Other Seizure disorders in ptsd

[Silver.]

Hi there @FadingEcho welcome to the forums!
this post would be good in an introductions thread, that way people can get to know you :)
Migraines! Oh, I sympathise with you immensely, though mine don't stem from pain, though they certainly spread it
(currently in the middle of one now, am wearing sunglasses so I can see)
I can't answer your question about the night terrors and the seizures, as I don't get ptsd seizures. But there are a ton of people here on the forums and as you've already seen, there are a lot of people that can relate to you.
Thank you for sharing your story, I hope you find the help you are seeking here x

 

[katz]

I had some seizures in my teenage years, they started around the time that I started remember...

Strobe lights are very common for causing seizures.

 

[katz]

Thanks everyone for your imput on this subject. I have an interesting situation and have started wondering if the two are related.

I grew up on lots of meds. for seizures. My folks thought that it was caused by a high fever I had when I reacted to my baby shots. I was even rushed back to the hospital due to such a high fever-even for an infant. I also bumped into a table as a toddler, so they thought that maybe that was it. I know also that seizures can "just happen" to kids.

As I grew up, I was put on more and more meds. None seem to stop them. Only some of my EEG's were abnormal as I grew up. A lot of them were normal. Then when I was an adult, my doctor had me check in to the hospital for some extra testing. I was hooked up to the "head wires" and even put on camera and speakers. I was in there for a whole week. The doctor was able to officially diagnose my PTSD - and she weaned me off all but one of the meds.!! These other meds are ones that I would have been on for the rest of my life!

When she told my parents what the diagnosis was, my mom was amazed and her mouth dropped open! Since then, I have never had a "seizure", or even some thing similar. That was almost 10 years ago! I have gone back and asked the doctor if she saw anything like a seizure (medically) when I was in there--she said "no". However, I am going to remain on my med. for the rest of my life.

I had never connected the two. Do you think that the abuse caused physical damage, which in turn caused the seizures? I wish I knew at what age I started having these so called "seizures".

Any thoughts?

 

[joeylittle]

I grew up on lots of meds. for seizures. My folks thought that it was caused by a high fever I had when I reacted to my baby shots. I was even rushed back to the hospital due to such a high fever-even for an infant. I also bumped into a table as a toddler, so they thought that maybe that was it. I know also that seizures can "just happen" to kids.

These are called febrile seizures. They are moderately common in children, and are caused by a spike in temperature. They can happen as early as 6 months old, and as late as 5/6 years. Most commonly they happen in children 18-24 months old.

Now, doctors recommend that giving kids who have febrile seizures medications to prevent them isn't the best course; it's better to treat the fever, and be watchful. Once a child has had one, they are 40% more likely to have another one. But, febrile seizures aren't a predictor of epilepsy.

As I grew up, I was put on more and more meds. None seem to stop them.

Did the seizures continue past the age of 6? Side effects of anti-seizure drugs are pretty wide-spread, but some affect mood and concentration. I'm not certain if they affect a child any differently when/if the medication is actually not needed.

Do you think that the abuse caused physical damage, which in turn caused the seizures?

Head trauma can cause seizures in children. But (from what I've read) about 25% of the seizures that present in childhood turn out to not be seizures - they are linked to other medical issues, including psychological/psychiatric.

Psychogenic seizures, (or pseudo-seizures) are caused by psychological issues. They are medically distinct from other seizures in that they do not involve electrical impulses in the brain.

Sorry for the long post. I think the most relevant bit is that those seizures that kids have due to fever spikes - febrile seizures - are common. And the kinds of seizures in general that children have are a little tough to diagnose. They change as the brain develops.

Most information taken from:
Link Removed
Anti seizure medications PI
Seizures in Children
Seizures in Children: Types, Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

 

[lostforgottensoul]

A PNES (Psychogenic seizure) is what I had according to the ER drs, my GP, PDoc, and therapist.

Was REALLY scary. I had never had a seizure before. It happened at work out of the blue. The last thing I remember was talking to a customer on the phone and the next was being face down on the floor with someone sitting on my back...and im screaming "get off of me" while trying to push them off of me as i had no idea what had happened. I was insanely terrified.

My co-workers told me i ran moaning and groaning loudly, got a few cubicles down and then fell face first on the ground. I had also broke the PCs USB jack. Was all bent sideways so the headset pulled out hard.

No medical reason for it could ever be found and was labeled a PNES after months of medical work ups but the result of it was the same as any sezuire. I couldnt tell the paramedics my birth day or the city i lived in. I also couldnt read or write for 3 days. I knew how to spell my name in my head and could spell it outloud but my brain wouldnt send that to my hands to write it or my eyes to read it.

