Hi. I have never been diagnosed with epilepsy nor ever mentioned this to my doctor, but I was thinking about it again when it happened today, the trees were casting shadows on the ground, and as I drove under them and the light on my windshield was flickering because of the breaks in the trees I thought I was going to throw up. I was just wondering what range of symtoms and degree of intensity people experience with epilepsy. I was drinving home one night and there were some police cars on the side of the road and the lights flashing I almost threw up. Could this be attributed to my thyroid condition or can this possibly be epilepsy. I get frequent headaches, very vivid dreams, which I heard can be a sign of epilepsy and I just was wondering if you have to experience seizures to be epileptic, or if there are mild froms of epilepsy with the symptoms as mild as nausea and head pain. Thanks.

Could it be that you just need glasses or sunglasses? I don't have E but I do sometimes have very vivid dreams if I sleep deeply.

Yeah- either way, it's worth mentioning to your MD, and getting checked out. Everyone has different seizure symptoms- some similar, some not- it might be your eyes, but worth looking into....

I have read that people have different seizure symptoms that they wouldn't even attribute to a seizure. Does anyone know if this is true. I have read that people can just have intense mood changes. Is that true???

Yeah, there are some symptoms that can be seizures that people wouldn't normally think of as seizures. Some mood changes can come with seizures, some with meds, some before seizures, some because of other things going on. This is something to mention to the doc- it's not too weird to ask about.

It could very well be that you are photosensitive. Symptoms include nausea, headache and dizziness. Can't hurt to have an EEG, though. Lots of people have photosensivity but not Epilepsy. There are things you can do to avoid the mentioned symptoms. For example; the dappled sunlite coming thru the leaves on trees. If it's on your left, shield your left eye w/your hand until you've passed the trees. (Don't cover it completely! Think of the 'blinders' that horses wear to somewhat block their peripheral vision.)
Again, it can't hurt to ask your doc for an EEG.
Good luck!

Photosensitive correct Dogmom.

Search prior posts there were a few strings about this.

Tube lights and compact flourecent tend to be a problem as well (the "big box" stores) due to their "cycle" or flash/refresh rate. Tube moniters can cause problems as well.

Polorized sunglasses is a common assistance, but you'll have to check posts and others who suffer from this.

trying to think of any others...

One poster mentioned removing the screens from windows to get rid of the problem in a more serious case (the mesh caused the vision/focal seizure).

In similar cases that are extreme paint schemes and carpet should also be looked at if that may be a problem (so no grid patterns, stick with solids)

I'd have to point you to the better educated poster in the one topic a few months back.

--Travis