Epilepsy Talk
A Menu of Epilepsy Auras | June 6, 2010
One of the good thing about auras, is that if you’re aware of them, they’re effective (if unpleasant) warning signals of an oncoming seizure. I didn’t learn to identify mine (mouth filling up with saliva and disgusting metallic taste) until I was well into my 20’s. Then I added dark spots to my repertoire and I was having all three when I met my husband!
The good news is that once I recognized them, I would instinctively know to hit the floor (before I fell) or find a safe place to weather out the storm…
The fact is: There are probably as many or more types of auras as there are types of epilepsy…
Auras can last from several seconds to as long as an hour, and can sometimes end with feelings of extreme tiredness, weakness, heart palpitation, sweating and warmth throughout one’s body. And some people can experience auras and have no seizure(s).
Each person and each person’s aura patterns are different. They vary significantly between each individual. Yours may happen right before a seizure or several minutes to hours earlier. Common warning signs right before seizures are changes in bodily sensations, changes in your ability to interact with things happening outside you, and changes in how familiar the outside world seems to you. Other warning signs that may happen hours before a seizure are depression, irritability, sleep disruption, nausea, and headache.
People with complex partial seizures are the most likely to experience warning signs. Approximately 55% to 65% of people with these seizures experience some type of aura. It’s unclear whether having seizures that arise from one particular side of the brain makes you more likely to have auras than people whose seizures arise on the other side.
For lots of people, auras occur in an ordered progression. First you may feel fear…then déjà vu (the feeling that you’ve been there before)…then a strange taste in your mouth.
The part of your brain where your seizures originate (your seizure focal point) also may be linked to a specific type of aura because an aura represents the beginning of a seizure. Since different parts of the brain are responsible for different things, the warning signs you experience will be related to the functions of the section of brain where the seizure is about to occur. People whose seizures begin in the temporal lobe tend to have certain types of auras and those whose seizures begin somewhere else often will have different types.
Here are some types of auras that can happen alone or in combinations…
Visual changes
Kaleidoscope effects
Visual hallucinations
Shimmering sensations
Vibrating visual field
Distortions in size, shape or distance of objects
Bright lights or blobs
Zigzag lines
Tunnel vision
Blind or dark spots in the field of vision
Curtain-like effect over one eye
Blindness in one eye
Motionless stare
Dilated pupils
Auditory changes
Hallucinations — hearing voices or sounds that don’t exist
Being unable to understand spoken words
Muffled sounds
Buzzing noises
Loud or whispered volume
Temporary deafness
Physical changes
Weakness, unsteadiness
Changes in heart rate
Sweating
Nausea
Vertigo
Saliva collecting in mouth
Lip smacking
Chewing
Swallowing
Strange smells
Problems speaking
Repetitive movements
Limbs jerking involuntarily
Numbness or tingling on one side of face or body
Feeling of being separated from your body
Needing to urinate
Psychological changes
Confusion
Anxiety or fear
Physical detachment
Déjà vu or jamais vu, a sense of familiarity or unfamiliarity
Resources:
Steven C. Schachter, M.D.
http://my.epilepsy.com/node/58
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aura_(symptom)
http://www.coping-with-epilepsy.com/forums/f27/experience-aura-auras-2485/
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1184509-overview
Tags: auditory changes, auras, physical changes, psychological changes, seizures, visual changes, warning signs
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It is interesting that you mentioned this. I was thinking on doing research on looking into auras and what the extent they can be
1) how some people have the same aura
2) how they change during the seizure.
3) how they may have different auras
My first and only aura prior to surgery was Flashing lights which were red and multicolor(mitochondria) it flashed and grew and then I could not talk and I was out.
after surgery-
bad taste that was awful and then I was out
aura that was before seemed to have gone, I had
Deja-vu after that
Spots were not as dramatic but that occured about 2 years later
Deja-vu then running seizures started to happen about 5 years after surgery
had 2nd surgery
things seemed real familar and lost my side vision during the aura
the deja-vu lessened
the running seizures seemed not be as evident
then peripheral vision lessened and I was totally confused and could not talk.
presently confusion occurs and then trouble talking (it comes out like babble and leads to loss of speech) my eye peripherally goes bad
spots are becoming evident and that gives me fear
Comment by Tonialpha — June 6, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
You sure do have a lot of auras on your “plate!” I feel for you. As you know from my post, all I had was the saliva, disgusting metallic taste and then big, black spots.
