Seizures or epilepsy
Posted , 2 users are following.
Is anyone scared of this condition? I am worried sick that the flashes of Deja vu I am experiencing are partial seizures. I constantly live in fear of the condition and although through many tests have come back clear I am worried sick. I also get random flashes of memories or dreams pop in my head from nowhere. It can only last seconds but soon as it hits I get weird nervous rush through my body. I am scared can anxiety cause this? Please help I am worried sick watching seizure videos and reading epilepsy forums daily
0 likes, 9 replies
caz19600 jonathan99185
Posted
Having never suffered epilepsy or know anyone who has I can't comment on that side but I'd imagine doctors would know what they're looking for and if tests come back ok and they show no concern of potential future issues they must not think it's related to epilepsy.
As for can anxiety cause deja vi, yes. Random memories I guess so. Usually they're connected to an emotional trigger. Have you noticed a pattern or particular type of memory being triggered? Day dreams and random thoughts are certainly normal for anxiety. And if you're worried about this then it would be completely normal that you'd get a nervous rush after realising you've done it.
I'm prone to procrastination with my anxiety and regularly get adrenaline rushes for now apparent reason.
jonathan99185 caz19600
Posted
Hi Caz thank you very much for your reassuring advice. The thing is I have read on epilepsy forums that people were diagnosed as having anxiety for years and years but got Deja vu feelings quite frequent and got misdiagnosed before finally discovering they had temporal lobe epilepsy which is what I am scared mine might be. When I get the Deja vu it I can't grasp the feeling at all but everything just seems so familiar like I have experienced that situation or feeling before. It's the weirdest feeling ever and it sends me into panic for a few seconds before it subsides. Sometimes if it's strong Deja vu feeling it can leave me feeling slightly tired and bit weak. I'm scared so much it's the one condition I cannot get out of my mind as it scares me that I may have it. I have been to two neurologists and had Mri and eeg which has all come back normal but reading that people with epilepsy can have normal eeg and Mri. How can anxiety cause Deja vu? No one else on thus forum ever discusses Deja vu which makes me think no one has it and only people with epilepsy do. I am scared I need lots of people's advice
caz19600 jonathan99185
Posted
It's certainly not one I've heard as often granted but I have heard of people suffering anxiety experiencing deja vu. Something to do with emotions causing misfiring in the brain but I'm not fully sure about the why of it..
But I can understand why you'd be concerned about it. I'm not sure watching the seizure videos is the best thing to be doing as it'll only raise your stress levels either way but have you discussed with your neurologist that it's temporal lobe epilepsy that you fear and explained how your fear affects you? Out of curiosity, those who you read on the epilepsy forums who were misdiagnosed, what was it that finally got them their diagnosis? I would explain this to your neurologist too, to see if they can rule it out now so you're not worrying your life away. X
jonathan99185 caz19600
Posted
jonathan99185
Posted
Peoples responses on a forum - This is why I am worried? Please help me
That is temporal lobe epilepsy, I had EXACTLY what you are describing down to each word. I had these "panic attacks" which are most likely simple partial seizures for 10+ years and all of the sudden I woke up with an emt telling me I had a grand mal seizure in class.
