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Seizures after trauma

R

Runtoparadise

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 29, 2014
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So, almost one year ago I was hit by a car as a pedestrian.

Eight mths later I discovered from my neurologist that I was unconscious & had a fit the night of the accident.

Five mths after the hit & run I had a seizure that went on for almost twelve hours,- after having an enjoyable lunch with a friend I suddenly felt faint after leaving. By the time we did the five min drive home I could barely get the key in the front door my hands were shaking so much.

Within minutes I was convulsing on the couch & my friend had to call an ambulance. They said no discussion, I 100% had to go to hospital.

I was initially referred to my neurologist for abnormal upper body movements (like when you're going to sleep & jerk awake) & headaches.

My psych diagnosed me with post concussion syndrome, but what I feel is different. When I'm overwhelmed my lights, music, noise my upper body begins to convulse. If I leave the environment I can control it.

Has anyone else been through this?

Rtp
 
I can't honestly say for sure if it is related to the trauma or not. How old are you? I had intense bouts of Deja's vu and rsndom feelings quite similar to panic attacks starting around age 15. I used to attribute it to the drugs I was doing, the fights I was in and stuff like that until a had one in front of an ex who said that I acknowledged she was talking but couldn't respond. Although you said you feel faint prior I feel I should mention that after the attacks I couldn't help but sleep.

After that I did some research and saw a neurologist. The first one had me do an MRI told me I was fine and sent me on my way. As they continued I sought a second opinion, and the second neurologist basically said the first was an ass. He made me go for a sleep-deprived MRI and EEG to detect seizure activity, which they found and diagnosed me with partial complex epilepsy.

Flashing lights is a well-known trigger for seizure activity. The sleep deprived EEG basically flashes lights with shit measuring your brain waves to see evidence of seizure activity. You said lights clearly play a role so the test should make it somewhat obvious.

While I couldn't prevent them from happening, I often felt off (they refer to it as auras) leading up to them, so perhaps your feeling faint and shaking prior is some other form of auras.

Ill also remark that perhaps you had seizures but the trauma made them far worse. My type is partial complex which generally isn't the grand mal falling on the floor shaking type that generally comes to mind. However, after falling out on drugs and hitting my head I did have a few bouts of full blown grand mal seizures.

Then again I'm by no means a professional, and 12 hours seems pretty long to have a seizure so I can't really tell you. My advice is seek a second professional opinion, as lost of consciousness and motor control can obviously be dangerous.

keep me posted and best of luck to you getting help
 
Hey, thanks for the response.

As time has gone on they've been labelled 'pseudo' seizures, which in no way means I'm faking it, but they're mimicking epileptic fits. Btw, I'm early thirties.

I've seen a number of specialists for my injuries & treatment & am due to see the local neurologist again on the 24th.

Although he's an associate professor, he's the one I saw three times prior to him asking ...

"did you hit your head in the accident"?, "were you aware the nurses were concerned that you were unconscious & possibly having a seizure of some kind"!

Me "no, I was awake the whole five days in hospital, I even recall I had just six hours sleep", "was this in ED"?

Him,"no this was hours later when you were up in the ward".

Me, "were the nurses just watching me or did they call a dr up"?

Him, "yes I drove in & was with you an hour".

How slack is that?? I see him privately three times them he plays guessing games with me!!

I actually have just asked my dr to write back to the neuro who did my nerve testing, he requested she wrote a request for a clinical review as well as an emg.

Several specialists including my neurosurgeon have commented that yes, it's quite common for stress/trauma to induce seizures.

After twelve hours of convulsing though, damn, my abs killed me for a week!!

Thanks again for your reply, I'm hoping to find someone who's been in a similar situation.

Rtp
 
seizures are fairly common after a Traumatic Brain Injury.

this is something that is best discussed with your doctor, even with personal experience, I have no incite into your condition and would be unable to help other than to offer support.
 
What are you really asking?

It seems strange to me that you are doubting what your doctor says. I've had seizures... and you really don't remember them. usually before or after, your memory is gone too...

I did a lot of drugs.. and had seizures as a result of that. It's confusing.. and strange... and weird.. I get it.

But what do you really want to understand?
 
^I guess it's that ever since I've been seeing this neurologist, he's maintained that I don't have a brain injury, & just puts my seizures down to "one of those things".

This is despite my psychiatrist diagnosing me with post concussion disorder,(I know you don't have to lose consciousness for this).

Along my journey I've also had other medical specialists tell me that emotional/mental trauma can also cause this fits if you're deeply disturbed by a traumatic event.

So, I guess I'm trying to figure out if in fact I have sustained a knock to my head severe enough to develop seizures, or if it's the impact of stress, anguish & mental trauma that has caused these episodes.

Thanks PD, no one here can help me with this one... Perhaps even drs can't.

You're correct in saying they are confusing, weird, scary, crazy. Thanks for helping me to clarify.

Rtp
 
I don't mean to be insensitive... but why does it matter? Would it really make that much of a different whether it was from a brain injury or from trauma as a result of the seizure?

"one of those things"... meaning... trauma? If you don't have a brain injury... it must be trauma.

If you have had other medical specialists that disagree with your current doctor, why not switch? If you are that dissatisfied with his diagnoses or method... you can switch.
 
I guess it's 'just one of this things' that I'd like to understand better.

If it was a twice off due to hitting my head, or if it's gonna happen again.

Mtbi or trauma induced. As one physician noted down epilepsy, I wonder if it's going to happen again. Or if it's conversion seizures, as suggested by the psychs.

I know not you nor anyone can actually say, I'd just like to hear from someone who's experienced either.

Thanks for your input, appreciate it,

Rtp
 
You may recover or your siezure threshold may be lowered for the rest of your life. In 2010 I stopped benzodiazapines cold turkey and the withdrawal did serious neurological damage. I am posting this because frequently I see benzo withdrawal paired with traumatic brain injury with respect to healing and siezures, so my experience may be applicable to your situation.

The first two years after withdrawal siezures were pretty common, to the point that I decided to stay on antisiezure medication because trying to function in life was difficult with unexpected siezures (driving, being out in public alone, etc). The meds were hard on me so I decided to finally stop them after six months to see where I was at, approximately 3 years after stopping benzos. I was doing much better but found I still had rogue siezures every now and then, and found certain things were triggers like not enough sleep, dehydration, stress, and other things.

It hs been six years since I quit benzos and knock on wood the siezures are fewer and far between. It has been over two years since I have had a grand mal, and about a year since I've had any partials. I can still get triggered and will start feeling siezurey so I examine what is going on when I feel that way. I am very hopeful that siezures will not be a permenant aspect of my life.

I hope some of this helps you get a perspective on your situation. It can take years to heal so don't think you are going to be like this forever - it's very possible they will go away. Do everything you can to take care of yourself, and make certain you get proper nutrition. If you have questions feel free to hit me up. I wish you the best of luck.
 
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