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 6, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
There’s an interesting article about anesthesia and eplipsy at epilepsy.com professionals. Here’s the into: “In general, when seizures occur during surgery, their onset often coincides with the introduction of a specific anesthetic or analgesic drug. However, there have been reports of postoperative convulsions that appeared to be caused by anesthetic or analgesic drugs administered intraoperatively via injection or inhalation.” The link is http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/procedures_anesthesia.html
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 13, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
I noticed the Physical Changes. I have nausea and other symptoms. I think I have the flu. I have been sick for 2 days now.
Could it be aura’s instead?
Comment by Ruth Brown — June 6, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
I don’t think so. I’ve been throwing up for days.
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 6, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
Hi Phylis, I hope you feel better. I take 1/4 cup of Pedialyte and that stops throwing up and diarrehea.
Comment by Ruth Brown — June 7, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
Well, it worked for my cat..why shouldn’t it work for me?
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 7, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
I hope you are feeling better.
Comment by Ruth Brown — June 7, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
Yup! Nothing like a nice get-away to cheer you. (And I’ve stopped throwing up!)
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 11, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
That’s great Phylis, where did you get a way to?
Comment by Ruth Brown — June 13, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
We went to Philly, wined and dined with friends…I caught up with my cousin…and Arthur threw me a surprise “white night” party (I can only drink white wine)the night before my birthday.
I also had a 3 hour lunch with the Acting Director of our local Epilepsy Foundation (EFEPA). I sure hope she gets the position permanently. She’s young, full of ideas and enthusiasm and would be a breath of fresh air to the stoggy old-boys network at the Board of Directors meetings. Her first mission is to clear out all of the dead wood on the board. YAY!!!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 13, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
It’s always nice to read what everyone says!
Comment by Tonialpha — June 13, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
I like your article about anesthesia. I have had a hard time w/ it. The doctors will tell me that I will have seizures during them. I only remember twice having problems. I think the suggestion of pre-oping a patient w/ a light medication like valium or doing yoga.
Comment by Tonialpha — June 14, 2010 @ 9:15 AMJun +00:00Jun
I am going to have a procedure. The doctor told me that I can have 1 or 2 epilepsy medications. I told him that I had to have something so I do not go into status.
Comment by Ruth Brown — June 14, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
That’s right. In cases of epilepsy, they can adjust your AEDs with the anesthesia so you don’t have a seizure during the procedure.
There’s a link on epilepsy.com about premedication for epilepsy patient procedures.
“During the preoperative interview, the anesthesiologist determines and prescribes premedication for the patient. The choice of premedication can have major implications for the patient with epilepsy.
Administering the patient’s daily medications orally with a sip of water or via an alternate route (intravenously, intramuscularly, or rectally) can avoid decreasing serum levels into the subtherapeutic range. Not only AEDs but also antihypertensives and cardiac, diabetic, and asthma medications should be given in this way.”
http://professionals.epilepsy.com/page/procedures_premedication.html
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — June 14, 2010 @ 9:15 PMJun +00:00Jun
Phylis,
How do you tell the difference between an aura for a seizure and a panic/anxiety attack? I was hospitalized in February for a week because I had 4 seizures in one day, which had never happened. I had my husband call an ambulance so I could get something to stop them. My neuro admitted me to do a video EEG for a week. I had both epilepsy and non-epilepsy seizures. I am going to a psychologist next week for a consulation for anxiety. My problem is I don’t know which is which.
Comment by Tennille English — May 4, 2011 @ 9:15 PMMay +00:00May
Here’s one thought: Seizures that are psychological in origin are often called psychogenic seizures. These seizures are most likely triggered by emotional stress or trauma.
Some people with epilepsy have psychogenic seizures in addition to their epileptic seizures.
It’s a legitimate seizure and should be treated that way, but it’s not necessarily caused by a problem in the brain.
In others words, you could have BOTH.
So your auras might be similar or different. (A nice way of saying I don’t have a real answer to your question!)
Doctors have identified certain kinds of movements and patterns that seem to be more common in psychogenic seizures than in seizures caused by epilepsy. Some of these patterns do occur occasionally in epileptic seizures however, so having one of them does not necessarily mean that the seizure was non-epileptic.
Video-EEG monitoring is the most effective way of diagnosing these seizures…so you’re definitely on the right track.
It allows prolonged simultaneous recording of the patient’s behavior and the EEG. Seeing EEG and video data at the same time, permits precise correlation between seizure activity in the brain and the patient’s behavior during seizures.
Video-EEG can be vital in the diagnosis of epilepsy and epileptic seizures. It allows the doctor to determine: whether events with unusual features are epileptic seizures…the type of epileptic seizure, and…the region of the brain from which the seizures arise.
If you DO have psychogenic seizures, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that you have a serious psychiatric disorder.
The problem does need to be addressed and many patients need treatment.
Sometimes the episodes stop when the person learns that they are psychological.