See a neurologist, and get on some meds. They have harsh side effects, but are effective. I had hundred and hundreds of the seizures your describing and my memory has gone to s**t.Share
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level 2
Anything_At_All_
3 points·2 years agoAll of a sudden
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level 3
furitymango
Keppra 1500mg3 points·2 years agodamn that was quickShare
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level 2
Kyokoko
2 points·2 years agoThat might also explain why I have such a terrible selective memory, actually. I haven't done enough drugs in my life time to explain it and why it started getting worse in my mid 20's. You certainly gave me some urgency, I was hoping since they weren't becoming more frequent that it wasn't escalating towards more.Share
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level 3
DaveTime
Keppra, 2g; Clobazam, 20mg3 points·2 years agoMy memory is ruined.. I suggest you act fast to find a solution before yours is also.Share
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furitymango
Keppra 1500mg1 point·2 years agoYeah I thought it was all the weed I smoked, but when you have reoccurring seizures localized in the temporal lobe which is absolutely key in memory formation and recovery, this "microtrauma" to the brain begins to take its toll.Share
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level 4
Kyokoko
1 point·2 years agoI'm a daily smoker as well. I always thought it was odd, I get some of my worst anxiety when I smoke but I've never had an attack while high. If they were panic related it would have made more sense to have the attacks in those circumstances. Not when enjoying a cup of coffee and reading emails...Share
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level 1
ragby
3 points·2 years agoI have this. I was tested for epilepsy but the test showed nothing. Right now my doctor is thinking that my episodes are some sort of aura for a migraine. She seems fairly puzzled, though, and cannot say for sure what is going on. The attacks freak me out and are pretty unpleasant. I guess if they don't get any worse I can live with them. But I sure would like to know what causes them.Share
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Aiglentine
Lamotrigine 200 mg twice a day5 points·2 years agoThere is no absolute test for epilepsy. I have had it for 20+ years, and my tests were normal when they did them 10 years ago. Write down all your symptoms. Write down the details when you have an attack. Then see a good neurologist. They ought to be able to get you on the right track.Share
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DaveTime
Keppra, 2g; Clobazam, 20mg2 points·2 years agoI have had 2-3 MRIs, a few CTs and about 7 EEGs, followed by one final 2 week vEEG in the hospital. Of all of those tests, only the very final two showed anything close to abnormal. Don't set your expectations too high on finding an absolute answer quickly. It took me two years for the vEEG.Share
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ALR3000
3 points·2 years agoYeah...You should see a neurologist. Preferably an "epileptologist" kind. Some folks with your symptoms have temporal lobe epilepsy, not panic disorder.
jonathan99185
Posted
More comments from that forum.
My epilepsy started with these. I wasn't diagnosed until I had a tonic clonic in front of all my friends about ten years after the spells started. If you really are having focal seizures, it's important to get tested and medicated - because of the way the brain works, with each seizure you have, you become more likely to have another.
Best of luck to you.
I have temporal lobe epilepsy and I have the sensations you're describing before I have a grand mal seizure. With medication, I don't have convulsions anymorei, just the deja vu and panic.
Tell your doctor you suspect it may be epilepsy and really, really be careful about taking any medication they prescribe that is not made for people with epilepsy. I had a doctor misdiagnose my partial seizures as panic attacks, and ended up in the hospital when the cipralex he'd prescribed gave me grand mal seizures.
Good luck, I am happy to hear that you are on your way to figuring out what's going on
I had these (unexplained) episodes all my life until I started having grand mals, never knew I was having seizures. My temperature doesn't rise, but I get a stomach ache, my right arm hurts,I forget how to talk, and I hallucinate smells. But the simple partial seizures have so many different symptoms it's like a fun grab bag! Minus that fun part.
I used to tried to tell people deja vu made me sick and everyone told me I was stupid and that that didn't make any sense so I just stopped telling people.
Now I just have them right before a grand mal...yaaaay! The only plus side was I finally had closure that I wasn't crazy (in regards to deja vu.)
caz19600 jonathan99185
Posted
I honestly do get why you're so worried but there's not much else I can suggest from an anxiety perspective.
Try the recommendation listed in this response you've put above from one of the forums "Write down all your symptoms. Write down the details when you have an attack" Keep a diary for a week, every symptom and time. Then speak to your doctor again.
Your neurologist does have a point that reading all the forums and watching videos may not be helping you right now in terms of your stress levels and worrying but if you're trying techniques to manage the anxiety and still believe it's not this that is causing it, you need to get a second opinion. A diary will help with this.
jonathan99185 caz19600
Posted
So you think it's seizures?
caz19600 jonathan99185
Posted
I honestly don't think anything. I've learned from my own experiences never to assume.
It's very possible that it's all just anxiety. It could even be something completely different not related to seizures.
But I'm not a medical professional, I can't say of its epilepsy or something else. All I know is this is severely impacting your health... so for the sake of your sanity you need to seek another opinion on what you fear it is or you seek medical help in way of anxiety treatment.