becauseHIPPA's comments

becauseHIPPA | 7 years ago | on: Dogs demonstrate the existence of an epileptic seizure odour in humans

I was diagnosed with temporal lobe seizures when I was a teenager. What you described is very similar to my experience ... with the aura as you sense the seizure coming on, followed by a period of disorientation and short-term memory loss. As I got older, I learned to sense them coming on, and at times felt as-if I could almost fight them back and prevent them from occurring in some instances, but maybe that was just me pretending I had more control over them than I actually did.

When they did occur, I'd find myself "detached" from whatever environment I'd been in, and then struggling to re-engage with those around me. Most-strange was that I found in some cases I'd not only forgotten memories but also feelings I'd had for others. Try re-learning that you love your girlfriend after a seizure.

I went through numerous EEGs, sleep-deprevation EEGs, MRIs and a slew of other tests and was able to regulate the seizures using medication. But it did impact my life. It prevented me from pursuing a career that required a clean bill of health despite having my condition under control with medication.

Later in life, when I was planning to have children, I worked with my doctor to reduce then eliminate my medication. Though there was no indication that it would cause a problem, it wasn't something I wanted to risk. I've been off of the medication for about 10 years and seizure-free for over 20 years - long enough where I've stopped keeping track.

I have no explanation for why I no longer have these seizures but I feel fortunate that it's something seemingly very much in my past.

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