Could These Signs Indicate Seizures? Let's Explore the Possibilities
A 22-year-old female, standing at 5’8” and never having smoked, seeks insight into some concerning symptoms. She has a background of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression, along with inflammatory arthritis. There’s also a suspicion of narcolepsy, pending a sleep study for confirmation. Recently, she discovered that the symptoms she’s been experiencing might resemble seizures, pending validation by a neurologist. There's a familial history of epilepsy, though no one in her family has experienced a full seizure event. She hadn’t considered this potential connection until her doctor raised it after discussing her symptoms, which began during her seventh-grade year. - She describes a peculiar sensation in her brain akin to rapid vibrations or shaking. - Alongside this, her vision appears to shake, making it difficult to see properly—she experiences intermittent blurriness. - Each episode typically lasts around ten seconds, with only a few occurring each year. However, in the last three months, she has had approximately four episodes. - Importantly, she notes that during these instances, she remains fully aware and retains memories of them. Do these symptoms suggest a specific type of seizure? If yes, what kind could they be?
Answers (1)
6/20/2025, 2:20:53 AM
OpenHealth AI
Your symptoms do raise some interesting possibilities regarding seizures, especially given your family history and the nature of the episodes you've described. Let's break down the main points first.
Summary of Key Points
- Your experiences—peculiar brain sensations, shaking vision, and awareness during episodes—suggest the potential for a specific type of seizure.
- These characteristics point towards focal seizures, which may not involve loss of consciousness and can manifest as unusual sensory experiences.
Explanation
The sensation you describe as “rapid vibrations or shaking” in your brain could represent a type of focal seizure, potentially classified as simple partial seizures or focal aware seizures. These occur in one part of the brain and are characterized by retained awareness, which aligns with your ability to remember the episodes. The visual disturbances and the fact that they last around ten seconds further support this possibility.
Your background in OCD and depression may also play a role in how you perceive these sensations, but the familial history of epilepsy cannot be overlooked, especially since it indicates a possible genetic predisposition.
Next Steps
-
Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a detailed diary of your episodes, noting the date, duration, sensations experienced, and any triggering factors. This can be useful for your doctor and any specialists you consult.
-
Continue with Scheduled Testing: If you are scheduled for a sleep study to investigate potential narcolepsy, ensure you discuss these seizure-like symptoms with the healthcare provider conducting the study, as they may impact your diagnosis and treatment options.
-
Actively Follow Up with a Neurologist: Make sure to set up an appointment with a neurologist if you haven't done so already. Share all your documented symptoms and experiences so they can conduct any necessary tests, such as an EEG (electroencephalogram) that can detect electrical activity in your brain.
-
Consider Lifestyle Modifications: Given your history of OCD and depression, stress management techniques such as mindfulness, yoga, or therapy could help ease some symptoms and potentially reduce any seizure-like episodes.
-
Emergency Plan: If you experience more frequent episodes or more intense symptoms, consider having a plan in place (e.g., informing someone close and having emergency contacts ready) to ensure you have support if needed.
These steps will help clarify your condition and provide more insight into the best way to manage your health moving forward. Please try to keep calm and stay hopeful as you navigate through this process; many people find effective ways to manage similar symptoms with appropriate support and treatment.
Related Questions
Constant Sensation of Movement
29 Years Old A vivid recollection comes to mind from when I was around 16. One day at the beach, an unexpected feeling washed over me, altering my perception of reality. Whenever I gaze at patterned objects—like rugs or wallpapers—they appear to undulate, making it challenging to concentrate on anything specific. This peculiar sensation, however, persists regardless of my environment. It accompanies me constantly, all day, every day. There are moments when my mind drifts, and I find myself pondering the reasons behind this constant instability. The best analogy I can come up with is the sensation of standing amidst a minor earthquake. Alternatively, it resembles the lightheaded feeling one might experience when slightly intoxicated; yet, I can move around and maintain my balance without issue. At times, there's an uncanny quality to my experiences, and my arms occasionally seem detached, as if they belong to someone else. I find myself questioning whether this phenomenon stems from a psychological or a physiological origin. It could very well be rooted in psychological issues, especially considering my upbringing, which was marred by significant trauma, including bullying, sadness, feelings of insecurity, and the sensation of isolation. Conversely, there might be a physiological component, as I endured a severe ear infection in middle school that necessitated two surgeries over two years, resulting in lasting hearing impairment in that ear. If this condition were diagnosed and treated effectively, it could change my life dramatically. I have discovered depersonalization, a condition somewhat akin to what I’m experiencing. However, I have yet to uncover any links between my previous ear issues and my current sensations.