Some people have depression or anxiety disorders that can be helped by medication.
Counseling for a limited time is often helpful. And the prognosis is good, with 60 to 70 percent of patients alleviated of seizure symptoms.
Another possible way of coping is to reduce your stress, take time out, go for a walk, try deep breathing (but NOT hyperventilating!) music, meditation, muscle relaxation or even biofeedback.
And above all…be kind to yourself.
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 5, 2011 @ 9:15 AMMay +00:00May
Tenille,
Thank you for sharing your information.
I just came out of a monitoring unit where they increased Keppra XR by 2 (12) and Zonegran by 2 (6) and discontinued Tegretol. They changed my VNS too. I have to act mellow from the hospital visit. It is hard to keep my gait at times. Diarrhea at times. Emotional swings do to the change of the medication in the hospital.
They also changed the VNS.
They asked if I would go on a drug study similar to Tegretol. Oh boy!
We are all strong people. I think we all are! The medications throw us for a loop at times!
Comment by Toni Robison — May 4, 2011 @ 9:15 PMMay +00:00May
Toni,
Welcome back!
Do you think these symptoms are part of getting used to the drugs or lasting side-effects from the dosages themselves?
I have to give you credit after all you’ve gone through to volunteer for a clinical study.
Do you know who’s running the trials or whether it’s an adjunct med for partial-onset seizures?
I sure hope you feel better. It breaks my heart to see you so miserable.
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 5, 2011 @ 9:15 PMMay +00:00May
I never told you what happened during the procedure. I was having aura’s so I went to the ER. I had called my doctor before I went.
They only gave me Lorazepam. They did not give me my regular pills until my seizures got real bad just before the colonoscopy. Then they asked me if I wanted to go through with it.
I had done all of the pre-op and I figured I might as well go through with it. There I was having seizures or auras, I am not sure which. No one would make the descion for me, including the doc.
I had seizures during the colonoscopy. It was the first time my doc had done one with a person having seizures. I do not know if he stopped before he completed it.
I think it scared him.
Was it stress, or auras, that caused my seizures? I had the same problem with another procedure where I took my meds. I had to cancel because I had to be real still during this procedure.
Comment by ruth brown — May 13, 2011 @ 9:15 AMMay +00:00May
I think it was a combination of stress and the ignorance of the doc.
Maybe next time you have to go under anesthesia you should check with your neuro for advice?
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — May 13, 2011 @ 9:15 PMMay +00:00May
I had auras all my life but they didn’t become full seizures until I was about 13 or 14. The Dr. Says I have a Neurological Migration Defect in the temporal lobe of my my brain (thus my aura being dajavue) The don’t always turn into full blow seizures in fact most of the time they go away,
I didn’t want to tell my dr. that the pills weren’t 100% efective and have maybe 2-4 full blown seizures a year that I didn’t always admit to for the last like 10 years cause I didn’t want to lose my license, I am now 29 and still on the same meds for about 15, years. But a few months ago I woke up in the middle of the night, around 4 and had a aura becoming a seizure. (It never happened at this time of day before, not even just an aura) So I figured I’d finally come clean and fess up to the entire ordeal.
He upped the meds and a couple months later I had a seizure (which I wouldn’t have been that bothered by) except this time I was on my tread mill and I didn’t get a warning sign. All I remember was I was standing there running and all of the sudden I woke up on the floor with rug burns on my hips and a black eye. I told my Dr. right away and he upped the meds again.
But the biggest thing that pissed me off in that whole ordeal was that I didn’t get my usual aura. (which I now realize has been a blessing for someone who has seizures).
Lately I’ve been kinda afraid that my warning sign might be gone. I’m feeling pretty alone, cause I don’t think anyone realizes how much this has scared me. I just hope that the med increase will take care of my seizures, or at least that I’ll never have a seizure again without getting a warning sign.
I guess what my biggest intention for writing all this is because for the first time I feel like my life is a whole lot different from everyone elses, I feel like I’m defective compared to the average person, (especially to my twin sister who has no health problems at all.) I’m kinda scared that after all these years something as little as not having a warning sign is affecting me inside so much
Comment by Robin Zank — November 16, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
First of all, you’re NOT defective any more than the rest of us here. (If you call ME defective, I’ll wring your neck!)
Secondly, I certainly understand your concerns and fear.
If you’re still worried about the med levels, have blood work done, so you can see whether the levels of the meds in your body are too little, just right, or too much.
As for the auras (or lack of them), you might want to consider keeping a Daily Seizure Diary — noting your sleep patterns…what you eat and when…your daily activities (and emotional upsets), how you feel before a seizure, during a seizure, after the seizure and the duration.
