For the past 2 yrs.Ive experienced a sort of dizziness(for lack of a better word)thats very hard to explain. Drs said it was my middle ear,but after tons of tests we abandoned that idea & now believe its neurological. Ive had an MRI & an EEG& theyre both normal. But what Im really afraid of is the feeling I get in my head where it feels like theres too much energy &slight pressure...almost what I think it would feel like right before a seizure.Thank God Ive never had one (yet & hopefully never will). It drives me crazy & can last all day. Please, anyone whos had a seizure try to explain what an aura (as Im told its called) feels like.Ive started CARBAMAZEPINE (anyone taking this also?)& have an appt. with a neurologist nexy month. Any replies would be greatly appreciated. Im really freaked out by all of this. Thanks! Kristin

Kristin, I'm not taking Carbamazempine, but it sounds like everything than can and should be done, is and has been done or is planned. Although waiting is hard, seeing a neurologist is probably the best plan, but please relax(I know this is easier said than done, and I'm in that place right now), knowing that your EEG and MRI were normal. What's the saying, "Its always darkest before the dawn"?. I've just 'discovered' the internet and sites for with bulletin boards and chatrooms which can help bring peace of mind galore. I hope you can find peace. If needed, please phone your doctor or his nurse, and let him/her know the anguish and concerns you feel.
Annie

Kristin, I'm not taking Carbamazempine, but it sounds like everything than can and should be done, is and has been done or is planned. Although waiting is hard, seeing a neurologist is probably the best plan, but please relax(I know this is easier said than done, and I'm in that place right now), knowing that your EEG and MRI were normal. What's the saying, "Its always darkest before the dawn"?. I've just 'discovered' the internet and sites for with bulletin boards and chatrooms which can help bring peace of mind galore. I hope you can find peace. If needed, please phone your doctor or his nurse, and let him/her know the anguish and concerns you feel.
Annie

Try not to worry too much. I know it can seem a little overwelming. I've been taking Carbamazepine since Aug 1996 and have had no dizzy spells or fits since and also lead a completely normal life.

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Kristin:
I have experienced the same thing only twice as far as I know, but I definitely can relate to how you are feeling right now. But like you, all I felt was dizzy, a slight pressure at the back of my head (for me it became more painful as the episode progressed), and just feeling like you're fighting to keep yourself from going into a seizure. When I feel the pain at the back of my head, my body starts to stiffen and I feel short of breath, in my case, all the symptoms of a grand mal seizure ready to happen (but luckily it doesn't). Every time the aura (if that's what it is)manifested itself, I was in a very relaxed state. (on the verge of sleep)Hope this helps. You haven't had any seizures so far, so that's a good sign. Keep your chin up!

[This message has been edited by terrib (edited 02-01-2001).]

Originally posted by khorne:
For the past 2 yrs.Ive experienced a sort of dizziness(for lack of a better word)thats very hard to explain. Drs said it was my middle ear,but after tons of tests we abandoned that idea & now believe its neurological. Ive had an MRI & an EEG& theyre both normal. But what Im really afraid of is the feeling I get in my head where it feels like theres too much energy &slight pressure...almost what I think it would feel like right before a seizure.Thank God Ive never had one (yet & hopefully never will). It drives me crazy & can last all day. Please, anyone whos had a seizure try to explain what an aura (as Im told its called) feels like.Ive started CARBAMAZEPINE (anyone taking this also?)& have an appt. with a neurologist nexy month. Any replies would be greatly appreciated. Im really freaked out by all of this. Thanks! Kristin
Hi Kristen,
I know the feeling of which you described. Its like a fuzzy feeling but very brief. These of which I have had are simple partial
siezures. I took Tegretol, which I believe is Carbamazepine, for years. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Auras can be very different for everybody. It depends on where the siezures are coming from. As my partial siezures progressed my auras were a feeling of dajavue. When this happened I new I would have a siezure. It was like, the lights are on but nobodys home. My EEGs and MRI were both normal. This may not be your case. Keep your chin up.Good luck with your neurologist. Johnna

To Kristin,
Hi Kris,
Did you read my posts about panic disorder and epilepsy? You sound like you are experiencing nocturnal panic. I have both epilepsy and panic. I had you what you described and thought i was having auras. I had eegs and my neuro said they were normal. If you go to the Panic disorder Institute web site you will read from Dr. Shipko the fine line between epilepsy and panic. Dr. Shipko states "There is considerable overlap between these two diagnoses, and in fact the pathophysiology of the two conditions may be more similar than not."
I have now found many people experiencing the same thing as myself. I wish you much luck.
My Best
Carol


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Okay... for about 2 years I have had partial complex seizures. I was told over and over they were anxiety/panic attacks. I did have them about every few months... then led up to a few times a week... and that's when I knew something was wrong. I had gotten to the point that my head hurt alot... I always felt disoriented... didn't have a memory worth talking about... even my veins hurt all over my body. Things seem to be getting a little better now since I have been taking Lamictal for about a week. I still feel really dizzy at times and feel kind of anxious on the medicine... but I love my life and my children enough to keep taking the medicine. You aren't alone. Anytime you need to talk or compare stories let me know. And anyone out there that prays... please pray for me and all of the people going through this. It is so scary.

I used to have seizures about 2 years ago. I went to a doctor and he told me he didnt believe in epilepsy so I have never been officially diagnosed. I had a mri and 2 cat scans, normal. The only thing that made him belive me was a 24 hour eeg/ekg which said i had seizure tendencies. I was on tegretol and after a while topamax also.The good news is all of a sudden seizures stopped, even after i stopped my meds. Which is a good thing since i have no insurance. Sometimes i will feel "funny" as i call it. Dizziness, tunnel vision,confused,cant remember,get very hot. But on the whole i feel pretty good now.
Julie

Hey Kristin,
I don't know if I can help any...but I'm in the same boat as you. I experience these headaches along with my sight blacking out. Recently they have gotten worse and I find myself kneeling to the floor in pain for only a few seconds. I've even found myself shuddering with cold...and I call them cold drifts. I myself don't know what's wrong until a friend told me about Epilepsy. I was really freaked out. Even now I'm afraid to tell my mother because I'm afraid to go in for the tests and for the bill, especially since she doesn't have a job at the moment. *big hugs* Feel better soon. I hope that it all works out.

~~~Sami~~~

Julie, I called my Simple Partials funny feelings. I felt kinda dizzy, like someone stirred up my head. Really hard to describe. It sounds to me like you may be having the same thing. Do you ever feel like you have done something before even though it is your first time doing it? That is Deja vu and can go along with what you describe. You need to get back to your doc. If at all possible if the meds do not Stop your seizures, go to an Epilepsy Specialist, Epileptologist who treats Only epilepsy. I think you are from Kentucky and there is a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center there. I'm pretty sure. Seizures can worsen over time if not controlled/stopped. Tattoo