Understanding My Unexpected Conception
At 18 years old and standing around 5 feet 5 inches tall with a weight of approximately 105 pounds, I've recently been on a journey to uncover the mystery surrounding my conception. My parents, who are deeply in love and committed to each other, have yet to come up with a clear explanation for how I came into existence, particularly considering that my mother had her tubes tied and my father underwent a vasectomy. It appears that even the medical professionals consulted by my mother couldn't provide a satisfactory answer. This leaves me pondering: how is it possible for me to be here?
Understanding My Ultrasound Report
I am a 30-year-old woman who had a D&C five weeks prior due to a blighted ovum. The day before my procedure, I was hospitalized and given antibiotics. An ultrasound at that time indicated a 30mm cyst along with the blighted ovum. Post-surgery, I've experienced persistent pain, prompting me to visit my GP, who recommended a follow-up ultrasound. She mentioned that everything appeared normal. **Myometrium:** The structure of the myometrium is heterogeneous. **Endometrium:** The endometrium exhibits a trilaminar pattern with a thickness of 8.1 mm and appears irregular with the presence of echogenic foci. **Cervix:** Measuring 28 mm in length, the cervix shows the presence of nabothian cysts. **Right Ovary:** Dimensions are 56 x 26 x 39 mm with a volume of 29.3 cc. There are five follicles smaller than 10 mm and none larger. Motion is limited, and the ovary has adhered to nearby tissues, presenting tenderness. Additionally, there is a simple cyst measuring 47 x 23 x 31 mm, with no blood flow detected within it. **Right Adnexa:** No abnormalities were noted in this area. **Left Ovary:** The size is recorded at 28 x 19 x 26 mm with a volume of 7.3 cc. Similar to the right, there are five follicles under 10 mm and none over that size. Movement is likewise reduced with adherence to surrounding tissues accompanied by general tenderness. **Left Adnexa:** No abnormalities were observed here either. **Pouch of Douglas:** A physiological amount of anechoic free fluid is present.
Concern Regarding a Growth on My Son's Finger
As a 40-year-old mother of three, I'm reaching out for advice about a persistent issue my 15-year-old son has been facing. He has been developing a growth on his index finger for some time now. Initially, I consulted with a pharmacist who recommended a wart treatment, which we tried—though it reduced in size slightly, it never fully disappeared. Over six months ago, I took him to see his family doctor, who expressed doubt about it being a wart, suggesting it could be something else entirely. Consequently, he was placed on a waiting list for a minor surgical procedure. Living in Quebec, I understand that a six-month wait is typical, but I’m concerned as this growth has started to increase significantly in size; it feels soft and can be tender at times. Visually, it resembles a large skin tag connected to his finger, with a watery blister-like appearance at the tip. I’m eager to hear from anyone who might have encountered a similar situation. Should I consider returning to his family doctor to expedite his hospital appointment? Or would seeking private care be a better option? Any suggestions would be appreciated! I attempted to share some images for reference, but I wasn't aware that I couldn't do so. Thank you for your understanding!
Experiencing Uncontrollable Limb Movements and Agitation: Seeking Insight
Subject: Female, 26 years old. Description: Experiencing uncontrollable jerking and contortion of limbs along with heightened agitation. Medication History: Currently, I am not taking any medication. Previously, my regimen included 300 mg of Lithium daily, 300 mg of Lamotrigine, 300 mg of Luvox, 10 mg of Ritalin, 20 mg of Focalin, and 20 mg of Abilify. I recognized that this was an extensive list, hence why I decided to discontinue use. I occasionally use edibles, approximately every few days. Mental Health Diagnoses: Primarily, I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and binge eating disorder (BED). Physical Health Condition: I also deal with high blood pressure. Symptoms: Throughout my teenage years leading up to now, I have experienced episodes where my legs would involuntarily jerk at night while trying to fall asleep. These movements were initially limited to my legs, but have progressively expanded to include my arms as well. On occasion, my limbs exhibit contorted positions during episodes, which can occur at any time of day rather than just at night. When referring to “contorting,” I mean that my limbs tense up and twist into strange configurations. This issue has escalated significantly, manifesting almost daily and every night, often accompanied by intense agitation that results in self-biting—whether it be my arm or a pillow. Coping Strategies: Engaging in physical exercise seems to alleviate the symptoms somewhat; performing exercises for my arms or legs during these episodes helps reduce the discomfort. Sometimes, I find that rocking back and forth provides relief as well. While the symptoms do eventually subside on their own, they can persist for anywhere from several minutes to hours, frequently disturbing my sleep. I have researched my symptoms and ruled out restless leg syndrome (RLS) and hypnic jerks, though I could be mistaken. Stress appears to exacerbate my condition, but I remain uncertain about what exactly is happening to me.