This might give you a more clear idea of what’s going on with your body. It could be that your aura has changed and you don’t recognize the “new” one.
One more thing. I’m inclined to believe that since your seizures didn’t begin until your teens that they might be in some way hormonally related. Do you, by any chance have them around the time of your period?
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — November 16, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
Thanks I really appreciate the response. And to answer your question, at first my mom figured that might be the situation, but after a while of documenting and stuff it didn’t seem to be a pattern. Plus (not to get too personal) I am on Meraina and I maybe have a slight period once a year. But other that it does make sense that maybe puberty gave my auras the final kick into overdrive. I remember trying to describe my auras before to my mom when I was like 7 or 8, but I guess I can’t blame her for not being able to give me any advise. I just remeber the day I first had a seizure, I was getting ready for school, I had an aura(I figured it was just another of the same old thing) until things started to go dark, and i woke up on the floor with an EMT asking me my name. I was kinda like, “oh so that’s what those where” I don’t have auras allot anymore, and when I do they usually go away, but when I start feeling dejavu, nervous, and like I don’t know whats going on around me, I know that it’s time to hit the floor cause I know what’s comming next. I’m hoping the reason I didn’t get an aura this time was because I had been running on the tread mill for about 15 minutes and that maybe because my motablism was going that I just didn’t get time for the warning to start in one spot and slowly spread out. I’m a little weary about running on the tread mill, My seizure was on Friday, and I haven’t run since. I will tell you one thing I’m never going to run without the safety stop clipped onto my shirt. I would probably thought that maybe it was just that I blacked out from running, even though I didn’t have my warning I new a seizure had taken place because when I woke up I could feel the pain in my eyes from rolling back.
I’ve been doing tae boe and indoor exercises since then, cause the treadmill is in the garage. I plan on giving the treadmill another chance, but only when my husband is at home, so that I can call him when I start running, and if he doesn’t get my second call 1/2 hour later to confirm I’m done and comming in the house, then he better come out and check on me.
Oh! and a nother thing that just came to my mind, the only other pattern I notice in my seizures is that they usually occure in the morning around 7am-2pm-being the latest. (thus why I was a little worried when I had that seizure 3 or 4 months ago that took place somewhere around 3am.
PS. It feels really nice to finally talk to someone about this. Instead of just my neurologist for the past 15 years
Comment by Robin — November 16, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
Geeze, I’m stumped about why you have seizures then, but these 2 article may help you:
Epilepsy and Exercise (Maybe you should ramp it down a little…)
http://epilepsytalk.com/2009/11/13/epilepsy-and-exercise/
Epilepsy and electrolytes
http://epilepsytalk.com/2011/10/16/epilepsy-and-electrolytes/
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — November 16, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
I have had an aura twice in past 2 weeks after seizure free for about 5 years. Both auras were not followed by seizure. Any input as to why this is happening>
Comment by michelle — November 17, 2011 @ 9:15 AMNov +00:00Nov
I’d never heard of this, so I looked around and apparently they are simple partial seizures.
How about if you keep a daily seizure diary and maybe you can see what’s triggering this? (A breakthrough seizure possibly, or warning of a possible one?)
Are you on any meds? If so, bloodwork might be a clue.
TELL YOUR DOC!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — November 17, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
no I’ve been off tegretol for about 4 years- just on tranxene for anxiety. Going to Dr today
Comment by michelle — November 17, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
Excellent. Please tell me what the doctor says. I’m in South Carolina for an epilepsy charity event, so I’m only checking my email (and website) once a day. But, if you need to, you can call me on my cell. (610-517-7576) and at least leave a message and I can call back from the caller I.D
Good luck!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — November 18, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov
enjoy south carolina! dealing w/ nausea and just do not want to take meds. but doc says is stomach not meds., went to ER. They noted my discomfort and no voice and felt they would do a throat work up and rule out . Told me to contact a GI doc and Epileptologist stating it was meds. or stomach problem. Not an immediate emergency!
Comment by Toni Robison — November 21, 2011 @ 9:15 AMNov +00:00Nov
Strange that something like colitis would affect your voice…? Go for the throat work and then a colonoscopy (once you find a good G.I. guy)
The prep for the colonoscopy is worse than the procedure, but make sure the head anesthesiologist knows you have epilepsy and will address your meds from the start.
Toni, I’ve had colitis for years. And there are easy, non-reactive drugs. I’ve been taking Hyoscyamine for 30 years without incident (but I’m sure there are newer meds out) and basically it paralyzes your colon temporary until the cramping stops. It works with no side-efects and no dangers. I don’t know how it does its magic, but it works!
Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — November 22, 2011 @ 9:15 PMNov +00:00Nov