1. < Epilepsy & Seizures
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Seizure during sleep?

Posted by minajo @minajo, Apr 23 7:40pm

I had recent very concerning " episode" few nights ago
I had gone to bed couple hours later than usual, took one Aleve as I do couple times week for knee pain, I remember being " awake" around 3 am with extreme shaking , arms and legs trembling, 8 could NOT wake myself up to get up, turn on light, next thing I know it's 10Am and I NEVER sleep that long.. checked pjs , bedding for incontinence, none , was groggy for couple hours,
Is it possible to be aware of a "seizure" but unable to wake up, the extreme sleep hours like post ictal?
It's been a week, I didn't alert pcp
I did have fall in December but ct of brain was okay at ER ..
Any ideas?

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Profile picture for joeyjensen1959
joeyjensen1959 | @joeyjensen1959 | May 3 10:06pm
In reply to @jakedduck1 "@joeyjensen1959 Have they told you what type of EEG? They probably will do a routine EEG..." + (show)
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@joeyjensen1959
Have they told you what type of EEG? They probably will do a routine EEG especially if this is your first one. A routine EEG doesn't last very long usually 20-30 minutes give or take. If your test is normal, but your doctor believes you have epilepsy he may want to do a longer test. Perhaps a sleep, deprived EEG or maybe an ambulatory EEG where you wear the electrodes for a few days or however, long the doctor chooses. You might want to ask your doctor if he wants you to get a normal nights sleep.
Have you had seizures other than Atonic?
Have you ever woke up confused or fallen out of bed?
Take care,
Jake

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@jakedduck1 thank you so much Jake, for the info this is my 2nd eeg the first one was a long time ago...
My doctor ordered a sleep deprived eeg,and no caffeine for 24 hrs before?
I don't know why?
I have woken up confused and my bed very much in disorder...
Thanks Joseph

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1 reply
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Jake | @jakedduck1 | May 3 11:16pm

Hopefully you will fall asleep to some degree during the test. When asleep certain brain waves show that aren't visable when awake. Caffine does all sorts of weird things to your brain waves.
Take care,
Jake

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Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor | @santosha | May 4 9:07am
In reply to @louissc "@santosha Hi Chris, I had brought up the possibility of PNES before but he’s absolutely certain..." + (show)
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@santosha

Hi Chris,

I had brought up the possibility of PNES before but he’s absolutely certain my condition is epilepsy.

I guessed the laceration in my brain, reflected via MRI, gave him that confidence in his diagnosis. @minajo Maureen, had you performed a MRI? I believe you had done blood, urine & CT.

Cheers,
Louis

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@louissc
What wonderful news, Louis — I'm so happy for you! 🙏 Dealing with epilepsy alone is already a significant challenge, and every step forward matters.
Thank you for clarifying about your MRI. A structural finding — such as a lesion or, in my case, mesial temporal sclerosis in my left hippocampus — does give neurologists a strong basis for an epilepsy diagnosis with confidence.
As I've learned from my own experience, though, epilepsy and PNES can coexist in the same person — the two are not mutually exclusive. After a period of seizure freedom, I suddenly experienced a complex partial seizure again — and the fear of that recurrence triggered PNES episodes of my own. Thankfully, through ongoing work with my neuropsychologist, I've been making real progress in managing the anxiety that underlies my PNES.
Please, I'm not suggesting that's your situation — just something useful to keep in the back of your mind.
Chris

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Profile picture for Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Chris Gautier, Volunteer Mentor | @santosha | May 4 9:20am
In reply to @joeyjensen1959 "@jakedduck1 thank you so much Jake, for the info this is my 2nd eeg the first..." + (show)
Profile picture for joeyjensen1959 @joeyjensen1959

@jakedduck1 thank you so much Jake, for the info this is my 2nd eeg the first one was a long time ago...
My doctor ordered a sleep deprived eeg,and no caffeine for 24 hrs before?
I don't know why?
I have woken up confused and my bed very much in disorder...
Thanks Joseph

Jump to this post

@joeyjensen1959
Hi Joe,
I don't think we've had the chance to connect yet, so it's nice to meet you!
It's great that your doctor has ordered a sleep-deprived EEG with no caffeine. I have temporal lobe epilepsy and had many normal EEGs before that protocol was tried. It was only after a sleep-deprived EEG was recommended that my seizures finally showed up.
Wishing you all the best with this exam — please do keep us posted!
Chris

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