Was scary indeed. I dont like the older term "psudeo-sezure" as "psudeo" ususally means "fake". Like psudeo-name. And it may not have medical reasons but it is a real sezure with real results after.

 

[katz]

These are called febrile seizures. They are moderately common in children, and are caused by a spik...

Thank you sooo much for that information ! I will definetly do some research on this. I can't be sure what happened after that. The first one of my "demons" happened in elementary school. So, I don't know what my immediate .... effects were. (if I can call it that)

The doctors started me on Phenobarbital. Then I stepped up to ..some thing else. Then up to Neurontin and then they just started adding things on. Carbatrol, Lamictal. None seemed to stop them even when taken all at the same time! At one point I was on all 3, plus a med from a phsyciatrist . That's why I wondered if it was not medical at all. Since the new Dr. took me off all but one of them and diagnosed the PTSD--then they just vanished!

I figure that I will never know (sigh). I guess I just wish I knew so that I could put the blame where it should go, or just rule it as "nature". I know that I won't go off of them by myself (too dangerous). I won't risk anyone-myself included.

 

[Elsbethany]

I have been having 'seizures' off and on since 2013 after I lost my sister, my step-mother, my mother-in-law and my dog all within 6 weeks of each other. I had panic attacks for years prior to the seizure, but the first one was one month to the day that my younger sister died. Since then I've had hundreds (no exaggeration) of them.

My first neurologist put me in the hospital for a week with EEG and Video monitoring to rule out epilepsy, but after that was ruled out, he said he didn't know what to tell me. There was nothing he could do.

I went from 2013 to 2016 without any diagnosis, but with seizures happening every week.

Here's what I have found:

Any type of stimulus might cause them. So I have had to stop drinking anything with caffeine, eating chocolate, switching to a pain medication that doesn't speed through my system (I have RA), and looking for asthma medication that doesn't have epinephrine in it. Those changes cut down on about half of them. The half they haven't been able to stop are those caused by adrenalin (because of upset or anger), my body's own stimulant that over stresses my nervous system.

After seeing a 2nd neurologist, she had a tentative diagnosis of stress seizures but sent me to a specialist in pseudo-seizures. He diagnosed me with PNES and PTSD. And he confirmed that the first thing he tells all of his patients is to remove any stimulants from their diet. He says it aggravates an already compromised nervous system.

Now I'm seeing a counselor for behavioral therapy tp work through my past trauma (and yes there was a lot) and I just started seeing a psychiatrist to help with medications (I hope) that can suppress my nervous system to see if they can stop the seizures. I am still working at 58 although it's hard some days. I have had to hide under my desk when I feel one coming on (thank goodness I have an office with a door) and my work family has no idea how hard it is some days.

I hope that some of what out I've found is helpful to anyone reading this support blog.

 

[katz]

These are called febrile seizures. They are moderately common in children, and are caused by a spik...

Thank you for your help. The information was very good.

I know that my high fever I had as an infant was caused by a "baby shot" that "was" given to all infants--back then. My folks told me this. I also know that my so called "seizures" were happening from the beginning of preschool. I can remember going down to the office to have them "call mommy for my tummy ache". Then by the time she got there-it was gone.

I know that my abuse started when I was very young. I really believe that I had already developed a coping skill and just "stepped out" as I call it. (dissociated state). I have read about the feelings of dissociation, for a child, they can often be mistaken for "tummy problems". So, of course, she wants her mommy.

 

[katz]

I have been having 'seizures' off and on since 2013 after I lost my sister, my step-mother, my mothe...

Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. I hope you feel better soon. (( hugs)) if you accept them.

 

[Elsbethany]

Thank you for your help. The information was very good.

I know that my high fever I had as an infant was...

Are you getting help now?

 

[katz]

Are you getting help now?

Hi, Elsbethany
What kind of help are you asking about? It's been a long, long, long, time since I was that young. LOL

I'm between T right now. This forum helps me a lot now, and I know that they are not "tummy aches". I have grown up doing a lot for myself. I've been to many, many T for help. I tried "telling", and all it got me was more hurt. I tend to keep it all to myself these days. I don't even talk to my husband about it much. I think that I came to the decision, long ago, that I'm on my own thru this, and have always thought that no one can help me, so I have to do this by myself.

I have a very vivid memory--from the 3rd person--of me sitting on the floor crying, alone, in my room, and realizing that "well, this is what life is like for me".

 

[Snpdrgon]

I am curious to know if anyone else suffers seizures with PTSD? One of my psychologists who specializes i...

I have a friend who has ptsd induced seizures. I'd never heard of it so in researching it, I found your question . How are you doing lately?