xx

  • Posted

    About 40 years ago, started coping. Doctor told me: You might never have another one, or seconds from now. Felt like punching him. Hope in time as you learn how relax possibly take extra meds, also find relaxing as much as possible and twirling my thumbs helps to keep them a aura stage, and the never again becomes stronger than any minute, but remembering how to forget those that happen helps.

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